§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration her Department has given to evidence gained in the United States of America or in any other country in regard to the value of the drug beta interferon in the treatment of multiple sclerosis; and whether she concludes from the evidence that the drug is of sufficient value to justify an early decision to license it for use within the national health service.
§ Mr. SackvilleSeveral companies are developing interferons for use in multiple sclerosis. These will be handled through the new European centralised licensing procedure-regulation 2309/93. Expert advice will be taken through the European procedure on all the evidence supplied, regardless of source country, to determine whether the product should receive an authorisation for use in countries within the European Union.
§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients will be involved in trials of new drugs 639W designed to assist those suffering from multiple sclerosis; and when it is expected that these trials will be completed.
§ Mr. SackvilleAt least seven new drugs are currently undergoing clinical trials in patients with multiple sclerosis. Since many of the trials are on-going, it is not possible to give the numbers of patients involved nor to give information on the completion dates of the trials.