Interferon beta-1a 6million units/0.5ml solution for injection pre-filled devices and Interferon beta-1a 2.4million units/0.2ml solution for injection pre-filled devices
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
Human interferon beta (166 residues), glycosylated, MW=22.5kD.
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
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Official medicine documents
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
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Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Interferon beta-1a
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EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
1 branded products available
MHRA licensed products
View all licensed products for Interferon beta-1a on the MHRA register
Rebif 22micrograms/0.5ml (6million units) solution for injection pre-filled pens and Rebif 8.8micrograms/0.2ml (2.4million units) solution for injection pre-filled pens
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and NHS BNF section grouping. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Clinical guidelines and formulary information
British National Formulary
Interferon beta-1a
Source: British National Formulary, NICE. Joint Formulary Committee. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
NICE clinical guidance(11)
Ozanimod for treating relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (TA706)
Ocrelizumab for treating relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (TA533)
Peginterferon beta-1a for treating relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (TA624)
Fingolimod for the treatment of highly active relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (TA254)
Teriflunomide for treating relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (TA303)
Ponesimod for treating relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (TA767)
Multiple sclerosis in adults: management (NG220)
Cladribine for treating active relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (TA1053)
Beta interferons and glatiramer acetate for treating multiple sclerosis (TA527)
Ofatumumab for treating relapsing multiple sclerosis (TA699)
Natalizumab (originator and biosimilar) for treating highly active relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis after disease-modifying therapy (TA1126)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
Pharmacy stock checkers
Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.
Supply & product information
Official product databases and supply status monitoring
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. emc (electronic medicines compendium) is operated by Datapharm Ltd. Shortage information sourced from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), sps.nhs.uk.
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF codes from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
None known
Half-life
10 hrs
Mechanism
Interferon beta binds to type I interferon receptors (IFNAR1 and IFNAR2c) which,…
Food interactions
1 warning
Human targets
3 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Half-life
10 hrs
Clearance
33-55 L/h
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 208 interactions
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:10049744 PMID:14532120 PMID:15337770 PMID:2153461 PMID:21854986 PMID:24075985 PMID:31270247 PMID:33252644 PMID:35442418 PMID:7813427
Type I interferon binding activates the JAK-STAT signaling cascade, resulting in transcriptional activation or repression of interferon-regulated genes that encode the effectors of the interferon response .
PMID:10049744 PMID:21854986 PMID:7665574
Mechanistically, type I interferon-binding brings the IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 subunits into close proximity with one another, driving their associated Janus kinases (JAKs) (TYK2 bound to IFNAR1 and JAK1 bound to IFNAR2) to cross-phosphorylate one another .
PMID:21854986 PMID:32972995 PMID:7665574 PMID:7813427
The activated kinases phosphorylate specific tyrosine residues on the intracellular domains of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2, forming docking sites for the STAT transcription factors .
PMID:21854986 PMID:32972995 PMID:7526154 PMID:7665574 PMID:7813427
STAT proteins are then phosphorylated by the JAKs, promoting their translocation into the nucleus to regulate expression of interferon-regulated genes .
PMID:19561067 PMID:21854986 PMID:32972995 PMID:7665574 PMID:7813427 PMID:9121453
Can also act independently of IFNAR2: form an active IFNB1 receptor by itself and activate a signaling cascade that does not involve activation of the JAK-STAT pathway (By similarity)
PMID:10049744 PMID:10556041 PMID:21854986 PMID:26424569 PMID:28165510 PMID:32972995 PMID:7665574 PMID:7759950 PMID:8181059 PMID:8798579 PMID:8969169
Type I interferon binding activates the JAK-STAT signaling cascade, resulting in transcriptional activation or repression of interferon-regulated genes that encode the effectors of the interferon response .
PMID:10049744 PMID:17517919 PMID:21854986 PMID:26424569 PMID:28165510 PMID:32972995 PMID:7665574 PMID:7759950 PMID:8181059 PMID:8798579 PMID:8969169
Mechanistically, type I interferon-binding brings the IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 subunits into close proximity with one another, driving their associated Janus kinases (JAKs) (TYK2 bound to IFNAR1 and JAK1 bound to IFNAR2) to cross-phosphorylate one another .
PMID:10556041 PMID:11682488 PMID:12105218 PMID:21854986 PMID:32972995
The activated kinases phosphorylate specific tyrosine residues on the intracellular domains of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2, forming docking sites for the STAT transcription factors (STAT1, STAT2 and STAT) .
PMID:11682488 PMID:12105218 PMID:21854986 PMID:32972995
STAT proteins are then phosphorylated by the JAKs, promoting their translocation into the nucleus to regulate expression of interferon-regulated genes PMID:12105218 PMID:28165510 PMID:9121453
PMID:10049744 PMID:10556041 PMID:6157094 PMID:6171735 PMID:7665574 PMID:8027027 PMID:8969169
Signals via binding to high-affinity (IFNAR2) and low-affinity (IFNAR1) heterodimeric receptor, activating the canonical Jak-STAT signaling pathway resulting in transcriptional activation or repression of interferon-regulated genes that encode the effectors of the interferon response, such as antiviral proteins, regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation, and immunoregulatory proteins .
PMID:10049744 PMID:10556041 PMID:7665574 PMID:8027027 PMID:8969169
Signals mostly via binding to a IFNAR1-IFNAR2 heterodimeric receptor, but can also function with IFNAR1 alone and independently of Jak-STAT pathways (By similarity). Elicits a wide variety of responses, including antiviral and antibacterial activities, and can regulate the development of B-cells, myelopoiesis and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-inducible production of tumor necrosis factor (By similarity). Plays a role in neuronal homeostasis by regulating dopamine turnover and protecting dopaminergic neurons: acts by promoting neuronal autophagy and alpha-synuclein clearance, thereby preventing dopaminergic neuron loss (By similarity).
IFNB1 is more potent than interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in inducing the apoptotic and antiproliferative pathways required for control of tumor cell growth (By similarity)
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
ATC L03AB07
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Interferon beta-1a
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
11746
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5432
GenAtlas
IFNAR1
GeneCards
IFNAR1
GenBank Gene Database
J03171
GenBank Protein Database
306914
Guide to Pharmacology
1723
UniProt Accession
INAR1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5433
GenAtlas
IFNAR2
GeneCards
IFNAR2
GenBank Gene Database
L42243
GenBank Protein Database
995300
UniProt Accession
INAR2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5434
GenAtlas
IFNB1
GeneCards
IFNB1
GenBank Gene Database
V00534
GenBank Protein Database
32638
UniProt Accession
IFNB_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2596
GenAtlas
CYP1A2
GeneCards
CYP1A2
GenBank Gene Database
Z00036
Guide to Pharmacology
1319
UniProt Accession
CP1A2_HUMAN
International reference pricing
Reference pricing from DrugBank. Prices are indicative and may not reflect current UK costs.
Source: DrugBank. Used under CC BY-NC 4.0 academic licence for non-commercial purposes.
Patent information
1 active patent
Source: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0. Patent data sourced from national patent offices. Expiry dates may not reflect extensions, regulatory exclusivity periods, or legal challenges.
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications: