12-week Study to Evaluate RebiSmart™ Suitability for Self Injection in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis.
Condition: Multiple Sclerosis
MeSH terms: Multiple Sclerosis; Sclerosis
Intervention: Rebif® New Formulation (RNF) using RebiSmartTM
Intervention description: RNF 44 mg, 3 times a week by subcutaneous injection.
Phase: Phase 3
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Treatment
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Enrollment: 106.0
Sex: All
Minimum age: 18 Years
Maximum age: 65 Years
Healthy volunteers: No
Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis

Summary:

      The Electronic Device - The RebiSmart™ is an electronic injection device that is being
      studied for the delivery of Merck Serono's Rebif® New Formulation. The RebiSmart™ device is a
      stand-alone hand-held device with internal power supply. It is used for subcutaneous (under
      the skin) injections with single-use sterile disposable needles. The device will be kept in a
      storage box and placed in the refrigerator after each use.

      The key features of the RebiSmart™ are as follows:

        -  Battery powered electromechanical automatic injector;

        -  Automatic needle attachment and detachment;

        -  Hidden needle before and after injection;

        -  Injection can only be initiated by pressing the injection button when in contact with
           the skin;

        -  Automatic needle insertion and injection of the preset dose into the subcutaneous (under
           the skin) tissue;

        -  Adjustable injection comfort parameters: Injection depth, needle insertion speed,
           medication injection speed and time that the needle remains in the skin ;

        -  Cartridges with 3 doses of Rebif® New Formulation; and

        -  Several other electronic functions including history (date and time) of cartridge
           changes and injections.

      The Study Drug - Rebif® New Formulation (RNF) Rebif® is a medicine that is part of a family
      of proteins called interferon beta-1a (IFN-β-1a) molecules that play an important role in the
      immune system and help limit the damage that occurs with multiple sclerosis (MS). The
      interferon in Rebif® is like your body's own natural human interferon, but is made outside
      the body by a process called "recombinant DNA technology". Merck Serono International S.A.
      (the maker of Rebif®) has recently updated the method to make Rebif®, and it is referred to
      as Rebif® New Formulation (RNF).

      For the purpose of this study, the form of Rebif® New Formulation (RNF) will differ slightly
      from the one you currently receive. RNF will be supplied in pre-filled cartridges containing
      three doses of 44mcg / 0.5 ml IFN-β-1a. This is the amount required for you to administer
      during the course of one full week of treatment. The dosage of RNF 44mcg is injected under
      the skin three times per week. The RebiSmart™ device will be provided for the administration
      of RNF. RNF should be administered, if possible, at the same time (preferably in the late
      afternoon or evening) on the same three days (e.g. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), with at
      least 48 hours break between each administration. You will be asked to record the time and
      date of each injection in the diary cards provided. You will be taught how to properly use
      the device to inject the medication. You will also be reminded to rotate injection sites and
      advised on the importance of avoiding already inflamed areas for future injections.

      The goals of this research trial are:

        -  To evaluate if the electronic device can be used (if it is suitable) by MS patients
           performing self-injections of Rebif® New Formulation.

        -  To determine MS patients overall satisfaction of the new RebiSmart™ device by
           determining their ease in using it, how often side effects happen (flu-like symptoms,
           injection site reactions and any other overall injection issues) that they may
           experience while on the trial. This will be done by completion of the Patient User Trial
           Questionnaire and the Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Concern Questionnaire (MSTCQ).

        -  To evaluate specific features of the RebiSmart™ device from the answers MS patients
           provide in the User Trial Questionnaire. The MS patient and the person who will trains
           them on the proper use of the device will complete this questionnaire.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

          -  Males and females between 18 and 65 years of age, inclusive

          -  Female subjects must be neither pregnant nor breast-feeding and must lack
             child-bearing potential, as defined by either:

               -  Post-menopausal or surgically sterile, or

               -  Using a highly effective method of contraception for the duration of the study.
                  This is defined as a method that result in a low failure rate (i.e., less than 1%
                  per year) when used consistently and correctly, and includes for instance
                  implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, intra-uterine device (IUD)s,
                  sexual abstinence or vasectomised partner.

          -  Have RMS according to the revised McDonald Criteria 2005

          -  Have disease duration for at least 3 months

          -  Are currently receiving RNF 44 mcg sc by Rebiject IITM (RII) tiw and have been
             consistently on therapy for a minimum of 6 weeks prior to Screening

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  Have any disease other than MS that could better explain his/her signs and symptoms

          -  Receive any other injectable medications on a regular basis during the week prior to
             the screening period or throughout the duration of the study. The administration of a
             single injection for treatment or prophylaxis of a condition unrelated to the
             patient's MS or the patient's RNF therapy (e.g., influenza or pneumococcus
             vaccination) will be acceptable

          -  Receive any MS therapy other than Rebif / RNF (e.g., other disease-modifying drug
             [DMD]s: immunomodulatory , immunosuppressive agents or combination therapy) within 12
             months prior to study enrolment or at any time during the study

          -  Receive oral or systemic corticosteroids or adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) within
             30 days prior to SD1

          -  Have inadequate liver function, defined by a alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 3 x
             upper limit of normal (ULN), or alkaline phosphatase > 2 x ULN, or total bilirubin > 2
             x ULN if associated with any elevation of ALT or alkaline phosphatase

          -  Have inadequate bone marrow reserve, defined as a white blood cell count less than 0.5
             x lower limit of normal

          -  Have moderate to severe renal impairment

          -  History of any chronic pain syndrome

          -  Any visual or physical impairment that precludes the subject self-injecting the
             treatment using the RebiSmartä