The expanded indication now includes patients with a first clinical event suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS). This approval provides patients in Australia with the potential to delay the progression of the disease.
Earlier this year, Betaferon was granted marketing authorization in Europe, the US and Canada for the treatment of patients with a first clinical event suggestive of MS.
“We are pleased that Betaferon is now available also for treatment of early MS in Australia where it is already the most prescribed MS treatment,” said Dr Darlene Jody, head of specialized therapeutics at Schering Group.
The label extension is based on results from the a study which showed that Betaferon treatment in the early phase of the disease reduced the risk of developing clinically definite MS by 50% compared with placebo. Furthermore, patients in the Betaferon group were two times better protected than placebo-treated patients against developing MS.