sease of the central nervous system affecting twice as many women than men.3 MS has a significant impact on the patient's social activities, employment and overall quality of life. Currently marketed MS therapies afford an average reduction in relapse rates of 30% in two-year studies and require frequent injections ranging from daily to weekly.

FTY720 Phase II study results

The results are from a large Phase II study conducted at 32 centers in 11 countries (Europe and Canada). In the initial, placebo-controlled part of this study, 281 patients were randomized in equal numbers to receive either placebo, 1.25 mg or 5.0 mg FTY720 orally once-daily for six months. The study evaluated the effect of FTY720 on disease activity as measured by MRI and clinical relapses as well as its tolerability and safety. After six months, patients in the placebo group were re-randomized to receive either FTY720 1.25 mg or 5 mg blinded for an additional six months, while patients already on FTY720 continued their originally-assigned treatment. A total of 98% of the 255 patients who completed the first six months volunteered to continue in the extension phase evaluating the longer-term effects of FTY720.

In the 12-month analysis, both patient groups on FTY720 (1.25 mg and 5 mg) who had experienced a reduction in their annualized relapse rate of more than 50% during the first six months compared to placebo maintained this low relapse rate during the subsequent six-month extension. In those patients who switched from placebo to either 1.25 mg or 5 mg of FTY720 after six months, the annualized relapse rate was reduced by at least 70% during the second six-month study phase compared to the first six months on placebo.

The MRI results at 12 months showed low levels of inflammatory disease activity in all FTY720 groups. In patients who switched from placebo to FTY720, the mean number of inflammatory (Gd-enhancing) lesions on MRI (at the 12th
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