Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Drugs

| Avonex | Betaseron | Betaferon | Copaxone | Rebif |

 

Betaseron ® (interferon beta-1b)

What is Betaseron ®?

Betaseron ® is a drug used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. It is from a class of drugs known as interferons. In Europe, Betaseron ® is called Betaferon ®.

Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) is a recombinant DNA produced synthetic of naturally occurring proteins. It is manufactured by bacterial fermentation of a strain of Escherichia coli that bears a genetically engineered plasmid containing the gene for human interferon.

Interferons are cytokines. Three major classes of interferon have been identified - interferon alpha, interferon beta and interferon gamma.

Interferon alpha and beta form the Type I class of interferons and Interferon gamma is a Type II interferon.

Indicated and approved for use in multiple sclerosis are interferon types, Interferon beta-1a and Interferon beta-1b.

Interferons are species specific. In other words, the effects and results of interferon therapy and animal experimentation is difficult to apply across the human-animal species barriers since the effects they have within any given species are different.

The mechanisms by which Betaseron ® exerts its actions in multiple sclerosis (MS) are not clearly understood.

Betaseron ® is administered by subcutaneous injection (injection under the skin) every other day.

 

 

 

Multiple Sclerosis

In identical twins where one twin develops the disease, the likelihood of the second twin developing Multiple Sclerosis is approx 30%.

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are varied and can occur suddenly, then disappear again just as quickly. There are no specific sets of symptoms applicable to any of the types of multiple sclerosis. Additionally, symptoms of multiple sclerosis tend to vary considerably from one person to another and also to be distant in time... Read More