Filed Pursuant to Rule 497(e)
                                                Registration File No.: 2-82510



              SUPPLEMENT DATED AUGUST 14, 2002 TO THE PROSPECTUS OF
                    MORGAN STANLEY VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
                                 CLASS X SHARES
                                DATED MAY 1, 2002


Effective August 30, 2002, the paragraph pertaining to the Income Builder
Portfolio of the Fund in the section of the Prospectus titled "PORTFOLIO
MANAGEMENT" is deleted and replaced by the following paragraph:

         INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO--The Portfolio is managed by the Equity Income
         team. Current members of the Equity Income team include James Gilligan,
         a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, Catherine Avery, a Vice
         President of the Investment Manager, Ellen Gold, a Vice President of
         the Investment Manager, James Roeder, a Vice President of the
         Investment Manager, and Vincent E. Vizachero, an Associate of the
         Investment Manager.












              SUPPLEMENT DATED AUGUST 14, 2002 TO THE PROSPECTUS OF
                    MORGAN STANLEY VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
                                 CLASS Y SHARES
                                DATED MAY 1, 2002


Effective August 30, 2002, the paragraph pertaining to the Income Builder
Portfolio of the Fund in the section of the Prospectus titled "PORTFOLIO
MANAGEMENT" is deleted and replaced by the following paragraph:

         INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO--The Portfolio is managed by the Equity Income
         team. Current members of the Equity Income team include James Gilligan,
         a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, Catherine Avery, a Vice
         President of the Investment Manager, Ellen Gold, a Vice President of
         the Investment Manager, James Roeder, a Vice President of the
         Investment Manager, and Vincent E. Vizachero, an Associate of the
         Investment Manager.