EMD Serono Highlights Commitment to Advance Multiple Sclerosis Treatment with Investigational Cladribine Tablets and Rebif® Data at AAN 2018

ROCKLAND, Mass., April 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the US and Canada, today announced data for Cladribine Tablets, an investigational treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), and Rebif^® (interferon beta-1a) will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 70^th Annual Meeting, April 21-27, 2018, in Los Angeles.

Cladribine Tablets data to be presented includes poster presentations highlighting post-hoc analyses of the CLARITY, CLARITY Extension and ORACLE-MS trials evaluating safety and use in patients with MS, as well as the impact on B- and T-cells. Cladribine Tablets, marketed as MAVENCLAD^® in the European Union (EU), is an investigational short-course oral therapy that is thought to preferentially target lymphocytes which may be integral to the pathological process of relapsing forms of MS (RMS). Cladribine Tablets is currently under clinical investigation and is not approved in the US.

MAVENCLAD^® has received marketing authorization in 35 countries including European Union member countries, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates. MAVENCLAD^® is now available in Germany, UK, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Israel, and other markets. The Company is planning additional filings for regulatory approval including the United States.

Rebif data includes presentations analyzing no evidence of disease activity (NEDA), long-term disease activity assessed by the Magnetic Resonance Imaging in MS (MAGNIMS) score, new data on pregnancy outcomes for women being treated with interferon beta, as well as real-world evidence evaluating treatment adherence rates for patients treated with Rebif compared with dimethyl fumarate.

"We look forward to presenting data demonstrating advancement in our knowledge of MS, including further scientific information about Rebif, an important treatment option for relapsing forms of MS, and potential treatment options, such as investigational Cladribine Tablets, at the 2018 AAN Annual Meeting," said Luciano Rossetti, MD, Executive Vice President, Global Head of R&D for EMD Serono. "We are committed to better understanding MS and developing innovative solutions to improve the lives of patients and those affected by this disease."

Meeting attendees can learn more about the Company and participate in the following MS-specific interactive activities by visiting booth #1847:

• "I'm Balancing MS": Individuals can understand the balance between healthcare and lifestyle for those facing MS through a mobile art activity. For each participant, we will donate $100 to MS Fitness Challenge, a charity organization dedicated to educating and training people with MS on the benefits of exercise and nutrition.
• "Shine a Light": Individuals can create their own Light Trail art symbolizing what drives their commitment to fighting MS. Participation in the activity will drive a donation to MS Fitness Challenge.

Additionally, Exhibit Hall booth #1957 will host hands-on activities which will allow attendees to gain a better understanding of what it's like to have MS through virtual reality pods and simulation stations.

EMD Serono will also be hosting an Industry Therapeutic Update event entitled Evolving Perspectives and Innovations in Multiple Sclerosis on Wednesday, April 25 from 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. PDT at the Platinum Ballroom in the JW Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles. Speakers include, Professor Amit Bar-Or, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Professor Dusan Stefoski, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL and Professor Anthony Traboulsee, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CA.

AAN Brain Health Fair
EMD Serono will exhibit its MS InsideOut experience at the AAN Brain Health Fair, a one-day-only event where attendees can learn about the brain and the field of neurology. The event takes place on Friday, April 20 from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. PDT at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Presentations at AAN 2018 include the following accepted abstracts:

About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory condition of the central nervous system and is the most common, non-traumatic, disabling neurological disease in young adults. It is estimated that approximately 2.3 million people have MS worldwide. While symptoms can vary, the most common symptoms of MS include blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the limbs and problems with strength and coordination. The relapsing forms of MS are the most common.

EMD Serono, Inc. and Multiple Sclerosis
For more than 20 years, EMD Serono has been relentlessly focused on understanding the journey people living with MS face in order to create a meaningful, positive experience for them and the broader MS community. However, there is still much that is unknown about this complex and unpredictable disease. EMD Serono is digging deeper to advance the science and reconstruct a new understanding of MS, inside and out. We are committed to delivering solutions that improve the lives of all those affected by MS. www.GetCloserToMS.com

About Cladribine Tablets 
Cladribine Tablets is an investigational short-course oral therapy that is thought to selectively target lymphocytes which may be integral to the pathological process of relapsing MS (RMS). Cladribine Tablets is currently under clinical investigation and not approved for the treatment for any use in the United States. MAVENCLAD^® has received marketing authorization in 35 countries including European Union member countries, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates. MAVENCLAD^® is now available in Germany, UK, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Israel, and other markets.  In December 2017, Health Canada approved MAVENCLAD for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS.

