| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Trade names | Betaseron, Actoferon, Extavia |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Micromedex Detailed Consumer Information |
| MedlinePlus | a601151 |
| License data | |
| Routes of administration | Subcutaneous |
| ATC code | |
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| CAS Number | |
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| DrugBank |
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| ChEMBL | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.207.515 |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C908H1408N246O253S6 |
| Molar mass | 20011.08 g·mol−1 |
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Interferon beta-1b is acytokine in theinterferon family used to treat the relapsing-remitting and secondary-progressive forms ofmultiple sclerosis (MS). It is approved for use after the first MS event. Closely related isinterferon beta 1a, also indicated for MS, with a very similar drug profile.
Interferon beta balances the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory agents in the brain, and reduces the number of inflammatory cells that cross theblood brain barrier.[1] Overall, therapy with interferon beta leads to a reduction of neuron inflammation.[1] Moreover, it is also thought to increase the production ofnerve growth factor and consequently improve neuronal survival.[1]
Interferon beta-1b is available only in injectable forms, and can cause skin reactions at the injection site that may include cutaneousnecrosis. Skin reactions vary greatly in their clinical presentation.[2] They usually appear within the first month of treatment albeit their frequence and importance diminish after six months of treatment.[2] Skin reactions are more prevalent in women.[2] Mild skin reactions usually do not impede treatment whereas necroses appear in around 5% of patients and lead to the discontinuation of the therapy.[2] Also over time, a visible dent at the injection site due to the local destruction of fat tissue, known aslipoatrophy, may develop.
Interferons, a subclass ofcytokines, are produced in the body during illnesses such asinfluenza in order to help fight the infection. They are responsible for many of the symptoms of influenza infections, includingfever,muscle aches,fatigue, andheadaches.[3] Many patients report influenza-like symptoms hours after taking interferon beta that usually improve within 24 hours, being such symptoms related to the temporary increase of cytokines.[2][4] This reaction tends to disappear after 3 months of treatment and its symptoms can be treated with over-the-counternonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such asibuprofen, that reduce fever and pain.[2] Another common transient secondary effect with interferon-beta is a functional deterioration of already existing symptoms of the disease.[2] Such deterioration is similar to the one produced in MS patients due to heat, fever or stress (Uhthoff's phenomenon), usually appears within 24 hours of treatment, is more common in the initial months of treatment, and may last several days.[2] A symptom specially sensitive to worsening isspasticity.[2] Interferon-beta can also reduce numbers ofwhite blood cells (leukopenia),lymphocytes (lymphopenia) andneutrophils (neutropenia), as well as affectliver function.[2] In most cases these effects are non-dangerous and reversible after cessation or reduction of treatment.[2] Nevertheless, recommendation is that all patients should be monitored through laboratoryblood analyses, includingliver function tests, to ensure safe use of interferons.[2]
The injection-site reactions can be mitigated by rotating injection sites or by using one of the medications that requires less frequent injections. Side effects are often onerous enough that many patients ultimately discontinue taking Interferons (orglatiramer acetate, a comparable disease-modifying therapies requiring regular injections).
The earliest clinical presentation of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is the clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), that is, a single attack of a single symptom. During a CIS, there is a subacute attack suggestive ofdemyelination but the patient does not fulfill thecriteria for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.[5] Treatment withinterferons after an initial attack decreases the risk of developing clinical definite MS.[4][6]
Medications are modestly effective at decreasing the number of attacks in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis[7] and in reducing the accumulation of brain lesions, which is measured usinggadolinium-enhancedmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI).[4] Interferons reduce relapses by approximately 30% and their safe profile make them the first-line treatments.[4] Nevertheless, not all the patients are responsive to these therapies. It is known that 30% of MS patients are non-responsive to Beta interferon.[8] They can be classified in genetic, pharmacological and pathogenetic non-responders.[8] One of the factors related to non-respondance is the presence of high levels of interferon beta neutralizingantibodies. Interferon therapy, and specially interferon beta-1b, induces the production of neutralizing antibodies, usually in the second 6 months of treatment, in 5 to 30% of treated patients.[4] Moreover, a subset of RRMS patients with specially active MS, sometimes called "rapidly worsening MS" are normally non-responders to interferon beta-1b.[9][10]
While more studies of the long-term effects of the drugs are needed,[4][11] some data on the effects of interferons indicate that early-initiated long-term therapy is safe and it is related to better outcomes.[11] More recent data suggest that interferon betas does not hasten disability.[12]
Interferon-β exacerbates Th17-mediated inflammatory disease.[13]
Betaferon/Betaseron is marketed today byBayer Pharma. Theoriginator wasSchering AG (Berlex in North America), now part of Bayer Pharma.Novartis has also introduced Extavia, a new brand of interferon beta-1b, in 2009.
