Therapeutic advances: beta-interferon for multiple sclerosis.

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 beta-interferon, 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.