<PAGE>
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROSPECTUS OF
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
DATED NOVEMBER 2, 1998
The first two sentences of the twelfth paragraph under the heading "The Fund and
its Management" appearing on page 15 of the Prospectus are hereby amended as
follows:
The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO commenced operations on May 18, 1998. The Investment
Manager has undertaken to assume all expenses of each of these
Portfolios (except for any brokerage fees) and to waive the
compensation provided for each of these Portfolios in its Management
Agreement with the Fund until such time as the pertinent Portfolio
has $50 million of net assets or until April 30, 1999, whichever
occurs first.
December 2, 1998
#40185