An International Multicenter Double-blind Placebo-controlled Randomized Study to Compare the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of BCD-054 (JSC BIOCAD, Russia), 180 μg and 240 μg, versus Avonex® (Biogen Idec Ltd., UK) in Patients with Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Signed informed consent to participate in the study;

2. Men and women aged from 18 to 60 years (inclusive) on the day of signing informed consent;

3. Confirmed diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (according to McDonald criteria 2010) ;

4. Documentary evidence that within the last 12 months before signing informed consent the patient had:

   1. At least 1 relapse, or
   2. At least 1 Gadolinium enhancing T1-weighted lesion or 1 new T2-weighted lesion in dynamics.

5. The patient should be neurologically stable during 30 days before signing informed consent (i.e. the patient should not have any new or aggravated neurological symptoms, as told by the patient); or the patient's condition should be completely stabilized since the last relapse, and the duration of stabilization should be at least 30 days) ;

6. Patients of childbearing potential and their partners with preserved reproductive function must implement reliable contraceptive methods starting from signing informed consent to 4 weeks after the last dose of study therapy. This requirement does not apply to patients after operative sterilization. Reliable contraception methods include one barrier method in combination with one of the following: spermicides, intrauterine device/oral contraceptives;

7. Total EDSS score of 0 to 5.5 inclusive (assessed by the Assessing Neurologist).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Primary or secondary progressive MS;

2. Other conditions (except for multiple sclerosis) that can affect the assessment of MS symptoms: to mask, aggravate, change symptoms of multiple sclerosis, result in clinical signs or laboratory instrumental findings suggesting multiple sclerosis;

3. A relapse during the screening period ;

4. Any acute infections, relapses of chronic infections or any other chronic diseases that are present on the day of signing informed consent and can, as judged by the Investigator, negatively affect the patient's safety during the study treatment;

5. HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or syphilis ;

6. Metabolic abnormalities (disorders) manifesting as:

   1. baseline creatinine levels increased more than 2-fold vs. upper limit of normal;
   2. baseline urea levels increased more than 3-fold vs. upper limit of normal;
   3. baseline ALT, AST or GGT levels increased more than 2.5-fold vs. upper limit of normal;
   4. baseline bilirubin levels increased more than 1.5-fold vs. upper limit of normal;

7. Baseline leukocyte counts lower than <3.0 × 109/L, platelet counts lower than <125 × 109/L or hemoglobin levels <100 g/L;

8. A history of severe depression, suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts ;

9. Signs of clinically significant depression (baseline Beck's score of more than 15);

10. A history of hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism and/or baseline abnormalities of TSH levels vs. lower or upper limits of normal;

11. Epilepsy;

12. Pregnancy, lactation or planned pregnancy over the entire study period;

13. A history of use:

    • any time before signing informed consent: disease-modifying interferon beta drugs (interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b),
    • within 30 days before signing informed consent: glatiramer acetate;
    • within 6 months before signing informed consent: monoclonal antibodies, cytotoxic and/or immunosuppressive drugs, including but not limited to mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, fingolimod, cladribine; or total lymphoid irradiation;

14. Systemic (i.v. or oral) corticosteroids used within 30 days before signing informed consent;

15. A history of intolerance of or allergy to pegylated proteins, interferon beta or other ingredients of BCD-054/Avonex®;

16. Known alcoholic or drug dependency or signs of present alcoholic/drug dependence that, in the Investigator's opinion, can be contraindications for study therapy of multiple sclerosis with interferon beta-1a or limit treatment compliance;

17. Inability to follow the Protocol procedures (in the Investigator's opinion).

18. Contraindications to MRI or use of gadolinium-containing contrast agents:

    1. Metal foreign objects in the body: magnetic implants, ferromagnetic clips for cerebral vessels, artificial heart valves, electronic middle ear implants, pacemakers;
    2. A history of allergy to gadolinium or gadolinium-containing contrast agents;

    с) Fear of cramped spaces; d) Kidney function impairment with a risk of delayed gadolinium elimination (creatinine level increased to more than 2 x upper limit of normal); e) Documented diagnosis of sickle cell or hemolytic anemia, hemoglobinopathy.

19. Any malignancies or a history of malignancies, except for cured basal cell carcinoma or cervical cancer in situ;

20. Vaccination within 4 weeks before signing informed consent (as told by the patient);

21. Participation in other clinical studies within 90 months before signing informed consent.