AUTHOR=Centonze Diego , Fantozzi Roberta , Buttari Fabio , Grimaldi Luigi Maria Edoardo , Totaro Rocco , Corea Francesco , Marrosu Maria Giovanna , Confalonieri Paolo , Cottone Salvatore , Trojano Maria , Zipoli Valentina 

TITLE=Multicenter Interventional Phase IV Study for the Assessment of the Effects on Patient's Satisfaction of Peg IFN Beta-1a (Pre-filled Pen) in Subjects With Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Unsatisfied With Other Injectable Subcutaneous Interferons (PLATINUM Study)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.637615

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2021.637615

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Subcutaneous (SC) interferons beta (IFN-beta) are effective therapies for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Factors such as dosing schedule, needle intolerance/fatigue and side effects may impact patient satisfaction with treatment. Improvement of patient satisfaction may increase the adherence to treatment and the patient quality of life. This study was aimed at evaluating the impact of switching to “Peginterferon beta-1a (Peg-IFN beta-1a)” in patients with RRMS unsatisfied with other SC interferons. The multicentre, open-label, phase IV PLATINUM study, was conducted in 32 Italian centres. The primary endpoint was changes from baseline in the score of convenience satisfaction domain of TSQM-9 questionnaire at 12 weeks. The secondary end points were patients’ global satisfaction, short term adherence to treatment, satisfaction with the injection system, effect on fatigue, disease activity and patient inability score. 193 patients were enrolled and 166 (86%) completed the study, receiving Peg-IFN beta-1a for 24 weeks. Patients switching to Peg-IFN beta-1a from other SC interferons reported a significant improvement (p<0.001) of Convenience Score and all other scores of TSQM-9 questionnaire at 12 and 24 weeks (p< 0.001). Peg IFN beta-1a attained very high adherence to the treatment (93.8% at 24 weeks) with a stable annualized relapse rate (ARR). At 24 weeks, 94% of participants were relapse free.  Adverse events (AE), recorded on 82 patients (42%), were mild or moderate. The most common AE was flu-like syndrome (29.2%). Patients switching from SC IFN beta therapy to Peg IFN beta-1a showed high treatment satisfaction with a positive safety profile, comparable with that of the other currently approved first-line injectable SC interferons. This study suggests that Peg IFN beta-1a might represent a treatment choice to improve adherence in RRMS patients unsatisfied with other SC interferons.
This study was financially supported by Biogen Italia.