Trial Outcomes & Findings for A Study to Evaluate Rebif® New Formulation (Interferon-beta-1a) in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (NCT NCT00441103)

NCT ID: NCT00441103

Last Updated: 2014-07-09

Results Overview

CU active lesions were defined as a unique newly active or persistently active lesion on the protocol density/time constant 2 (PD/T2) scan or the gadolinium (Gd-) enhanced time constant 1 (T1) scan (with a method to avoid double counting).

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE3

Target enrollment

180 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

16 Weeks

Results posted on

2014-07-09

Participant Flow

Date of first participant first visit: 15 Dec 2006. Date of last participant last visit: 28 Nov 2008. Twenty five trial centers enrolled participants in the following countries: Bulgaria (7), Canada(2), Estonia (2), Germany (1), Italy(2), Lithuania (1), Romania (1), Russian Federation (4), Serbia (2), and Spain (3).

Participants meeting the eligibility criteria during screening period of up to 14 days were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive either Rebif® New Formulation or matching placebo for 16 weeks. There were 33 screening failures: participants who did not meet all eligibility criteria (n=29), withdrawal of consent (n=3), and lost of view (n=1).

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Rebif® New Formulation (IFN-beta-1a, RNF)
RNF 44 microgram (mcg) administered subcutaneously three times a week for 40 weeks.
Placebo/RNF
Matching placebo administered subcutaneously three times a week for 16 weeks, followed by RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for subsequent 24 weeks.
Overall Study
STARTED
120
60
Overall Study
COMPLETED
109
56
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
11
4

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Rebif® New Formulation (IFN-beta-1a, RNF)
RNF 44 microgram (mcg) administered subcutaneously three times a week for 40 weeks.
Placebo/RNF
Matching placebo administered subcutaneously three times a week for 16 weeks, followed by RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for subsequent 24 weeks.
Overall Study
Adverse Event
2
1
Overall Study
Death
1
0
Overall Study
Disease Progression
2
0
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
1
0
Overall Study
Protocol Violation
1
0
Overall Study
Participant unable to use Rebiject II
1
0
Overall Study
Participant refused MRI
1
0
Overall Study
Inclusion criteria absent
1
0
Overall Study
Non-compliant
0
1
Overall Study
Participant decided to withdraw
1
0
Overall Study
Participant's reason
0
1
Overall Study
Participant decided to stop
0
1

Baseline Characteristics

A Study to Evaluate Rebif® New Formulation (Interferon-beta-1a) in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Rebif® New Formulation (IFN-beta-1a, RNF)
n=120 Participants
RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for 40 weeks.
Placebo/RNF
n=60 Participants
Matching placebo administered subcutaneously three times a week for 16 weeks, followed by RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for subsequent 24 weeks.
Total
n=180 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Region of Enrollment
Romania
11 participants
n=5 Participants
8 participants
n=7 Participants
19 participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Russian Federation
20 participants
n=5 Participants
12 participants
n=7 Participants
32 participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Serbia
20 participants
n=5 Participants
9 participants
n=7 Participants
29 participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Spain
5 participants
n=5 Participants
4 participants
n=7 Participants
9 participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
120 Participants
n=5 Participants
60 Participants
n=7 Participants
180 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
34.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.8 • n=5 Participants
35.2 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.5 • n=7 Participants
34.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.8 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
88 Participants
n=5 Participants
42 Participants
n=7 Participants
130 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
32 Participants
n=5 Participants
18 Participants
n=7 Participants
50 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Bulgaria
40 participants
n=5 Participants
12 participants
n=7 Participants
52 participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Canada
3 participants
n=5 Participants
3 participants
n=7 Participants
6 participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Estonia
8 participants
n=5 Participants
5 participants
n=7 Participants
13 participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Germany
1 participants
n=5 Participants
0 participants
n=7 Participants
1 participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Italy
7 participants
n=5 Participants
4 participants
n=7 Participants
11 participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Lithuania
5 participants
n=5 Participants
3 participants
n=7 Participants
8 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 16 Weeks

Population: ITT population included all randomized participants who received at least one dose of study drug.

