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The Clinical and Social Impact of Interferon-β: The First Approved Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis

  • Conference paper
Interferon: The Dawn of Recombinant Protein Drugs

Part of the book series: Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop ((3368,volume 5))

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Abstract

The approval of interferon-β lb for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1993 has had a profound impact on the attitude of both physicians and patients concerning the illness. To fully appreciate the impact one needs to understand the failures of previous therapies and the frustration associated with dealing with a disease of uncertain prognosis and course. The approval of interferon-β 1b opened a new era of treatment of and research on MS. In this review I will examine the natural history of the disease in order for the reader to understand the difficulties associated with the care of patients with MS and in identifying new therapies for the disease. I will then discuss the impact of that approval and the current thoughts on treatment MS.

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Authors
  1. H. F. McFarland
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Schering AG, D-13342, Berlin, Germany

    W.-D. Schleuning

  2. Obere Geerenstrasse 34, CH-8044, Gockhausen, Switzerland

    J. Lindenmann

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© 1999 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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McFarland, H.F. (1999). The Clinical and Social Impact of Interferon-β: The First Approved Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis. In: Lindenmann, J., Schleuning, WD. (eds) Interferon: The Dawn of Recombinant Protein Drugs. Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop, vol 5. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03787-4_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03787-4_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-03789-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-03787-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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