The drug currently on the market used to treat MS is Betaseron®.
Betaseron® is IFN (interferon) beta-1b and is manufactured and marketed by Berlex Canada. It was the first IFN beta to be approved for MS.
It was launched in Canada in 1999 for RRMS (Relapsing-remitting MS) and later on it obtained approval for its use in SPMS (Secondary-progressive MS). The recommended dosing regimen is 8 MIU (250 mcg) injected subcutaneously every other day. In contrast to Rebif® and Avonex®, Betaseron® is produced in bacterial cells and differs from the natural molecule in several aspects.
In clinical use, structured differences between IFN beta-1a and IFN beta-1b translate into differences in dosing, efficacy and tolerability.