CU active lesions were defined as a unique newly active or persistently active lesion on the protocol density/time constant 2 (PD/T2) scan or the gadolinium (Gd-) enhanced time constant 1 (T1) scan (with a method to avoid double counting).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rebif® New Formulation (IFN-beta-1a, RNF)
n=120 Participants
RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for 40 weeks.
Placebo/RNF
n=60 Participants
Matching placebo administered subcutaneously three times a week for 16 weeks, followed by RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for subsequent 24 weeks.
Number of Combined Unique (CU) Active Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Lesions at Week 16
0.9 lesions
Standard Deviation 1.4
3.0 lesions
Standard Deviation 4.1

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline up to Week 40

Population: Safety population included all randomized participants who received at least one dose of study drug. Here, 'n' signifies those participants who were evaluable for the specified category.

An adverse event (AE) was defined as any new untoward medical occurrences/worsening of pre-existing medical condition without regard to possibility of causal relationship. A serious adverse event (SAE) was an AE that resulted in any of the following outcomes: death; life threatening; persistent/significant disability/incapacity; initial or prolonged inpatient hospitalization; congenital anomaly/birth defect. AEs were categorized based upon the treatment period during which they occurred, that is, double-blind period (up to Week 16) and rater-blind period (Week 17 up to Week 40).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rebif® New Formulation (IFN-beta-1a, RNF)
n=120 Participants
RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for 40 weeks.
Placebo/RNF
n=60 Participants
Matching placebo administered subcutaneously three times a week for 16 weeks, followed by RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for subsequent 24 weeks.
Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)
AEs during double-blind period (n = 120, 60)
100 participants
39 participants
Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)
AEs during rater-blind period (n = 112, 57)
72 participants
43 participants
Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)
SAEs during overall period (n = 120, 60)
4 participants
3 participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Day 1 up to Week 16 and Week 17 up to Week 40

Population: ITT population included all randomized participants who received at least one dose of study drug. Here, "N" (number of participants analyzed) signifies those participants who were evaluable for this measure.

CU active lesions were defined as a unique newly active or persistently active lesion on the PD/T2 scan or the gadolinium enhanced T1 scan (with a method to avoid double counting). Only "Placebo Followed by RNF" arm was evaluable for this outcome measure.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rebif® New Formulation (IFN-beta-1a, RNF)
n=57 Participants
RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for 40 weeks.
Placebo/RNF
Matching placebo administered subcutaneously three times a week for 16 weeks, followed by RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for subsequent 24 weeks.
Mean Number of CU Lesions Per Scan Between the Initial 16 Weeks of Placebo Treatment and 24 Weeks of RNF Treatment in the Same Participants, Originally Randomized to Placebo.
Week 17 up to Week 40
0.65 lesions
Standard Deviation 0.95
Mean Number of CU Lesions Per Scan Between the Initial 16 Weeks of Placebo Treatment and 24 Weeks of RNF Treatment in the Same Participants, Originally Randomized to Placebo.
Day 1 up to Week 16
2.31 lesions
Standard Deviation 2.63

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Up to Week 40

Population: ITT population included all randomized participants who received at least one dose of study drug.

CU active lesions were defined as a unique newly active or persistently active lesion on the PD/T2 scan or the gadolinium enhanced T1 scan (with a method to avoid double counting).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rebif® New Formulation (IFN-beta-1a, RNF)
n=120 Participants
RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for 40 weeks.
Placebo/RNF
n=60 Participants
Matching placebo administered subcutaneously three times a week for 16 weeks, followed by RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for subsequent 24 weeks.
Number of CU Active MRI Lesions
0.62 lesions
Standard Deviation 1.29
1.27 lesions
Standard Deviation 1.33

Adverse Events

Rebif® New Formulation (IFN-beta-1a, RNF)

Serious events: 4 serious events
Other events: 100 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Placebo/RNF

Serious events: 3 serious events
Other events: 39 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Rebif® New Formulation (IFN-beta-1a, RNF)
n=120 participants at risk
RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for 40 weeks.
Placebo/RNF
n=60 participants at risk
Matching placebo administered subcutaneously three times a week for 16 weeks, followed by RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for subsequent 24 weeks.
Infections and infestations
Tonsillitis
0.83%
1/120 • Number of events 1 • Baseline up to Week 40
0.00%
0/60 • Baseline up to Week 40
Nervous system disorders
Carpal tunnel syndrome
0.00%
0/120 • Baseline up to Week 40
1.7%
1/60 • Number of events 1 • Baseline up to Week 40
Infections and infestations
Pulmonary tuberculosis
0.83%
1/120 • Number of events 1 • Baseline up to Week 40
0.00%
0/60 • Baseline up to Week 40
Infections and infestations
Pyelonephritis acute
0.83%
1/120 • Number of events 1 • Baseline up to Week 40
0.00%
0/60 • Baseline up to Week 40
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Road traffic accident
0.83%
1/120 • Number of events 1 • Baseline up to Week 40
0.00%
0/60 • Baseline up to Week 40
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Fall
0.00%
0/120 • Baseline up to Week 40
1.7%
1/60 • Number of events 1 • Baseline up to Week 40
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Joint dislocation
0.00%
0/120 • Baseline up to Week 40
1.7%
1/60 • Number of events 1 • Baseline up to Week 40
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Back pain
0.00%
0/120 • Baseline up to Week 40
1.7%
1/60 • Number of events 1 • Baseline up to Week 40

