Advice
Following a full submission
interferon beta-1b (Betaferon) is not recommended for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of patients with a single demyelinating event with an active inflammatory process, severe enough to warrant treatment with intravenous corticosteroids, where alternative diagnoses are excluded and who are determined to be at high risk of developing clinically definite multiple sclerosis.
Although interferon beta-1b has been found to increase the time to clinically definite multiple sclerosis over 2 years, the long-term effect on the disease process remains unknown. The economic case has not been demonstrated.
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Medicine details
- Medicine name:
- Interferon beta-1b 250microgram/ml for solution for injection (Betaferon)
- SMC ID:
- 345/07
- Indication:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Pharmaceutical company
- Schering Health Care Ltd
- BNF chapter
- Malignant disease and immunosuppression
- Submission type
- Full
- Status
- Not recommended
- Date advice published
- 12 February 2007