Country: South Africa
Language: English
Source: South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)
Schering
BETAFERON SCHEDULING STATUS: S4 PROPRIETARY NAME (and dosage form): BETAFERON DILUENT FOR BETAFERON COMPOSITION Betaferon: One 3 mL vial contains interferon beta-1b 9,6 million IU (0,3 mg) per vial as a lyophilised cake. (This includes an overfill of 20%, so that after reconstitution with 1,2 mL of sodium chloride solution (10,8 mg per 2 mL), the dose of 0,25 mg interferon beta-1b can be extracted in 1 mL.) Diluent for Betaferon: One pre-filled syringe contains 1,2 mL sterile sodium chloride solution 0,54% w/v (6,48 mg sodium chloride per 1,2 mL). 1 mL of the reconstituted solution for injection contains 8 million IU (0,25 mg) of interferon beta-1b. PHARMACOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION A. 34 Others. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION The activities of interferon beta-1b are species-restricted and therefore, the most pertinent pharmacological information on interferon beta-1b is derived from studies of human cells in culture or human in vivo studies. Interferon beta-1b has been shown to possess both antiviral and immunoregulatory activities. The mechanisms by which interferon beta-1b exerts its actions in multiple sclerosis are not clearly understood. However, it is known that the biologic response-modifying properties of interferon beta-1b are mediated through its interactions with specific cell receptors found on the surface of human cells. The binding of interferon beta-1b to these receptors induces the expression of a number of gene products that are believed to be the mediators of the biological actions of interferon beta-1b. A number of these products have been measured in the serum and cellular fractions of blood collected from patients treated with interferon beta-1b. Pharmacokinetics Serum concentrations after subcutaneous administration of 0,25 mg Read the complete document