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Avonex (interferon beta-1a), the drug most prescribed for people suffering from relapsing multiple sclerosis

Institution:

Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the University at Buffalo

Researchers:

Lawrence Jacobs, MD, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences School of Medicine professor of neurology

Impact:

Jacobs’ research showed that early treatment of multiple sclerosis with interferon beta-1a significantly reduced the rate of progression and impact of the disease, which often includes brain and nerve damage.

Timeline:

As early as 1981, Jacobs’ research showed results. In 2000, the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a large-scale study led by Jacobs that described the benefits of beta-1a interferon in treating multiple sclerosis. The impact of this study prompted the Harvard Health Letter to name Jacobs’ research as one of the 10 leading health advances for 2000.

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Schools

Albany Medical CollegeAlbert Einstein College of MedicineCity University of New York School of MedicineColumbia University College Of Physicians and SurgeonsHofstra Northwell School of Medicine at Hofstra UniversityIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiJacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the University at BuffaloNew York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic MedicineNew York Medical CollegeNew York University School of MedicineSchool of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical CenterStony Brook University School of MedicineSUNY Downstate Medical CenterSUNY Upstate Medical UniversityTouro College of Osteopathic MedicineWeill Cornell MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian