When expressed as a proportion of their weekly-injected dose, the overall effect of the different weekly doses appears to be similar among the three interferons. To date, there have not been any well-controlled comparative trials of the interferons in treating MS to evaluate the optimal dose, frequency and route of administration. It is caused by the destruction of myelin by the immune system. Myelin is the fatty tissue that surrounds and protects central nervous system nerve fibers and facilitates the flow of nerve impulses to and from the brain. It was launched in the U.S. in 1996, in Europe in 1997, and in Canada in 1998 for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS to slow the accumulation of physical disability and to decrease the frequency of clinical exacerbations.
Reference is made in particular to statements regarding the potential implications of the study.
These statements are based on the Company's current beliefs and expectations as to such future outcomes. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's current expectations include the risk that results of clinical studies or clinical use may be different than the results of the in vitro study. Reference is also made to the other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Biogen, Inc., winner of the U.S. National Medal of Technology, is a biopharmaceutical company principally engaged in discovering and developing drugs for human healthcare through genetic engineering. Biogen's research and development activities are focused on novel products to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, cancer, fibrosis and congestive heart failure.