Transition to Rebif New Formulation (TRANSFER)
Primary Purpose
Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis
Status
Completed
Phase
Phase 3
Locations
International
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Rebif New Formulation + prophylactic Ibuprofen
Rebif New Formulation + ibuprofen PRN
Sponsored by

About this trial
This is an interventional supportive care trial for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Subject with relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score < 5.5 at study entry
- Subjects who have been administering Rebif 44 mcg three times a week for at least 6 months prior to study enrolment
- Subject currently using Rebiject II and who will use their own Rebiject II for the Rebif New Formulation injections
- Subject is between 18 and 60 years old inclusive
- Female subjects must be neither pregnant nor breast-feeding and must lack childbearing potential, as defined by either: post-menopausal or surgically sterile, or use a highly effective method of contraception.
- Subject is willing to follow study procedures
- Subject is willing and must not present any contra-indication to taking ibuprofen during 4 weeks of the study
- Subject has given written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis without superimposed attacks
- Use of any other injectible medications during the week prior to the screening period, during the screening or treatment periods
- Subject receiving MS therapy in addition (i.e. combination therapy) to Rebif within 3 months prior to study enrolment or at any time during study protocol
- History of any chronic pain syndrome
- Subjects that use any investigational drug or experimental procedure within 12 weeks of visit
- Subject received corticosteroids or adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) within 30 days of visit 1
- Subject with flu-like symptoms (FLS) associated with any cause (i.e. no current flu and no FLS related to Interferon in the week prior to baseline)
- Subject has abnormal liver function, defined by a total bilirubin > 1.5 times the upper limit of normal, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 2.5 times the upper limit of the normal values.
- Subject has inadequate bone marrow reserve, defined as a total white blood cell count < 3.0 x 109/L, platelet count < 75 x 109/L, haemoglobin < 100 g/L.
- Subject suffers from an active autoimmune disease other than MS
- Subject suffers from major medical or psychiatric illness
- Subject has seizures history or is currently experiencing seizures not adequately controlled by anti-epileptics
- Subject is pregnant or attempting to conceive
- Visual or physical impairment that precludes completion of diaries and questionnaires by himself/herself
- Contraindication to ibuprofen:known hypersensitivity to the active ingredient ibuprofen
- Known hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which can lead to asthmatic attacks, gastric and/or intestinal ulcers, gastro-intestinal bleeding, cerebro-vascular bleeding or other active bleeding, severe hepatic dysfunction, severe kidney dysfunction, severe cardiac insufficiency, or systemic lupus erythematosus
Sites / Locations
- Local Medical Information
- Local Medical Information
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Arm Label
Transition with prophylactic ibuprofen
Transition with PRN ibuprofen
Arm Description
Outcomes
Primary Outcome Measures
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Concern Questionnaire (MSTCQ) Flu-like Symptom Score
This is defined as the sum of the scores for the "side effects" section questions 1-4, with a minimum possible total score of 1 and a maximum possible total score of 20 in the MSTCQ. The lower the score, the better the outcome.
Secondary Outcome Measures
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Concern Questionnaire (MSTCQ) Total Score
This is defined as the sum of the scores for the "injection systems" section questions 1-9 and the "side effects" section questions 1-11, with a minimum possible total score of 20 and a maximum possible total score of 100. The lower the score, the better the outcome.
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Concern Questionnaire (MSTCQ) Injection Satisfaction Score
This is defined as the sum of the scores for the "injection systems" section questions 1-9, with a minimum possible total score of 9 and a maximum possible total score of 45. The lower the score, the better the outcome.
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Concern Questionnaire (MSTCQ) Injection Site Reaction Score
This is defined as the sum of the scores for the "side effects" section questions 5 to 8, with a minimum possible total score of 1 and a maximum possible total score of 20. The lower the score, the better the outcome.
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Concern Questionnaire (MSTCQ) Global Side Effects Score
This is defined as the sum of the scores for "side effects" section questions 9 to 11, corresponding to minimum possible total score of 3 and a maximum possible total score of 15. The lower the score, the better the outcome.
Full Information
NCT ID
NCT00619307
First Posted
February 8, 2008
Last Updated
January 26, 2014
Sponsor
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
1. Study Identification
Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT00619307
Brief Title
Transition to Rebif New Formulation
Acronym
TRANSFER
Official Title
A Randomized, Multicenter, Two-arm, Open-label, Phase IIIb Study to Evaluate the Satisfaction in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Subjects Transitioning to Rebif® New Formulation From Rebif® (Interferon Beta-1a) With Ibuprofen When Necessary (PRN) or as Prophylaxis
Study Type
Interventional
2. Study Status
Record Verification Date
January 2014
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
July 2007 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
April 2008 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
April 2008 (Actual)
3. Sponsor/Collaborators
Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
4. Oversight
5. Study Description
Brief Summary
To assess patient satisfaction with respect to the incidence of flu-like symptoms (FLS) in patients with multiple sclerosis transitioned from current Rebif (subcutaneously injected interferon beta-1a, 44 mcg three-times-weekly) to the new formulation of Rebif (RNF) while receiving ibuprofen either prophylactically or only when necessary (PRN) after the occurence of flu-like symptoms.
