More MS news articles for May 2002

Biogen's Leading Multiple Sclerosis Drug May Lose Its Dominance To Ares-Serono's New Therapy

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-29-2002/0001736522&EDATE=

May 29, 2002
PRNewswire
WALTHAM, Mass.

Decision Resources announced today the release of its new report focusing on multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the second most common cause (after trauma) of neurological disability in young and middle-aged adults. The report concluded that Biogen's Avonex, which has been a leading drug therapy for the disease, will see major competition from Ares-Serono's Rebif, which launched into the US market in March 2002.

"Trial results show that Ares-Serono's Rebif has greater efficacy at 24 and 48 weeks than Biogen's Avonex," said Michelle A. Grady, Analyst, Decision Resources. "Although it will find strong competition from Rebif, Avonex will still show increased sales in Europe due to the rapid growth of drug-treated MS patients in that market."
The report entitled Multiple Sclerosis provides in-depth analysis of the commercial outlook for drugs and agents in research and development to treat multiple sclerosis. A competitive overview of companies involved in this market, such as Biogen, Schering and Ares-Serono, is profiled in this study.

Disease Facts - Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the second most common cause (after trauma) of neurological disability in young and middle-ages adults. MS progresses at different rates in different patients -- progression results in increasing levels of disability. Lacking a cure for the disease, physicians have long relied on disease-modifying immunosuppressant therapies. The number of prevalent cases of multiple sclerosis in the major pharmaceutical markets (United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany, Spain and Italy) totaled 590,200 in 2001. The markets for agents to treat MS totaled $2.1 billion in 2001.

About Pharmacor from Decision Resources

Pharmacor is a unique family of studies based on primary and secondary research conducted by Decision Resources on-staff experts. Each comprehensive study assesses a host of market-impacting factors and analyzes the commercial outlook for drugs in research and development. Cardium, Cognos, Immune and Inflammatory Disorders, Infectious Diseases, and Onkos concentrate on specific therapeutic areas. Mosaic covers high-interest disease states. Cardium focuses on indications and issues of interest within the cardiovascular therapeutic area; Multiple Sclerosis is a Cognos report.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources, Inc. is a world leader in research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets. The Company has provided strategic information services for 30 years, assessing international pharmaceutical and health care industry trends. Visit Decision Resources at http://www.dresources.com/.

All company brand or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

For more information, contact:
Elizabeth Marshall
Decision Resources
781-296-2563