Beta Interferon Not Associated With Reducing Long-Term Disease Progression In Patients With Relapsing-Remitting M-S

INTRO: Many patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis experience a form of the disease known as relapsing-remitting M-S. They experience flare-ups when the immune system attacks the central nervous system. Recovery periods may follow the flare-ups as the disease moves into remission. Disease modifying drugs are prescribed to help reduce inflammation and disease activity. A new study examines the long-term use of beta interferon for patients with relapsing-remitting M-S.Â Catherine Dolf explains in this weekÃ­s JAMA Report.

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Marilyn walking down hospital hallway

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MARILYN LENZEN IS LIKE MANY OTHERS DIAGNOSED WITH RELAPSING-REMITTING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. SHE HAS LEARNED TO ADAPT HER LIFE.

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SOT/FULL Runs :08 Marilyn Lenzen -Â Multiple Sclerosis Patient Super @:07

“I was going to get my kids off to school and I was going to get my career back on track and all of a sudden I had to stop and re-evaluate.”

(Video covering 2nd half of bite: Marilyn reading a magazine)

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Marilyn reading magazine, researcher in lab

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USING MANY DIFFERENT STRATEGIES EARLY ON, MARILYN WAS PRESCRIBED BETA INTERFERON, ONE OF SEVERAL DISEASE MODIFYING DRUGS.

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SOT/FULL Super @:21 Marilyn Lenzen -Â Multiple Sclerosis PatientÂ Runs :04

“Unfortunately for me, the side effects were too great.”

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SOT/FULL Super @:25 Joel Oger, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., – University of British Columbia Runs :12

Ã¬The interferons have been the first line of treatment since they were demonstrated to influence the course of the disease.Ã®

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Doctors, Tremlett and Oger walking and talking with researcher, graphic

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DOCTORS HELEN TREMLETT AND JOEL OGER (Oh-JAY) FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA AND CO-AUTHORS EXAMINED DATA FROM PATIENTS DIAGNOSED AT BASELINE WITH RELAPSING-REMITTING M-S.Â THREE GROUPS OF PATIENTS WERE FOLLOWED UP FROM 1985 TO 2008.Â THE ACTIVE GROUP RECEIVED BETA INTERFERON TREATMENTS.Â RESEARCHERS THEN COMPARED THESE PATIENTS TO A CONTEMPORARY CONTROL GROUP. THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE TREATMENT BUT WHO DID NOT RECEIVE THE MEDICATION AND A HISTORICAL CONTROL GROUP, THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR TREATMENT BEFORE THE MEDICATION WAS EVEN AVAILABLE.

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SOT/FULL Super @1:08 Helen Tremlett, Ph.D., – University of British Columbia Runs :10

WeÃ­re looking at real world drug treatment in clinical practice, on real patients who are exposed on a day to day basis to beta interferon treatment.

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THE STUDY APPEARS IN THIS WEEKÃ­S JAMA, JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. THE RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT EXPOSURE TO BETA-INTERFERON TREATMENT WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A REDUCTION OR BENEFIT ON LONG-TERM DISEASE PROGRESSION.

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SOT/FULL Super @1:25 Helen Tremlett, Ph.D., – University of British Columbia Runs :09

The study is useful in terms of giving patients realistic expectations on what they can hope to gain in terms of benefits from the drug treatments.

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Marilyn walking outside, sitting by a water fountain

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WHILE MARILYN AND THOSE SHE KNOWS WITH M-S ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO FURTHER RESEARCH SHE AND HER FRIENDS ARE ALL LIVING VERY ACTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES.

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SOT/FULL Super @ 1:45 Marilyn Lenzen -Â Multiple Sclerosis Patient Runs :16

I hope by the changes that IÃ­ve made in my life that I will be able to live for decades from now, continuing to walk, continuing to get out there and hopefully in my lifetime, I see and end of MS.

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Marilyn on camera

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CATHERINE DOLF, THE JAMA REPORT.

TAG: RESEARCHERS ALSO SAY THESE FINDINGS SHOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE NEW TREATMENTS FOR M-S.