§ Mr. John Carlisleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Lyons) on 11 December 1979, what progress has been made with the testing of the effectiveness of the drug Interferon as a treatment for cancer.
§ Dr. VaughanThe first phase of a clinical trial has been completed on a small number of cancer patients. This phase was designed to check on pharmacology and toxicology. Further trials in this country are not expected to start for several months because sufficient supplies of Interferon are not yet available. Reliable conclusions about the effectiveness of Interferon are unlikely to be obtained for some years after the trials start. Meanwhile the progress of trials in other countries is being carefully observed.