The clinical development program for Cladribine Tablets includes:

• The CLARITY (Cladribine Tablets Treating MS Orally) study: a two-year Phase III placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Cladribine Tablets as a monotherapy in patients with RRMS.
• The CLARITY extension study: a two-year Phase III placebo-controlled study following on from the CLARITY study, designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Cladribine Tablets over an extended administration for four years.
• The ORACLE MS (Oral Cladribine in Early MS) study: a two-year Phase III placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Cladribine Tablets as a monotherapy in patients at risk of developing MS (patients who have experienced a first clinical event suggestive of MS).
• The ONWARD (Oral Cladribine Added ON To Interferon beta-1a in Patients With Active Relapsing Disease) study: a Phase II placebo-controlled study designed primarily to evaluate the safety and tolerability of adding Cladribine Tablets treatment to patients with relapsing forms of MS, who have experienced breakthrough disease while on established interferon-beta therapy.
• PREMIERE (Prospective Observational Long-term Safety Registry of Multiple Sclerosis Patients Who Have Participated in Cladribine Clinical Studies) study: interim long-term follow-up data from the prospective registry, PREMIERE, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Cladribine Tablets. This includes more than 10,000 patient years of data with over 2,700 patients included in the clinical trial program, and more than 10 years of observation in some patients.

In the two-year CLARITY study, the most commonly reported adverse event (AE) in patients treated with Cladribine Tablets was lymphopenia. The incidence of infections was 48.3% with Cladribine Tablets and 42.5% with placebo, with 99.1% and 99.0% respectively rated mild-to-moderate by investigators.

About Rebif^® (interferon beta-1a) 
Rebif (interferon beta-1a) is used to treat relapsing forms of MS to decrease the frequency of relapses and delay the occurrence of some of the physical disability that is common in people with MS. The efficacy and safety of Rebif in controlled clinical trials beyond 2-years has not been established. 

Important Safety Information:
Rebif is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to natural or recombinant interferon beta, human albumin, or any other component of the formulation. 

Rebif should be used with caution in patients with depression, a condition that is common in people with multiple sclerosis. Depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts have been reported to occur with increased frequency in patients receiving interferon compounds, including Rebif. 

Severe liver injury, including some cases of hepatic failure requiring liver transplantation, has been reported rarely in patients taking Rebif. The potential for liver injury should be considered when used in combination with other products associated with liver injury. Monitor liver function tests and patients for signs and symptoms of hepatic injury. Consider discontinuing Rebif if hepatic injury occurs.

Anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions (some severe) have been reported as a rare complication of Rebif. Discontinue Rebif if anaphylaxis occurs. 

In controlled clinical trials, injection site reactions occurred more frequently in Rebif-treated patients than in placebo-treated and Avonex-treated patients. Injection site reactions including injection site pain, erythema, edema, cellulitis, abscess, and necrosis have been reported in the postmarketing setting. Do not administer Rebif into affected area until fully healed; if multiple lesions occur, discontinue Rebif until skin lesions are healed. 

Decreased peripheral blood counts in all cell lines, including pancytopenia, have been reported in Rebif-treated patients. In controlled clinical trials, leukopenia occurred at a higher frequency in Rebif-treated patients than in placebo and Avonex-treated patients. Thrombocytopenia and anemia occurred more frequently in 44 mcg Rebif-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients. Patients should be monitored for symptoms or signs of decreased blood counts. Monitoring of complete blood and differential white blood cell counts is also recommended. 

Cases of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), some fatal, have been reported with interferon beta products, including Rebif, up to several weeks or years after starting therapy. Discontinue Rebif if clinical symptoms and laboratory findings consistent with TMA occur, and manage as clinically indicated.

Caution should be exercised when administering Rebif to patients with pre-existing seizure disorders. Seizures have been temporally associated with the use of beta interferons, including Rebif, in clinical trials and in postmarketing reports. 

The most common side effects with Rebif are injection-site disorders, headaches, influenza-like symptoms, abdominal pain, depression, elevated liver enzymes, and hematologic abnormalities. 

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Rebif should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Rebif full prescribing information is available at http://www.emdserono.com/ms.country.us/en/images/Rebif_PI_tcm115_140051.pdf?Version=

About EMD Serono, Inc. 
EMD Serono is the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada - a leading science and technology company - focused exclusively on specialty care. For more than 40 years, the business has integrated cutting-edge science, innovative products and industry-leading patient support and access programs. EMD Serono has deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as a robust pipeline of potential therapies in oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology as R&D focus areas. Today, the business has 1,300 employees around the country with commercial, clinical and research operations based in the company's home state of Massachusetts. www.emdserono.com

Your Contact

Alice McGrail 1-781-681-2886

SOURCE EMD Serono

Related Links

http://www.emdserono.com