The pulmonary route for Rebif
Serono S.A. and U.S. marketing partner Pfizer Inc. reported $1.1 billion in sales last year for Rebif interferon-beta-1a for multiple sclerosis. But three subcutaneous injections each week are less than ideal. To solve that problem, Serono has exclusively licensed fusion protein technology from Syntonix Pharmaceuticals Inc. that it will use to develop a multiple sclerosis candidate that can be delivered less frequently via pulmonary inhalation.
"If successfully developed, interferon beta:Fc could be an alternative not only to Rebif, but to all interferon-beta treatments for MS, as it would provide an easier way to administer therapy," said Andrew Galazka, senior vice president of scientific affairs at Serono (SWX:SEO; SRA, Geneva, Switzerland). ...