Intravenous or subcutaneous natalizumab in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: investigation on efficiency and savings-the EASIER study.

"Declarations Conflicts of interestMF: is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurology, Associate Editor of Human Brain Mapping, Associate Editor of Radiology, and Associate Editor of Neurological Sciences; received compensation for consulting services from Alexion, Almirall, Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi; speaking activities from Bayer, Biogen, Celgene, Chiesi Italia SpA, Eli Lilly, Genzyme, Janssen, Merck-Serono, Neopharmed Gentili, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, and Teva; participation in Advisory Boards for Alexion, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, Sanofi-Aventis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Takeda; scientific direction of educational events for Biogen, Merck, Roche, Celgene, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lilly, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme; he receives research support from Biogen Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Roche, Italian Ministry of Health, Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, and Fondazione Italiana di Ricerca per la SLA; LG: has received funding for travel to attend scientific events or speaker honoraria from Merck, Biogen Idec, Sanofi-Aventis, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Roche, Novartis and Bayer Schering Pharma; and receives institutional research support from Biogen Idec and Serono Foundation; AC: has served on advisory boards and/or received honoraria for speaking or consultation fees from Biogen, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme; RT: has served on advisory boards and/or received honoraria for speaking or consultation fees from Biogen, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, and Teva; MRV: Biogen, Sanofi, Teva, Merck, Roche; SM: consultation and speaking fees from Sanofi-Genzyme, Biogen-Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, Celgene-Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Teva; FG: received research funding from Roche, fees for advisory boards and speaking honoraria from Biogen, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Merck Serono and Roche; CC: Personal compensation for advisory board and speaking for Merck Serono, Novartis, Almirall, Biogen, Celgene BMS, and Roche; VBM: has received research grants from the Italian MS Society, and Roche, and honoraria from Bayer, Biogen, Merck, Mylan, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, and Teva; CZ: nothing to disclose; DP, LS: are employees of and may hold stock/stock options in Biogen. Ethical standardsThe ethics committee of all the participating center approved the study. The study has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. All persons gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study. ConsentAll participating patients gave their informed consent to participate in the study. Conflicts of interest MF: is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurology, Associate Editor of Human Brain Mapping, Associate Editor of Radiology, and Associate Editor of Neurological Sciences; received compensation for consulting services from Alexion, Almirall, Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi; speaking activities from Bayer, Biogen, Celgene, Chiesi Italia SpA, Eli Lilly, Genzyme, Janssen, Merck-Serono, Neopharmed Gentili, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, and Teva; participation in Advisory Boards for Alexion, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, Sanofi-Aventis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Takeda; scientific direction of educational events for Biogen, Merck, Roche, Celgene, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lilly, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme; he receives research support from Biogen Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Roche, Italian Ministry of Health, Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, and Fondazione Italiana di Ricerca per la SLA; LG: has received funding for travel to attend scientific events or speaker honoraria from Merck, Biogen Idec, Sanofi-Aventis, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Roche, Novartis and Bayer Schering Pharma; and receives institutional research support from Biogen Idec and Serono Foundation; AC: has served on advisory boards and/or received honoraria for speaking or consultation fees from Biogen, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme; RT: has served on advisory boards and/or received honoraria for speaking or consultation fees from Biogen, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, and Teva; MRV: Biogen, Sanofi, Teva, Merck, Roche; SM: consultation and speaking fees from Sanofi-Genzyme, Biogen-Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, Celgene-Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Teva; FG: received research funding from Roche, fees for advisory boards and speaking honoraria from Biogen, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Merck Serono and Roche; CC: Personal compensation for advisory board and speaking for Merck Serono, Novartis, Almirall, Biogen, Celgene BMS, and Roche; VBM: has received research grants from the Italian MS Society, and Roche, and honoraria from Bayer, Biogen, Merck, Mylan, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, and Teva; CZ: nothing to disclose; DP, LS: are employees of and may hold stock/stock options in Biogen."

"Funding The study was funded by Biogen Italia."