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news.Biogen Idec has reported its findings from a study that demonstrated patients taking Avonex for multiple sclerosis adhered to treatment more than those taking other approved disease-modifying therapies included in the study.
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The study was designed to evaluate patient adherence to long-term treatments for multiple sclerosis in a real-world setting.
Non-adherence was defined as missing at least one injection or changing dose within four weeks prior to the survey. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined treatment adherence as both compliance and persistency and suggests that non-adherence is one of the most important factors contributing to decreased multiple sclerosis treatment effectiveness.
The study found that patients taking Avonex had statistically significant higher adherence rates than the other DMTs. Results showed that 85% of patients taking Avonex were adherent to therapy, compared to patients who were non-adherent on Rebif sc 22mcg (22%), Rebif 44 mcg (27%), Betaferon/Betaseron (30%) and Copaxone (34%).
Avonex is the only available once-weekly treatment that has been proven to delay the risk of developing clinically definite MS for up to five years in patients who begin treatment immediately after their initial MS attack. It is the most prescribed multiple sclerosis treatment worldwide.
The study showed that adherent patients reported better quality of life, less cognitive impairment and fewer problems with injection site reactions that non-adherent patients.