Bayer Offers New Betaferon® Titration Pack

Easy-to-use pack is designed to improve patient acceptance of therapy right from the start

Berlin, Bayer will launch a titration pack for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) that is specially designed to make it easier for them to start Betaferon® (interferon beta-1b) therapy. From now on, the titration pack will be available in Germany. More European countries will follow in 2009. The four-week pack facilitates a gradual increase in dose as recommended for patients new on Betaferon®.

Betaferon® is a well-established therapy for people starting their MS treatment as early as after the first signs of the condition. Findings from the recent landmark BENEFIT (BEtaferon in Newly Emerging multiple sclerosis For Initial Treatment) trial have shown that gradual dose titration of the medication contributes to a high acceptance of Betaferon® treatment from the start. Delivering Betaferon® in an easy-to-use titration pack for the first four weeks of therapy will simplify the titration process for physicians, MS-nurses and patients.

“The new pack will make it easier for people with MS to start therapy. The titration process helps the body to better adjust to the medication, resulting regularly in fewer side effects. This is important because greater patient comfort, especially during the start of the therapy, can improve patient compliance to therapy and, consequently, its effectiveness,” said Habib Dable, Vice President and Global Head, Neurology/Ophthalmology of Bayer Schering Pharma`s Global Business Unit Specialty Medicine.

The launch of the new titration pack for Betaferon® underscores the ongoing commitment of Bayer to bridge the gap between treatment and care by addressing the day-to-day needs of people living with MS.

About Betaferon® / Betaseron®
Betaferon®, which is marketed in the U.S. and Canada under the trademark Betaseron®, was the first disease-modifying drug introduced for MS and is a well-established treatment around the world. In the U.S., Europe and Japan, Betaferon® has been approved for all relapsing forms of MS. Betaferon® (interferon beta-1b) has achieved one million patient years of experience in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The accomplishment, coupled with 16 years of follow-up clinical data, makes Betaferon® the MS therapy with the longest experience.

About Multiple Sclerosis
MS is a chronic, progressive disease of the central nervous system and the likelihood of disability increases the longer someone has MS. Symptoms of MS vary from person to person and can be unpredictable. They may include: Fatigue or tiredness, dimness of vision in one or both eyes, weakness in one or more extremities, numbness and tingling in the face, arms, legs and trunk of the body, spasticity (muscle stiffness), dizziness, double vision, slurred speech and loss of bladder control.

About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Bayer Schering Pharma, Consumer Care and Medical Care divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.

Bayer Schering Pharma is a worldwide leading specialty pharmaceutical company. Its research and business activities are focused on the following areas: Diagnostic Imaging, General Medicine, Specialty Medicine and Women’s Healthcare. With innovative products, Bayer Schering Pharma aims for leading positions in specialized markets worldwide. Using new ideas, Bayer Schering Pharma aims to make a contribution to medical progress and strives to improve the quality of life. Find more information at www.bayerscheringpharma.de.


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