About Betaseron®
The Bayer Emeryville supply center manufactures Betaseron®*, a medication approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS to reduce the frequency of relapses. Betaseron is the only high dose, high frequency interferon-beta FDA-approved for treatment at the first MS event.
BETASERON® is believed to help fight relapsing forms of MS in the following ways:
- It blocks certain immune system cells — called T cells — from attacking myelin, the material that protects axons
- It stops certain types of proteins from activating the immune system
Treatment with BETASERON® cannot restore lost function, but it may slow future disease progression.
* BETASERON® (Interferon beta-1b) is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations. Patients with multiple sclerosis in whom efficacy has been demonstrated include patients who have experienced a first clinical episode and have MRI features consistent with multiple sclerosis.
Important Safety Information
The most commonly reported adverse reactions are lymphopenia, injection-site reaction, asthenia, flu-like symptom complex, headache and pain. Gradual dose titration and use of analgesics during treatment initiation may help reduce flu-like symptoms. BETASERON should be used with caution in patients with depression. Injection-site necrosis has been reported in 4% of patients in controlled trials. Patients should be advised of the importance of rotating injection sites. Female patients should be warned about the potential risk to pregnancy. Cases of anaphylaxis have been reported rarely. See "Warnings," "Precautions," and "Adverse Reactions" sections of full Prescribing Information.
