§ Lord Dubsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they currently support any research into the effectiveness of beta interferon in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. [HL2999]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)The Government are currently supporting a number of research studies on multiple sclerosis through the Medical Research Council and the Department of Health. These studies include a programme of reviews of research on multiple sclerosis, one of which, on the effectiveness and costs of disease-modifying drugs, including beta interferon, in multiple sclerosis, has just been published.
Details of reviews can be found on the NHS Research & Development Health Technology Assessment programme website: www.hta.hta.nhsweb.nhs.uk.
§ Lord Dubsasked Her Majesty's Government:
In assessing beta interferon in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, whether they believe the drug's effectiveness varies between relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive and primary progressive forms of the illness. [HL2998]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWe have asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to conduct an authoritative appraisal of the evidence on beta interferon as part of its first appraisal programme.