Interferons (IFNs), first recognised because of their antiviral properties, are a key defence mechanism involved in the control of virus infections. They are small proteins separated by nucleated cells in response to viral infection or other appropriate stimuli, and are thought to act principally on other cells in their immediate vicinity. They are divided into two types: type 1 comprises IFN-á...

Interferons (IFNs), first recognised because of their antiviral properties, are a key defence mechanism involved in the control of virus infections. They are small proteins separated by nucleated cells in response to viral infection or other appropriate stimuli, and are thought to act principally on other cells in their immediate vicinity. They are divided into two types: type 1 comprises IFN-á...

BACKGROUND Achieving good adherence to self-injected treatments for multiple sclerosis can be difficult. Injection devices may help to overcome some of the injection-related barriers to adherence that can be experienced by patients. We sought to assess short-term adherence to, and tolerability of, interferon (IFN) β-1a administered via electronic autoinjection device in patients with relapsing-...

Objective: To analyze changes in T-helper (Th) subsets, T-regulatory (Treg) cell percentages and function, and mRNA levels of immunologically relevant molecules during a 24-month follow-up after alemtuzumab treatment in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods: Multicenter follow-up of 29 alemtuzumab-treated patients with RRMS in the Comparison of Alemtuzumab and Reb...

Objective: To analyze changes in T-helper (Th) subsets, T-regulatory (Treg) cell percentages and function, and mRNA levels of immunologically relevant molecules during a 24-month follow-up after alemtuzumab treatment in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods: Multicenter follow-up of 29 alemtuzumab-treated patients with RRMS in the Comparison of Alemtuzumab and Reb...

ment of ever more effective drugs for the treatment of MS. The first immunomodulatory agents to benefit from the development mentioned above, interferon(Avonex , Betaferon/Betaseron , Rebif ) and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone ), have been on the market for more than a decade now and are established, safe, yet only mildly effective treatments for MS. They reduce the frequency of new relapses by...

Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are a major hurdle to the successful use of biologics in clinical practice. The impact of NAbs is obvious in biologic systems with no redundancy. NAbs induced in response to treatment with recombinant erythropoietin or thrombopoietin cause life-threatening complications of pure red cell aplasia and thrombocytopenia as a direct result of inhibiting the activity of ...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system which is accompanied by considerable disability and high costs. This report summarises the evidence on effectiveness and costs of beta-interferons and natalizumab in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.The review included systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials (with an observation time of at lea...

To evaluate the safety, toxicity, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of IFN beta-1a (Rebif, Serono Laboratories, Inc.) in patients with malignant diseases unresponsive to standard therapies and to assess the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics associated with IFN beta-1a administration, an open-label, single-center phase I study was designed. Thirty-four patients were enrolled and treated with ...