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Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Atorvastatin 40 mg in Patients With Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Interferon-beta-1b

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Interventions
Drug: Interferon beta-1b group
Registration Number
NCT01111656
Lead Sponsor
Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
Brief Summary

The "SWiss Atorvastatin and Interferon-Beta 1b Trial In Multiple Sclerosis - Follow up Study" is the follow up study of the "SWiss Atorvastatin and Interferon Beta-1b Trial In Multiple Sclerosis (SWABIMS)" (see http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Identifier: NCT00942591) SWABIMS evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of atorvastatin 40 mg in addition to interferon-beta 1b compared to interferon-beta 1b monotherapy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis for 15 month. The SWABIMS Follow up study observes patients that finish the SWABIMS study for another 12 month with ongoing unchanged medication.

Detailed Description

Background

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Statins are lipid-lowering drugs which inhibit the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA-) reductase, which is the main regulatory enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis. In recent years many studies have demonstrated, that statins have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in addition to their lipid-lowering effects. Therefore, statins may have therapeutic potential in immune-mediated disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Studies in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model for the human demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis, as well as smaller studies in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis showed beneficial effect on the course of the disease. But there are also reports of negative impact of statins on multiple sclerosis. Therefore, bigger studies are needed to investigate the therapeutical potential of statins in multiple sclerosis.

Objective

To assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the combination of atorvastatin 40mg p.o. daily and interferon-beta 1b sc e.o.d compared to monotherapy with interferon-beta-1b sc e.o.d in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis for 12 month after completing the SWABIMS study.

Methods

Multi-center, rater-blinded, parallel-group, two arm, randomized study. Patients with relapsing-remitting forms of MS, respecting all inclusion/exclusion criteria, were randomized in the SWABIMS study in two equal-size parallel arms after three months of treatment with interferon-beta 1b, receiving atorvastatin 40mg/d or not in addition to interferon-beta 1b for 12 month.

After successful completion of the study, patients were asked to participate in the "SWABIMS Follow up study" for another 12 month with ongoing medication.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
28
Inclusion Criteria
  • Successful completion of the SWABIMS study
  • Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

  • Any disease other than multiple sclerosis that would better explain the patient's signs and symptoms
  • Secondary progressive MS
  • Uncontrolled severe medical disorder
  • Participation in any other studies
Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
1Interferon beta-1b groupInterferon beta-1b 250ug subcutaneously every other day
2Interferon beta-1b/Atorvastatin groupInterferon beta-1b 250ug subcutaneously every other day AND atorvastatin 40mg every day (oral)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of patients with new lesions on T2-weighted images after 12 months of treatmentMonth 12
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total T2-hyperintense lesion volume (burden of disease, BOD) after 12 months of treatment.Month 12
Cortical atrophy (changes in brain volume, changes in grey matter and white matter) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after 12 months of treatmentMonth 0
Gd-enhancing lesions on T1-weighted images after 12 months of treatment.Month 12
Clinical disease progression (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS], Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite [MSFC] )Month 0
Time to first relapseMonth 0
Time of first relapseMonth 12
Functional systems scores (of Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] and Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite [MSFC] )Month 12
Number of relapse-free patients after 12 months of treatmentMonth 12
Relapse rate after 12 months of treatmentMonth 12
Cortical atrophy (changes in brain volume, changes in grey matter and white matter) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)after 12 months of treatmentMonth 12
Clinical disease progression (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] , Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite [MSFC] )Month 12

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Neurology, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern

🇨🇭

Bern, Switzerland

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