( BOSTON May 03 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- B...)Studies Presented at Neurology Conference Highlight Early Efficacy,,Long-Term Tolerability, and High Patient Satisfaction with,Betaseron,Health

BOSTON, May 03, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals announced today the results of three clinical studies with Betaseron(R) (interferon beta-1b), presented this week at the American Academy of Neurology's (AAN) 59th Annual Meeting, demonstrating early efficacy, long-term tolerability, and high patient satisfaction with treatment in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

"Collectively, these studies highlight the important clinical benefits and long-term safety and tolerability of Betaseron treatment," said Ludger Heeck, Ph.D., Vice President and General Manager, Specialized Therapeutics, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. "Betaseron is the first immunomodulatory MS treatment shown to significantly delay disability and disease progression in patients with the first event suggestive of MS. In addition, key attributes, such as a high level of patient satisfaction and tolerability of the medication, may help improve a person's adherence to treatment and consequently, the effectiveness of the treatment."

In the first study, known as BENEFIT(1) (BEtaseron in Newly Emerging multiple sclerosis For Initial Treatment), immediate initiation of Betaseron(R) treatment in patients after a first event suggestive of MS significantly reduced the risk of disability as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) by 40 percent(2). The results of the prospectively designed and blinded study were measured over three years and compared early treatment to delayed treatment, defined as receiving treatment after the second clinical event or after two years.

The second study - known as the Betaseron 16-Year Long-Term Follow-up (16- Year LTF) Study(3)- found long-term(4) use of Betaseron to be safe and tolerable. The 16-Year LTF Study followed patients with the relapsing form of MS who had already participated in the pivotal Betaseron trial, the results of which led to t
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