MS: a kernel of hope

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) is a chronic disabling disease that predominantly affects young women, with onset commonly at the age of 30–35 years. Its prevalence in Australia and elsewhere is steadily increasing. Many treatments have been tried over the years without success but, over the past decade, immunotherapy with beta-interferons and glatiramer has been demonstrated by many clinical trials to reduce the number of relapses and the rate of progression of disability. More recently, natazilumab has proven to be very effective. Unfortunately, all these drugs have side effects and none has yet been able to completely stop, let alone reverse, the progression of the disease.