Markers for interferon responsiveness in MS

Although β-interferons are standard of care for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, with global sales totaling more than $6 billion in 2009, the drugs don't work in about 20% to 25% of patients. Researchers at Stanford University and The University of Alabama at Birmingham have identified cytokine markers in the blood that predict responsiveness to interferon-β therapies¹ and could lead to a simple blood-based test that would differentiate responders from non-responders.

"Right now, treatment responsiveness in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is assessed by putting patients on one of the available drugs and seeing empirically whether or not they do well," said Lawrence Steinman, professor of neurology and chairman of the immunology program at Stanford. "There is no clear rationale as to whether a patient with RRMS should be started on β-interferon or another drug [such as] Copaxone."...