ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION Recombinant human interferon-/3-lb (IFN /3-Ib; Betaseron) was recently approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) based on the results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (1,2). This trial evolved from preliminary studies with IFN-/3 (3,4) as well as from experience gained from studies with IFN-a in MS. Although the results of the Betaseron trial have immediate implications for the management of RR disease, they also raise important questions. During the studies with IFN-a in MS, much information was gained and a review of the lessons learned has merit not only in designing future clinical trials of IFN in other courses of MS, but also in beginning to understand the mechanisms of action of IFN relevant to MS.
