ROCKLAND, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

EMD Serono, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today that new data from the companys multiple sclerosis (MS) portfolio will be presented at the American Academy of Neurologys 64th Annual Meeting, taking place from April 21 to 28, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The data presented will focus on Rebif (interferon beta-1a), an established therapy for relapsing forms of MS, and ONO-4641 (S1P receptor agonist), an investigational oral drug in Phase II for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS, for which Merck KGaA signed a collaboration agreement with Ono Pharmaceuticals in October 2011.

Presentations to be made at the upcoming AAN meeting further improve our understanding of the clinical effects of Rebif and show Phase II results on our new investigational drug ONO-4641, said Dr. Annalisa Jenkins, Head of Global Drug Development and Medical at Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. We are committed to advancing multiple sclerosis care, research and outcomes in order to provide treatments for people living with this devastating disease.

The following abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the 64th AAN Annual Meeting:

Rebif(interferon beta-1a) Data blitz1presentation followed by a poster presentation - Efficacy of two dosing frequencies of subcutaneous interferon beta-1a on the risk of conversion from a first demyelinating event to multiple sclerosis and on MRI measures of disease: 3-year results of Phase III, double-blind, multicentre trials (REFLEX and REFLEXION) (presentation #014, Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 6:24 PM)* * The formulation used in these studies is currently not approved in the United States

Poster presentations - Subcutaneous interferon -1a in children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis: an international retrospective study of 307 patients (poster session P04.119, Wednesday, April 25, 2012)** - Disease characteristics, dosing, and outcomes of subcutaneous interferon -1a treatment differ between children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis (poster P04.120, Wednesday, April 25, 2012)** ** This retrospective cohort study examines both Rebif and the serum-free formulation of Rebif. The serum-free formulation of Rebif is currently not approved in the United States. - Association of Targeted Blood Biomarkers with Interferon Beta-1a Treatment Administration, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Activity, and Treatment Response (poster P02.089, Tuesday, April 24, 2012)

ONO-4641 (S1P receptor agonist) Data blitz1presentation followed by a poster presentation - A double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase II, 26-week DreaMS trial of a selective S1P receptor agonist ONO-4641 in patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (presentation #013, Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 6:21 PM)

1 A data blitz presentation is a 3 minute oral presentation included in a 45 minutes oral session.

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 there are approximately 400,000 people in the United States living with MS.

Originally posted here:
EMD Serono to Present New Data on Multiple Sclerosis at the American Academy of Neurology’s 64th Annual Meeting