Safety and Efficacy of Interferon-Beta-1a (Rebif®) for Treating Subjects With Acute Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis

A Multicentre, Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Dose-finding Phase II Study of Subcutaneously Administered IFN-beta-1a in the Treatment of Patients With Moderately Active Ulcerative Colitis

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of interferon-beta-1a in subjects with active ulcerative colitis (UC).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Moderately active UC, defined as:

  • Diagnosis of UC documented by clinical, radiological and endoscopic or histological findings
  • Proctosigmoidoscopic diagnosis: at least left-sided disease; the extent of the colonic inflammation is to be more than 20 centimeter from the anal verge
  • A flare in disease activity considered moderate in according to the UCSS during the 14 days before initiation of study medication. Moderate disease is defined as a UCSS between 6 and 10 with a UCSS Physician's Global Assessment less than (<) 3 and a proctosigmoidoscopy score of 2 or 3

• At least one previous flare-up of UC

• Maintenance treatment with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) at a stable dose for the management of UC is allowed, but not required. The daily dose of 5-ASA has to be stable for at least 4 weeks before Study Day 1 and has to be no more than 3.6 gram/day. This dose has to be maintained throughout the study. Corticosteroids will not be allowed during the study, with the exceptions of inhaled steroids and topical dermatological steroids

• Age ≥18 years, of either sex

• Adequate bone marrow reserve: white blood cells (WBC) greater than (>) 3.5*10^9 per liter (/L), neutrophils >1.5*10 ^9 /L, thrombocytes >100 *10^9 /L, hemoglobin >8.5 gram per deciliter (g/dL)

• Female subjects are to be neither pregnant nor breast-feeding and has to lack childbearing potential, as will be defined by either being post-menopausal or surgically sterile or using a hormonal contraceptive, intra-uterine device, diaphragm with spermicide or not pregnant which will be established by a negative serum or urinary Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) test within 7 days before Study Day 1. A pregnancy test is not required if the subject was post-menopausal or surgically sterile

• Willingness and ability to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study

• Written informed consent, obtained before any study-related procedure not part of the subject's normal medical care, with the understanding that the subject can withdraw consent at any time without prejudice to his or her future medical care

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous systemic treatment with interferons, immunosuppressive therapy (for example [e.g.], cyclosporin, azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine) or other biological treatment (e.g. anti- Cluster of differentiation [CD] 4, anti-CD5, anti- Tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, Interleukin [IL]-10) in the 3 months before Study Day 1
• Any other investigational drug or any experimental procedure in the 4 weeks before Study Day 1
• More than three doses of rectally administered 5-ASA derivatives in the 2 weeks before Study Day 1
• More than two doses of systemically or rectally administered corticosteroids in the 14 days before Study Day 1
• Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or antibiotic therapy (e.g. metronidazole) in the 2 weeks before Study Day 1
• Use of codeine, other narcotics, loperamide or opiates after the Screening visit or during the study
• Stool examination positive for enteric pathogens, pathogenic ova, parasites, or Clostridium toxin at Screening
• Need for emergency surgery (uncontrollable hemorrhage, persistent non-inflammatory intestinal obstruction - at the Investigator's discretion - or perforation), elective surgery during the study, or surgery in the 4 weeks before study entry
• Inadequate liver function, defined by a total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or alkaline phosphatase level >2 times the upper limit of the normal range
• Inadequate renal function, defined by serum creatinine >2.0 milligram per deciliter (mg/dL)
• Histopathological findings of high-grade dysplasia or history of cancer (except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin)
• Known allergies to paracetamol or to any of the ingredients of the medicinal product (that is, the active substance, human serum albumin or mannitol)
• Severe depressive disorder or suicidal ideation, or epilepsy with a history of seizures not adequately controlled by treatment
• Known alcohol or drug abuse within the past 5 years
• Other serious concurrent systemic disorders incompatible with the study (at the Investigator's discretion)
• Severe active infection (at the Investigator's discretion)
• Dependence on a liquid diet