Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Randomized Study Comparing the Combined Use of Interferon Beta-1a and Glatiramer Acetate to Either Agent Alone in Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (CombiRx)
Brief Summary: This is for a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to determine if the combined use of interferon beta-1a (IFN) and glatiramer acetate (GA) is a measurably better therapy than either agent used individually in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS).


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Male and female subjects between the ages of 18 and 60 years, inclusive.
* Diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS by either the Poser or McDonald criteria.
* Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 0 and 5.5, inclusive.
* At least 2 exacerbations in the prior three years; one exacerbation may utilize the McDonald MRI criteria for dissemination in time (a new gadolinium \[Gd\]-enhancing lesion demonstrated on a scan done at least 3 months following onset of a clinical attack or a new T2 lesion or Gd-enhancing lesion on a follow-up scan after an additional 3 months).
* Give written informed consent prior to any testing under this protocol, including screening tests and evaluations that are not considered part of the subject's routine care.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any prior use of interferon beta or glatiramer acetate.
* Acute exacerbation within 30 days of screening.
* Steroids for acute exacerbations (\>100 mg/day) within 30 days of study entrance or chronic systemic steroid use.
* Evidence of progressive MS.
* Use IVIg, azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclosporine, mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate (CellCept) or plasma exchange in the twelve weeks prior to study drug dosing.
* Any previous treatment with natalizumab (Tysabri, Antegren), cladribine, T cell vaccine, Campath, daclizumab, rituximab, altered peptide ligand or total lymphoid irradiation.
* Treatment with 4 aminopyridines in the four weeks prior to study drug dosing.
* Prior treatment with any other investigational drug, unless approved by the Clinical Coordinating Center (Dr. Lublin).
* Inability to perform the baseline MSFC (timed 25-foot walk, 9-hole peg test \[9HPT\], and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test 3 \[PASAT3\]).
* Inability to undergo baseline MRI scan.
* History of any significant cardiac, hepatic, pulmonary, or renal disease, immune deficiency, or other medical conditions that would preclude therapy with interferon beta, glatiramer acetate, or participation in this study.
* Known history of sensitivity to gadopentetate dimeglumine or mannitol.
* History of a seizure within the 3 months prior to randomization.
* History of suicidal ideation or an episode of severe depression within the 3 months prior to randomization.
* Abnormal screening blood tests exceeding any of the limits defined below:

  * Alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) greater than two times the upper limit of normal (i.e., \>2 × ULN)
  * Total white blood cell count \<2,300/mm3
  * Platelet count \<80,000/mm3
  * Creatinine \>2 × ULN
* Participation in another experimental clinical trial, without formal approval.
* History of alcohol or drug abuse within the 2 years prior to randomization.
* Female subjects who are currently pregnant, breast-feeding, or plan to become pregnant.
* For female subjects, unless postmenopausal or surgically sterile, unwillingness to practice effective contraception, as defined by the investigator, during the study. The rhythm method is not to be used as the sole method of contraception.
* Unwillingness or inability to comply with the requirements of this protocol including the presence of any condition that is likely to affect the subject's returning for scheduled follow-up visits on schedule (any physical, mental, or social condition).
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of Relapsing Remitting MS according to the 2017 revised McDonald cri-teria 27 OR one demyelinating episode in conjunction with at least one asympto-matic high intensity T2 lesion with size and location compatible with MS.
* Untreated OR treated with first-line injectables (interferon or glatiramer acetate)
* Between the age of 18 and 50 years (inclusive) of age
* No more than ten years of disease duration
* During the previous year, clinical or radiological disease activity defined as at least one of the following:

