Long Term Study of Avonex Therapy Following a First Attack of Multiple Sclerosis

The current study is a continuation of the 5 year extension study of the phase III CHAMPS study (see reference). This study was designed to determine if immediate initiation of therapy with Interferon Beta-1a (AVONEX) after a first attack of multiple sclerosis (MS) continues to delay the development of further attacks (CDMS) and the development of neurological disability over a 10 year period of observation. The initial 5 year extension study, called CHAMPIONS5, reported that immediate initiation of interferon Beta-1a (AVONEX) after a first attack of MS continued to delay the development of CDMS and lowered relapse rates compared to delayed initiation of disease modifying treatment (usually with AVONEX) either at the time of a second attack or at the end of the phase III study (24 months). The study was extended to 10 years to determine if these effects are sustained and result in less long term permanent disability.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Previous participation in CHAMPS study
* Participation in a study site willing to participate in the CHAMPIONS10 extension study
* Willingness to enroll in the CHAMPIONS 10 extension
* Willingness to sign informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Discovery of an alternative neurological disorder other than MS as a cause of initial neurological symptoms
* A severe systemic disease with likely mortality within 3 years

• BACKGROUNDJacobs LD, Beck RW, Simon JH, Kinkel RP, Brownscheidle CM, Murray TJ, Simonian NA, Slasor PJ, Sandrock AW. Intramuscular interferon beta-1a therapy initiated during a first demyelinating event in multiple sclerosis. CHAMPS Study Group. N Engl J Med. 2000 Sep 28;343(13):898-904. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200009283431301. PMID 11006365
• BACKGROUNDKinkel RP, Kollman C, O'Connor P, Murray TJ, Simon J, Arnold D, Bakshi R, Weinstock-Gutman B, Brod S, Cooper J, Duquette P, Eggenberger E, Felton W, Fox R, Freedman M, Galetta S, Goodman A, Guarnaccia J, Hashimoto S, Horowitz S, Javerbaum J, Kasper L, Kaufman M, Kerson L, Mass M, Rammohan K, Reiss M, Rolak L, Rose J, Scott T, Selhorst J, Shin R, Smith C, Stuart W, Thurston S, Wall M; CHAMPIONS Study Group. IM interferon beta-1a delays definite multiple sclerosis 5 years after a first demyelinating event. Neurology. 2006 Mar 14;66(5):678-84. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000200778.65597.ae. Epub 2006 Jan 25. PMID 16436649
• BACKGROUNDKinkel RP, Dontchev M, Kollman C, Skaramagas TT, O'Connor PW, Simon JH; Controlled High-Risk Avonex Multiple Sclerosis Prevention Study in Ongoing Neurological Surveillance Investigators. Association between immediate initiation of intramuscular interferon beta-1a at the time of a clinically isolated syndrome and long-term outcomes: a 10-year follow-up of the Controlled High-Risk Avonex Multiple Sclerosis Prevention Study in Ongoing Neurological Surveillance. Arch Neurol. 2012 Feb;69(2):183-90. doi: 10.1001/archneurol.2011.1426. Epub 2011 Oct 10. PMID 21987393
• BACKGROUNDSimon JH, Kinkel RP, Kollman C, O'Connor P, Fisher E, You X, Hyde R; CHAMPIONS Investigators Group. Ten-year follow-up of the 'minimal MRI lesion' subgroup from the original CHAMPS Multiple Sclerosis Prevention Trial. Mult Scler. 2015 Apr;21(4):415-22. doi: 10.1177/1352458514547407. Epub 2014 Oct 24. PMID 25344370
• BACKGROUNDKinkel RP, Laforet G, You X. Disease-related determinants of quality of life 10 years after clinically isolated syndrome. Int J MS Care. 2015 Jan-Feb;17(1):26-34. doi: 10.7224/1537-2073.2013-041.