Therapeutic advances: beta-interferon for multiple sclerosis

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Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a very distressing condition for which there is no effective treatment. Two randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials of beta-interferon in mildly disabled patients with relapsing remitting MS have been published. Although promising, beta-interferon is not a cure for MS and the clinical significance of the small effect of beta-interferon on disease progression is not known. The high cost of betainterferon, the distressing nature of MS and the small benefit demonstrated in clinical trials mean that purchasers and clinicians will face hard decisions in managing the introduction of these drugs.