Conflict of interest statement: Conflicts of interest: Aaron E Miller has 
received research support from Acorda Therapeutics, Biogen Idec, Genentech, 
Genzyme, sanofi-aventis, Novartis, Roche and Teva, and consulting fees from 
Acorda Therapeutics, Avanir, Biogen Idec, BioMarin, Chelsea Therapeutics, 
Daiichi-Sankyo, EMD Serono, GlaxoSmithKline, La-Ser, Merck Serono, Novartis, 
Nuron Biotech, ONO, and sanofi-aventis. Paul O’Connor has received consulting 
fees and/or research support for MS trials from Actelion, Bayer, Biogen Idec, 
BioMS, Cognosci, Daiichi Sankyo, EMD Serono, Genentech, Genmab, Novartis, Roche, 
sanofi-aventis, Teva, and Warburg Pincus. Jerry S Wolinsky, within the past two 
years, has had consulting agreements with, or served as a speaker for, Astellas, 
Bayer HealthCare, Celgene, Consortium of MS Clinics, Eli Lilly, Medscape CME, 
Novartis, PRIME, sanofi-aventis, Serono Symposia International Foundation, Teva 
and Teva Neurosciences, the National MS Society; has received royalties from 
Millipore (Chemicon International Corporation); and has research or contractual 
support from Clayton Foundation for Research, National Institutes of Health, and 
sanofi-aventis. Christian Confavreux has received consulting fees from Biogen 
Dompé, Biogen Idec, Gemacbio, Genzyme Corporation, Hertie Foundation, Novartis, 
sanofi-aventis, Teva Pharma and UCB Pharma; lecture fees from Bayer Schering, 
Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, sanofi-aventis, and Teva Pharma; research 
support from Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, 
sanofi-aventis, and Teva Pharma; and fees for membership of Company Advisory 
Boards from Biogen Idec, Genzyme, Novartis, sanofi-sventis, Teva Pharma, and UCB 
Pharma. Ludwig Kappos has received research support from Actelion, Advancell, 
Allozyne, BaroFold, Bayer Health Care Pharmaceuticals, Bayer Schering Pharma, 
Bayhill, Biogen Idec, BioMarin, CLC Behring, Elan, Genmab, Genmark, GeNeuro SA, 
Glaxo-SmithKline, Lilly, Merck Serono, MediciNova, Novartis, Novonordisk, 
Peptimmune, sanofi-aventis, Santhera, Roche, Teva, UCB, and Wyeth, and from the 
Swiss MS Society, the Swiss National Research Foundation, the European Union, 
and the Gianni Rubatto, Novartis, and Roche Research Foundations. Tomas P Olsson 
has received consulting fees and/or research support for MS trials from Biogen 
Idec, Merck Serono, and sanofi-aventis, and for participation in scientific 
advisory boards and/or speaking activities from Merck Serono, Biogen Idec, and 
sanofi-aventis. Philippe Truffinet and Lin Wang are employees of sanofi-aventis. 
Laura D’Castro is an employee of Fishawack Communications Ltd, which has been 
contracted to provide editorial services for sanofi-aventis. Giancarlo Comi has 
received, in the past year, consulting fees for participating on advisory boards 
from Novartis, Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd, sanofi-aventis, Merck Serono, 
Actelion and Bayer Schering, and lecture fess from Novartis, Teva Pharmaceutical 
Ind. Ltd, sanofi-aventis, Merck Serono, Biogen Dompè, Bayer Schering, and Serono 
Symposia International Foundation. Mark S Freedman has received research or 
educational grant support from Bayer Healthcare and Genzyme; he has received 
honoraria or consultation fees from Bayer Healthcare, Biogen Idec, EMD Canada, 
Novartis, sanofi-aventis, Teva Canada Innovation, and is a member of Company 
Advisory Board/Board of Directors/or other similar group for: Bayer Healthcare, 
Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, sanofi-aventis, and Celgene.