§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much money was spent last year on the research and development of the cancer drug Interferon; and how much money is estimated to be spent this year by the National Health Service;
(2) if he is satisfied that British cancer research is sufficiently active in the development of the cancer drug Interferon.
§ Dr. Vaughan[pursuant to his reply, 24 June 1980, c. 153–4]: Much of the research on Interferon last year was carried out by industry in this country and overseas but information about the amount spent is not available. The Medical Research Council, the main Gov- 202W ernment agency concerned with medical research, spent approximately £200,000 last year and plans to spend more this year. The charities which fund cancer research have been spending about the same as the MRC except that in the current year the Imperial Cancer Research Fund plans to spend approximately £1 million on Interferon for a clinical trial in this country.
Efforts are being made in this country and overseas to overcome the technical problems involved in the production of sufficient Interferon to allow further clinical trials to be carried out. If the trials show that Interferon is an effective therapeutic agent, industry will then be likely to start producing Interferon in sufficient quantity that it can be used for general treatment.