Rebismart is OK

Bayas A, Ouallet JC, Kallmann B, Hupperts R, Fulda U, Marhardt K; SMART study group. Adherence to, and effectiveness of, subcutaneous interferon β-1a administered by RebiSmart® in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: results of the 1-year, observational SMART study. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2015 22:1-12. [Epub ahead of print]


BACKGROUND:Patients with multiple sclerosis who have poor adherence to treatment have a higher risk of relapse than adherent patients. This study assessed adherence to, and effectiveness and convenience of, treatment with subcutaneous (sc) interferon (IFN) β-1a (Rebif®, Merck Serono SA) 44 or 22 μg three times weekly in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) using the RebiSmart® electronic, multidose, autoinjector for 1 year.
STUDY DESIGN:European, multicentre, observational study among neurologists: inclusion criteria included RMS, Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤ 6, sc IFN β-1a administered by RebiSmart for ≤ 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was cumulative adherence recorded by RebiSmart.
RESULTS: The safety population included 912 patients, 77.4% (n = 823) of whom completed the Month-12 visit. Mean (± standard deviation) cumulative adherence was 97.1 ± 7.3% (n = 791). The most common reason for missed injection was 'forgot to inject' (37.0%). At Month 12/ED, 79.5% of patients were relapse-free. Of 353 patients who rated the convenience of the device, 68.3% found injecting 'very easy'. No unknown safety issues were detected.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with RMS self-injecting sc IFN β-1a with RebiSmart had excellent adherence at Month 12/ED, which was associated with good clinical outcomes and no unexpected safety issues. Patients rated RebiSmart as convenient and easy to use.

Self-injectors are welcomed as we all know but we have to ensure that these first line DMT are working and that NEDA is being achieved. Without this maybe time to ditch the self injectors and move onto an tablet or infusion

CoI None

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