A new formulation of interferon-&bgr;-1a has shown great promise as a treatment for remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in a phase III trial involving 560 patients. This is the largest trial ever conducted to investigate a treatment for this condition. The new formulation, which is manufactured by Ares-Serono, is now awaiting approval from European regulatory authorities. Speaking toInpharma, Professor Lance Blumhardt from Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK, who was one of the lead investigators in the trial, said that the he believes that the drug offers certain advantages over currently available treatments.