6. Conditions and Keywords
Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis
7. Study Design
Primary Purpose
Supportive Care
Study Phase
Phase 3
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
117 (Actual)
8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions
Arm Title
Transition with prophylactic ibuprofen
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Title
Transition with PRN ibuprofen
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Rebif New Formulation + prophylactic Ibuprofen
Intervention Description
Subjects, currently on Rebif® 44 mcg three times a week, using Rebiject II as an injection device and having received Rebif® full dose 44 mcg three times a week for at least 6 months, receives systematically 400 mg ibuprofen as prophylactic treatment against flu-like symptoms on days when Rebif New Formulation 44 mcg three times a week is injected
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Rebif New Formulation + ibuprofen PRN
Intervention Description
Subjects, currently on Rebif® 44 mcg three times a week, using Rebiject II as an injection device and having received Rebif® full dose 44 mcg three times a week for at least 6 months, should not administer Ibuprofen before the first Rebif New Formulation injection. If flu-like symptoms occur after the 44 mcg Rebif New Formulation injection then the subject can administer 400 mg ibuprofen. This should only be administered after the Rebif New Formulation injection and not before the Rebif New Formulation injection.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Concern Questionnaire (MSTCQ) Flu-like Symptom Score
Description
This is defined as the sum of the scores for the "side effects" section questions 1-4, with a minimum possible total score of 1 and a maximum possible total score of 20 in the MSTCQ. The lower the score, the better the outcome.
Time Frame
4 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Concern Questionnaire (MSTCQ) Total Score
Description
This is defined as the sum of the scores for the "injection systems" section questions 1-9 and the "side effects" section questions 1-11, with a minimum possible total score of 20 and a maximum possible total score of 100. The lower the score, the better the outcome.
Time Frame
4 weeks
Title
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Concern Questionnaire (MSTCQ) Injection Satisfaction Score
Description
This is defined as the sum of the scores for the "injection systems" section questions 1-9, with a minimum possible total score of 9 and a maximum possible total score of 45. The lower the score, the better the outcome.
Time Frame
4 weeks
Title
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Concern Questionnaire (MSTCQ) Injection Site Reaction Score
Description
This is defined as the sum of the scores for the "side effects" section questions 5 to 8, with a minimum possible total score of 1 and a maximum possible total score of 20. The lower the score, the better the outcome.
Time Frame
4 weeks
Title
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Concern Questionnaire (MSTCQ) Global Side Effects Score
Description
This is defined as the sum of the scores for "side effects" section questions 9 to 11, corresponding to minimum possible total score of 3 and a maximum possible total score of 15. The lower the score, the better the outcome.
Time Frame
4 weeks
10. Eligibility
Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
60 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Subject with relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score < 5.5 at study entry
Subjects who have been administering Rebif 44 mcg three times a week for at least 6 months prior to study enrolment
Subject currently using Rebiject II and who will use their own Rebiject II for the Rebif New Formulation injections
Subject is between 18 and 60 years old inclusive
Female subjects must be neither pregnant nor breast-feeding and must lack childbearing potential, as defined by either: post-menopausal or surgically sterile, or use a highly effective method of contraception.
Subject is willing to follow study procedures
Subject is willing and must not present any contra-indication to taking ibuprofen during 4 weeks of the study
Subject has given written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis without superimposed attacks
Use of any other injectible medications during the week prior to the screening period, during the screening or treatment periods
Subject receiving MS therapy in addition (i.e. combination therapy) to Rebif within 3 months prior to study enrolment or at any time during study protocol
History of any chronic pain syndrome
Subjects that use any investigational drug or experimental procedure within 12 weeks of visit
Subject received corticosteroids or adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) within 30 days of visit 1
Subject with flu-like symptoms (FLS) associated with any cause (i.e. no current flu and no FLS related to Interferon in the week prior to baseline)
Subject has abnormal liver function, defined by a total bilirubin > 1.5 times the upper limit of normal, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 2.5 times the upper limit of the normal values.
Subject has inadequate bone marrow reserve, defined as a total white blood cell count < 3.0 x 109/L, platelet count < 75 x 109/L, haemoglobin < 100 g/L.
Subject suffers from an active autoimmune disease other than MS
Subject suffers from major medical or psychiatric illness
Subject has seizures history or is currently experiencing seizures not adequately controlled by anti-epileptics
Subject is pregnant or attempting to conceive
Visual or physical impairment that precludes completion of diaries and questionnaires by himself/herself
Contraindication to ibuprofen:known hypersensitivity to the active ingredient ibuprofen
Known hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which can lead to asthmatic attacks, gastric and/or intestinal ulcers, gastro-intestinal bleeding, cerebro-vascular bleeding or other active bleeding, severe hepatic dysfunction, severe kidney dysfunction, severe cardiac insufficiency, or systemic lupus erythematosus
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Sabine Latour, MD
Organizational Affiliation
Merck Serono International S.A., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Official's Role
Study Director
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Local Medical Information
City
Paris
Country
France
Facility Name
Local Medical Information
City
Munich
Country
Germany
12. IPD Sharing Statement
Learn more about this trial
Transition to Rebif New Formulation
We'll reach out to this number within 24 hrs