Measurement of treatment efficacy and new trial results in multiple sclerosis

The past 12 months have witnessed a considerable number of new publications of the results of phase I, II and III trials of new, putative disease modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis. Some important reports have appeared concerning the development and optimization of clinical and magnetic resonance imaging methods for measuring therapeutic outcome. A general sense of optimism continues to exist that there will be further progress in coming years in achieving more effective strategies for treating symptoms, and for preventing relapses and disease progression.