Long Term Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with Interferon-ß May Be Cost Effective

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating disease that can occur in early life, progressing to rapid disability and loss of physical, psychosocial and economic functioning, significantly affecting quality of life. The traditional treatment for MS has been symptomatic, treating acute relapses without affecting the underlying disease. The introduction of interferon-β (IFNβ) has offered significant clinical benefits by reducing the frequency of relapses and slowing disease progression. Although the costs of this treatment are high, the costs to society of caring for a patient disabled by MS are greater, and if IFNβ can delay disease progression in the longer term, the economic impact would be substantial.