§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation his Department has made of the recently published research into the beneficial effects of Betaferon; and what plans he has to issue revised guidance. [60271]
§ Mr. MilburnThe Department has considered the results from the recently published research on treatment of multiple sclerosis with Betaferon (Beta-Interferon- 1 b). The research adds to the growing body of data about this medicine, but there are still many unanswered questions about its appropriate use in both relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. The Department will be commissioning new research to address this. When the results of the research are available, we will issue revised guidelines which will take into account this and all other soundly based research evidence.