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Rebif® New Formulation (IFN-beta-1a, RNF)
n=120 participants at risk
RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for 40 weeks.
Placebo/RNF
n=60 participants at risk
Matching placebo administered subcutaneously three times a week for 16 weeks, followed by RNF 44 mcg administered subcutaneously three times a week for subsequent 24 weeks.
General disorders
Influenza like illness
50.0%
60/120 • Number of events 110 • Baseline up to Week 40
16.7%
10/60 • Number of events 10 • Baseline up to Week 40
General disorders
Injection site erythema
32.5%
39/120 • Number of events 60 • Baseline up to Week 40
6.7%
4/60 • Number of events 6 • Baseline up to Week 40
General disorders
Injection site pain
10.0%
12/120 • Number of events 13 • Baseline up to Week 40
1.7%
1/60 • Number of events 1 • Baseline up to Week 40
General disorders
Pyrexia
7.5%
9/120 • Number of events 14 • Baseline up to Week 40
5.0%
3/60 • Number of events 5 • Baseline up to Week 40
General disorders
Asthenia
6.7%
8/120 • Number of events 11 • Baseline up to Week 40
5.0%
3/60 • Number of events 8 • Baseline up to Week 40
General disorders
Chills
6.7%
8/120 • Number of events 11 • Baseline up to Week 40
1.7%
1/60 • Number of events 3 • Baseline up to Week 40
General disorders
Fatigue
5.8%
7/120 • Number of events 8 • Baseline up to Week 40
0.00%
0/60 • Baseline up to Week 40
Nervous system disorders
Headache
30.8%
37/120 • Number of events 66 • Baseline up to Week 40
16.7%
10/60 • Number of events 17 • Baseline up to Week 40
Nervous system disorders
Dizziness
2.5%
3/120 • Number of events 3 • Baseline up to Week 40
6.7%
4/60 • Number of events 4 • Baseline up to Week 40
Infections and infestations
Nasopharyngitis
5.8%
7/120 • Number of events 7 • Baseline up to Week 40
3.3%
2/60 • Number of events 3 • Baseline up to Week 40
Infections and infestations
Upper respiratory tract infection
3.3%
4/120 • Number of events 5 • Baseline up to Week 40
6.7%
4/60 • Number of events 4 • Baseline up to Week 40
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Pain in extremity
5.0%
6/120 • Number of events 7 • Baseline up to Week 40
3.3%
2/60 • Number of events 2 • Baseline up to Week 40
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Back pain
5.0%
6/120 • Number of events 7 • Baseline up to Week 40
1.7%
1/60 • Number of events 1 • Baseline up to Week 40
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Myalgia
5.0%
6/120 • Number of events 7 • Baseline up to Week 40
0.00%
0/60 • Baseline up to Week 40
Investigations
Alanine aminotransferase increased
5.8%
7/120 • Number of events 7 • Baseline up to Week 40
0.00%
0/60 • Baseline up to Week 40
Investigations
Aspartate aminotransferase increased
5.0%
6/120 • Number of events 6 • Baseline up to Week 40
0.00%
0/60 • Baseline up to Week 40
Psychiatric disorders
Anxiety
1.7%
2/120 • Number of events 2 • Baseline up to Week 40
5.0%
3/60 • Number of events 4 • Baseline up to Week 40
Ear and labyrinth disorders
Vertigo
0.83%
1/120 • Number of events 1 • Baseline up to Week 40
5.0%
3/60 • Number of events 4 • Baseline up to Week 40

Additional Information

Merck KGaA Communication Center

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA

Phone: +49-6151-72-5200

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place

Restriction type: OTHER