A study comparing teriflunomide with beta interferon 1a (Rebif) has found that the two drugs had a similar effect on relapse rates and that teriflunomide was safe and generally well tolerated. The two year TENERE study involved 324 people with relapsing remitting MS taking one of two doses of teriflunomide or Rebif.

A two year phase III study previously, compared two doses of teriflunomide with placebo in 1,088 people with relapsing remitting MS. Both doses of teriflunomide reduced relapse rate by about 31% compared to placebo. The higher dose (14mg daily) reduced the risk of disability progression (sustained for 12 weeks) by 30%.

Terilunomide (Aubigo) is an oral formulation and an application is expected to be filed in early 2012 to licence the drug in Europe.