  * ≥ 1 relapse
  * ≥ 2 T2 lesions
  * ≥ 1 Gd+ lesions
* Expanded Disability Status Scale: 0 - 5,5 (inclusive)
* In fertile females, willing to comply with effective contraceptive methods. These include birth control pills, surgical sterilization of patient or partner or intrauterine device. Non-fertile women is defined as more than 12 months of amenorrhea without an alternative medical cause or, in case of ambiguities, an follicle stimulation hormone level in the postmenopausal range.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of Progressive MS
* Pregnant or lactating women: human chorionic gonadotropin (s-HCG) will be tested on all women at screening, before each study-related infusion and in any situation where there is a reason to suspect pregnancy during the trial, eg delayed menstrual period more than five days above expected time.
* Patients having contraindication for or otherwise not compliant with MRI investigations
* Simultaneous treatment with other immunosuppressive drugs
* Active, severe infections Signs of infections are assessed before inclusion and each study-related infusion through clinical examination and further evaluated by laboratory and other relevant investigations in case of suspected ongoing infection. Hepatitis serology (HBsAg and anti-HBc) will be evaluated before treatment onset.
* Severe cardiac disorder, eg signs of congestive heart failure or coronary artery disease. This will be evaluated through clinical assessment before inclusion.
* Vaccination within 4 weeks of first dose of study medication.
* Documented allergy or intolerance to any of the investigational products.
* Severe psychiatric condition
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Female or male patients with relapsing-remitting forms of multiple sclerosis (according to McDonald's criteria)
* Age between 18 and 60 years
* Natalizumab-treatment for at least 12 month following the current Swiss guidelines for treatment initiation
* Eligible patients are clinically stable (free from relapses and 6-month confirmed disability progression for at least 6 months) while on natalizumab-treatment
* Women of potential childbearing with active contraceptive methods
* Patients who are willing to undergo study procedures
* Patients who are willing and able to sign informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who have previously entered this study
* Natalizumab-treatment for less than 12 month following the current Swiss guidelines for treatment initiation
* Sign of clinical disease activity within the 6 month
* One or more relapses and/or 6-month confirmed disability progression during the 6 months prior to the study
* Any disease other than multiple sclerosis that would better explain the patient's signs and symptoms
* Secondary progressive MS
* Primary progressive MS
* Pregnancy - Urine pregnancy test at baseline visit - or breast feeding
* Uncontrolled, clinically significant heart diseases, such as arrhythmias, angina, or uncompensated congestive heart failure
* History of severe depression or attempted suicide or current suicidal ideation
* Medical or psychiatric conditions that compromise the ability to give informed consent, to comply with the protocol, or to complete the study
* Uncontrolled seizure disorder
* Myopathy or clinically significant liver disease
* Inability, in the opinion of the principal investigator or staff, to comply with protocol requirements for the duration of the study
* Known hypersensitivity to interferon-beta or other human proteins including albumin
* Any contraindication for MRI or contrast administration
* A history of drug abuse in the 6 months prior to screening
* Treatment with any of the following in the 30 days before day 1: systemic corticosteroids, ACTH, or other investigational drugs.
* Participation in any other study involving investigational or marketed products, concomitantly or within 30 days prior to entry in the study
* Current participation on other clinical trials
* Treatment with drugs which might interfere with the evaluation of study drugs during the study protocol
* Likelihood of requiring treatment during the study period with drugs not permitted by the study protocol
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Willing and able to sign written Informed Consent;
* Female and male subjects aged 18-55 years inclusive at the time of Informed Consent signing;
* Diagnosis of RRMS according to the revised McDonald criteria;
* Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 0.0 up to and including 5.5;
* Neurologically stable with no evidence of relapse within 30 days prior to randomization;
* Experienced at least 1 relapse in the year before first screening assessment;
* At least 1 T1-weighted Gadolinium enhancing (T1-GdE) lesion on routine brain MRI taken within 3 months of starting screening or on screening brain MRI (as confirmed by central imaging laboratory;
* Having a routine brain MRI showing maximally 15 T1-GdE lesions if scan is taken without subject receiving immuno-modulatory treatment, or a routine brain MRI showing maximally 5 T1-GdE lesions when taken while on immuno-modulatory treatment, or a screening MRI showing maximally 15 T1-GdE lesions;
* Must decline initiation or continuation of treatment with other available disease-modifying drugs for MS, for whatever reason, after having been informed about their respective benefits and possible adverse events by the investigator;
* Female subjects of childbearing potential must agree to practice appropriate contraceptive methods as assessed by the investigator.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any life-threatening, medically unstable or otherwise clinically significant condition or findings other than MS, in particular neoplastic disease, seizure disorders, or psychiatric disease;
* Any clinically significant deviation from reference ranges in laboratory tests;
* Positive laboratory test results for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), HBsAg or HCV at screening;
* Any significant deviation from reference ranges for hepatic function;
* Positive urine drug screen or history of substance abuse within the year before screening (any use of illicit or prescription drugs or alcohol constituting an abuse pattern in the opinion of the investigator);
* Having been treated with or having received

  1. at any time:

     * glatiramer acetate, cladribine, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, alemtuzumab, or other immunosuppressive treatments with effects potentially lasting for more than 6 months
     * total lymphoid irradiation or bone marrow transplantation
  2. within one year before screening:

     * mitoxantrone, but subject cannot be enrolled when mitoxantrone was taken at a cumulative lifetime dosing above 100 mg/m2
  3. within 6 months before screening:

     * fingolimod, immunoglobulins and/or monoclonal antibodies (including natalizumab), leflunomide, or putative MS treatments
     * chronic oral or injected corticosteroids or injected ACTH (more than 30 consecutive days)
  4. within 3 months before screening:

     * azathioprine, methotrexate
     * plasma exchange
     * any other experimental intervention, in particular experimental drugs
  5. within 1 month before screening:

     * Interferon-β 1a or 1b
     * short-term oral or injectable corticosteroids for treatment of a relapse
     * short-term ACTH
* Having, in the opinion of the investigator, consecutively failed on efficacy grounds two full and adequate courses of accepted treatment modalities (normally at least one year of treatment for each);
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
* Known hypersensitivity to gadolinium-containing products, glatiramer acetate or mannitol;
* Having an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 50 mL/min/1.73m2;
* Inability to undergo (repeat) MRI investigations as judged by the investigator, e.g. due to claustrophobia, metal implants or fragments, tattoos or permanent make-up;
* Any reason why, in the investigator's opinion, the subject should not participate.

Answer: A