The high-stakes drug drawing

Betaseron (interferon beta-1b; Chiron, Emeryville, CA) is a promising new drug, the first and only one available for treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been estimated that 350,000 Americans have MS, a neurological disease that affects twice as many women as men. This article reviews the role of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and describes steps that take a drug from an idea to a market reality. The random selection process by which initial recipients of limited supplies of Betaseron were chosen is discussed. Financial plans to assist patients with the high cost of the drug and reported adverse effects of the life-long therapy are also included.