Despite the limitations inherent in any long-term study (for example, potential differences between returning and nonreturning patients), these results indicate that patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis can experience sustained benefit over many years from early interferon beta-1a subcutaneous therapy three times weekly compared with patients whose treatment is delayed. This effect was more apparent in the patients receiving the higher dose.

This study shows that the Canadian TOR may be an important tool for early treatment optimization.