Nearly all people (97 percent) with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have started treatment say their commitment to managing their disease in every way possible is their prime motivation for staying on therapy, according to a new North American survey of people with MS, results of which were released today at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meeting in Denver. However, the survey also found that people with the disease can face significant barriers that make it difficult for them to start or stay fully committed to an effective treatment regimen.1

The survey, which interviewed 220 people in the United States and Canada who have been diagnosed with MS in the past five years, uncovered a number of barriers patients face to starting and staying on medication, including the affordability of prescription medicine, injection-related issues and side effects, and the difficulty of maintaining a medication schedule.1

"Studies have shown that starting effective therapy soon after a diagnosis of MS and continuing that therapy on a consistent basis may significantly slow the progression of the disease.2 This survey underscores the fact that despite their best intentions, many people with MS need help overcoming challenges that keep them from fully committing to treatment," said Amy Perrin Ross, APRN, MSN, CNRN, MSCN, president of the International Organization of MS Nurses. "The good news is there are several things that can be done to help give patients the best chance of starting and staying on therapy, including exploring financial assistance programs, forming lasting partnerships with an MS nurse and other supporters and choosing an effective MS medication that addresses a patient's personal hurdles. This can mean looking at attributes of a medication such as proven efficacy and safety, storage requirements, and the availability of support programs and financial assistance."

According to Ross, newly diagnosed patients first must accept the fact that they have a chronic illness that requires life-long care. For many, anxieties about treatment can be overcome by the desire to limit the impact of their condition, and by understanding that early, effective and consistent treatment may positively affect the course of their disease. In fact, more than two-thirds of respondents in the survey agreed, "I would have started treatment earlier (after my first attack, even before official diagnosis) if I had known that it would better decrease the risk of disability.1 But, Ross added, many patients require ongoing support in order to maintain that commitment.

In the recent survey, patients cited various injection-related issues as being significant barriers to their committing to therapy. Four in 10 patients (41 percent) named at least one injection side effect as an extremely or very strong barrier keeping them from staying on medication, such as skin reactions (14 percent) and lumps in the skin (10 percent).1 When Genelle, age 29, was diagnosed with MS, she experienced skin-related side effects with her first medication. "I was really unhappy with the painful and embarrassing side effects that I was experiencing," she said. "Once I switched to another medication called Betaseron® *, the side effects improved." †

Like the 21 percent of study respondents who reported not wanting to inject themselves as a barrier to taking an MS medication, Genelle also had some misgivings about the required self-injections. "With Betaseron, I not only had to give myself far fewer injections, the BETA nurse assigned to me helped me overcome my anxiety about injecting myself. I can call her any time I need her, which has really given me the support I need to stay on therapy," she said. †

For Jillian, age 19, the issue of staying on treatment had to do with affording her medicine, a barrier also noted by 27 percent of people surveyed.1 "The day I learned I had MS, I vowed to do everything I could to fight the disease. So when my doctor recommended treatment, I followed his advice," Jillian said. "But my commitment was challenged when I recently lost my insurance. With only three doses of my medication left and no possible way to pay for another prescription, I was going to lose the one thing that was going well for me. My doctor told me that I could continue receiving my medicine through a company-sponsored patient assistance program. It's one of the benefits of the BETAPLUS™‡ program that patients on Betaseron can sign up for. It was a great relief and allowed me to continue my fight against the disease."

Participants in the survey noted that worries about how to store medicine while traveling or away from home (9 percent) also diminish their commitment to treatment. Factors cited by survey participants that make it easier to stay on medication include family support (84 percent), drug company-sponsored support such as materials or Web sites (60 percent) and a nurse provided by a drug company (43 percent).1

The survey was conducted by Russell Research and funded by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.1

About Betaseron

Betaseron (Interferon beta-1b) is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations. Patients with multiple sclerosis in whom efficacy has been demonstrated include patients who have experienced a first clinical episode and have MRI features consistent with multiple sclerosis.

A number of factors have been shown to influence a person's perceived comfort and satisfaction associated with MS medications, including number of injections, product formulation and patient support. Betaseron therapy requires half as many injections as Copaxone®* (glatiramir acetate).3 Additionally, in a study, significantly more Betaseron than Rebif®* patients were pain-free at all time points measured (immediately after injection, and 30 and 60 minutes after injection) over the course of 15 injections.4 Betaseron also does not require refrigeration§, making travel and transporting medicine easier. The 24/7 nursing support through the BETAPLUSTM program (formerly known as MS PathwaysSM*) and comprehensive patient assistance for those qualified patients‡‡ unable to afford treatment are other benefits that can help patients stay committed to Betaseron treatment.

The most commonly reported adverse reactions are lymphopenia, injection-site reaction, asthenia, flu-like symptom complex, headache and pain. Gradual dose titration and use of analgesics during treatment initiation may help reduce flu-like symptoms. Betaseron should be used with caution in patients with depression. Injection-site necrosis has been reported in four percent of patients in controlled trials. Patients should be advised of the importance of rotating injection sites. Female patients should be warned about the potential risk to pregnancy. Cases of anaphylaxis have been reported rarely. See "Warnings," "Precautions," and "Adverse Reactions" sections of full Prescribing Information.

http://www.betaseron.com

About Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the U.S.-based pharmaceuticals business of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a subsidiary of Bayer AG. Bayer HealthCare is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry, and combines the activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals comprises the following business units: Women's Healthcare, Diagnostic Imaging, General Medicine, which includes Cardiology and Primary Care and Specialty Medicine, which includes Hematology, Oncology and Multiple Sclerosis. The company's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human health worldwide by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

† These results are with one patient and not everyone may experience the same results.

‡ BETAPLUS is the new name for the MS PathwaysSM program.

§ Betaseron is the only immunomodulatory MS therapy that can be stored at room temperature for greater than 30 days. After reconstitution, if not immediately used, the product should be refrigerated and used within 3 hours.
‡‡ Some restrictions apply. Patients enrolled in any type of government insurance are not eligible. Void where prohibited by law.

* Trademarks are the property of their respective owners:

- Betaseron® is a registered trademark of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.
- Copaxone® is a registered trademark of Teva Neurosciences, Inc.
- Rebif® is a registered trademark of EMD Serono, Inc.
- MS PathwaysSM is a service mark of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.

References

1"Barriers to Treatment Commitment Survey." Fielded by Russell Research. Funded by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. March 25, 2008.

2 Kappos L et al. Effect of early versus delayed interferon beta-1b treatment on disability after a first clinical event suggestive of multiple sclerosis: a 3-year follow-up analysis of the BENEFIT study. Lancet 2007 Aug 4; 370(9585): 389-97

3 Copaxone Prescribing Information

4 Baum K, O'Leary C, Coret-Ferrer F, Klímová E, Procházková L, Bugge J; for BRIGHT Study Group. Comparison of injection site pain and injection site reactions in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon beta-1a or 1b. Mult Scler. 2007;13(9):1153-1160.

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.