London - The Multiple Sclerosis Society has welcomed negotiations between the Department of Health and drugs companies that could lead to 10,000 sufferers taking part in clinical trials for the drug, beta interferon, writes Rachel Donnelly. Under the proposals, the drug could be offered to relapsing and remitting patients.
The negotiations are taking place despite the conclusion in August by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice), the statutory advisory body on drugs, that beta interferon was not cost-effective and should not be prescribed for new patients .
The MS Society said if the trials took place "a lot of people who are being denied it look as though they will have the chance to try the drug".
There are about 80,000 MS sufferers in Britain and many believe beta interferon slows down the effects of the disease.
The Department of Health is also discussing with drugs companies to extend trials of the drug, Copaxone, which is currently undergoing patient trials to treat primary progressive MS.