Biogen Idec, a biotechnology company that discovers, develops and delivers to patients worldwide innovative therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hemophilia and autoimmune disorders, has announced new data analyses from year one of the two-year, pivotal, phase III ADVANCE study of Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a). Plegridy is an investigational subcutaneous injectable for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS), in which interferon beta-1a is pegylated to prolong the molecule’s exposure in the body and enable the study of a less frequent dosing schedule.

Clinical and MRI data from the study demonstrated a reduction in relapses, disability progression and the number of MS lesions when compared to placebo, and further support the clinical efficacy profile of Plegridy. These data will be presented at the 29th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Copenhagen, Denmark from October 2-5.

“If approved, Plegridy could become a valuable addition to the interferon class of multiple sclerosis therapies,” said Professor Peter Calabresi, MD, director, The Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis Centre. “The combination of efficacy demonstrated across key disease measures and a less frequent dosing schedule has the potential to offer an important therapeutic option for people living with MS.”

Over one year, absence of measured disease activity (defined as no relapses, no disability progression, no gadolinium-enhancing [Gd+] lesions and no new or newly enlarging T2-hyperintense lesions compared to baseline) among patients, was significantly higher with Plegridy: 34 per cent in the two-week dosing arm (p<0.0001) and 22 per cent in the four-week dosing arm (p=0.01), compared to 15 per cent in the placebo arm.

In the intent-to-treat population of the ADVANCE study, Plegridy, when dosed every two weeks, significantly reduced the number of new or newly enlarging T2-hyperintense lesions, new T1-hypointense lesions, new Gd+ lesions and new active lesions compared to placebo at 48 weeks.

Specifically, Plegridy reduced the number of:

New T1-hypointense lesions by 53 per cent in the two-week dosing arm (p<0.0001) and 18 per cent in the four-week dosing arm (p=0.082);

New active lesions by 67 per cent in the two-week dosing arm (p<0.0001) and 35 per cent in the four-week dosing arm (p<0.0001);

And, as previously reported at the American Academy of Neurology’s 65th Annual Meeting in March 2013: new or newly enlarging T2-hyperintense lesions by 67 per cent in the two-week dosing arm (p<0.0001) and 28 per cent in the four-week dosing arm (p=0.0008) New Gd+ lesions by 86 per cent in the two-week dosing (p<0.0001) and 36 per cent in the four-week dosing arm (p=0.07).

“We believe the new analyses reinforce the efficacy of Plegridy, which has been shown consistently across key MS disease measurements. They further support its potential as a treatment option for people living with this disease,” said Gilmore O’Neill, vice president, Global Neurology Clinical Development at Biogen Idec. “The ADVANCE study results we have seen to date indicate that Plegridy may have a positive effect on the reduction of relapses, disability progression and the reduction of lesion development.”

Plegridy is a new molecular entity in which interferon beta-1a is pegylated to extend its half-life and prolong its exposure in the body. Plegridy is a member of the interferon class of treatments, which is often used as a first-line treatment for MS.