Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) announced today that the European Commission (EC) has granted approval to AVONEX PEN for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and patients who have had a single demyelinating event.
"At Biogen Idec, our commitment to the MS community is unwavering. We strive to meet the needs of all MS patients by harnessing our extensive expertise in neurology and through our commitment to research and innovation," said Douglas E. Williams, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development at Biogen Idec. "For more than 10 years, AVONEX has been the therapy of choice for many MS patients who prefer the convenience of once-weekly injections, along with its proven efficacy and a well-established safety profile. Not only do we think AVONEX PEN makes AVONEX therapy more convenient, it can also help alleviate the anxiety that some MS patients feel when they have to inject their medication."
AVONEX PEN (AVONEX 30mcg/50ml solution for injection, in pre-filled pen) is the first single-use, once-a-week, fully integrated intramuscular autoinjector available for use with AVONEX treatment in patients with relapsing MS. Biogen Idec designed AVONEX PEN to improve convenience of AVONEX administration by simplifying the injection, helping to reduce injection anxiety and supporting patient independence. It integrates the currently approved AVONEX Prefilled Syringe and utilizes a 25 gauge 16 mm (5/8 inch) needle. This needle was specifically created for AVONEX PEN to be shorter than the needle in the AVONEX Prefilled Syringe.