Competition among biologics used to treat multiple sclerosis, a chronic, inflammatory condition of the nervous system, took a new turn this week when biotech company Merck Serono unveiled a plan to give U.S. patients faster access to its costly drug Rebif (interferon beta-1a).

Under the program, patients with relapsing MS, the most common form of the disease, can immediately start on the biologic drug without waiting for decisions on insurance coverage and receive up to one year of therapy regardless of income level, with no more than a $50 co-payment required.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society recommends initiation of therapy with Rebif or one of its two biologic competitors, Avonex or Betaferon, as soon as possible following a definite diagnosis of MS with active disease to receive the full benefits from treatment.

However, getting approval of these drugs by managed care can be time consuming Serono said it frequently takes "30 or more days, depending on each individual's insurance and income situation, to secure the necessary health insurance approvals or reimbursement assistance and actually begin therapy."

"Our goal with this program is to allow [eligible] patients the opportunity to begin taking therapy as soon as possible while they work through the necessary insurance and assistance issues," a Serono spokesperson said.

If patients who begin treatment later turn out to be unable to obtain full insurance coverage for Rebif, they can apply to Serono's MS LifeLines Patient Assistance Program (PAP), which provides financial support to people who cannot otherwise afford therapy, the firm added.

Competitor Biogen, whose biologic Avonex ran neck-and-neck with Rebif last year in sales, currently has an 'Avonex Access Program' in place, but eligibility is based on patient's insurance coverage and income level.