The best treatments up to now, interleukin-2 or interferon-alpha, help only 15% of patients.

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There are 80, 000 people in the UK with multiple sclerosis - theoretically beta interferon could help about 10% of them, but the reality is that only about 2% actually receive it.

BBC: Beta interferon: Rights and wrongs

McDonald suggests one likely target: Albuferon, an interferon drug for hepatitis C now in phase 2 trials that belongs to Human Genome Sciences (nasdaq: HGSI - news - people ).

FORBES: Gilead's Half-Empty Pipeline