Atorvastatin 40 mg in Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Interferon-Beta-1b
Atorvastatin 40 mg in Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Interferon-Beta-1b
Title: Efficacy, safety and tolerability of Atorvastatin 40 mg in patients with
 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treated with interferon-beta-1b SWiss Atorvastatin and
 Interferon-Beta 1b Trial In Multiple Sclerosis

 Short title: "SWABIMS"

 Study phase: Phase IIb study

 Study design: Multi-center, randomized, rater-blinded, parallel-group-study in Switzerland

 Investigational product: Atorvastatin 40mg every day (oral) plus Interferon-beta

 Reference product: Interferon-beta-1b 250mg given

 Indication: Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS)

 Study objectives: Comparison of efficacy, safety and tolerability of combination of
 Atorvastatin 40mg (per os) daily and Interferon-beta-1b e.o.d in patients with
 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis compared to monotherapy with Interferon-beta-1b e.o.d.

 Primary Endpoint: Proportion of patients with new T2 lesions after 15 months of treatment.
Background

 Multiple sclerosis is considered to be a chronic inflammatory demyelinating autoimmune
 disease of the central nervous system. Statins are lipid-lowering drugs which inhibit the
 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA-) reductase, which is the main regulatory
 enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis. In recent years many studies have demonstrated, that
 statins have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in addition to their
 lipid-lowering effects. Therefore, statins seem to have therapeutic potential in
 immune-mediated disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Studies in experimental allergic
 encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model for the human demyelinating disease multiple
 sclerosis, as well as smaller studies in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
 showed beneficial effect on the course of the disease. But there are also reports of negative
 impact of statins on multiple sclerosis. Therefore, bigger studies are needed to investigate
 the therapeutical potential of statins in multiple sclerosis.

 Objective

 The objectives of this study are to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the
 combination of Atorvastatin 40mg p.o. daily and Interferon-beta-1b sc e.o.d compared to
 monotherapy with Interferon-beta-1b sc e.o.d in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple
 sclerosis.

 Methods

 Multi-center, rater-blinded, parallel-group, two arm, randomized study. Patients with
 relapsing-remitting forms of MS, respecting all inclusion/exclusion criteria, will be
 randomized into two equal-size parallel arms after three months of treatment with
 Interferon-beta-1b, receiving Atorvastatin 40mg/d or not. Enrolment of 80 patients (1/2 in
 the Atorvastatin group) is planned. Patients providing written informed consent will be
 treated for 15 months.

 Inclusion criteria: Patients with relapsing-remitting forms of multiple sclerosis with
 disease duration > 3 month and < 5 years, at least 1 relapse in the past two years, > 3
 Lesions on spinal or brain-MRI, EDSS score between 0 and 3.5, inclusive, age between 18 and
 55 years.

 Exclusion criteria: Any disease other than multiple sclerosis that would better explain the
 patient's signs and symptoms, Primary progressive MS, Secondary progressive MS, and others.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with relapsing-remitting forms of multiple sclerosis (according to McDonald's
 criteria)

 -  At least 1 relapse in the past two year

 -  > 3 Lesions on spinal or brain-MRI

 -  EDSS score between 0 and 3.5, inclusive

 -  Age between 18 and 55 years

 -  Written informed consent

 -  Negative pregnancy test results (all women)

 Exclusion Criteria

 -  Any disease other than multiple sclerosis that would better explain the patient's
 signs and symptoms

 -  Primary progressive MS

 -  Secondary progressive MS

 -  Uncontrolled severe medical disorder

 -  A history of drug abuse in the 6 months prior to screening

 -  Previous therapy with Monoclonal antibodies, mitoxantrone, cytotoxic or
 immunosuppressive therapy (except steroids)

 -  Participation in any other studies