BEYOND Study Fails to Show Superiority of Betaferon

German drugmaker Bayer-Schering Pharma’s Phase III trial of Betaferon did not show statistically significant superiority of the 500-mcg Betaferon dose compared with the 250-mcg dose and Copaxone in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

The randomized, multicenter BEYOND trial compared the relative efficacy of Betaferon 250 mcg every other day with a 500-mcg dose of Betaferon every other day and with glatiramer acetate 20 mcg administered subcutaneously every day.

The study enrolled 2,244 patients who had not been treated previously with MS therapy and were randomized to one of the three study arms.

Results of the BEYOND study do not support the regulatory filing for the 500-mcg dose of Betaferon, Bayer-Schering said.