The MS Trust has praised the pioneering work of the MS Risk Sharing Scheme as the final results from the scheme are published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
"The MS Risk Sharing Scheme (RSS) was a truly innovative scheme and continues to deliver real benefits for people with MS," commented David Martin*, Chief Executive of the MS Trust. "Not only has the scheme enabled over 18,000 people with MS to access disease modifying treatments (DMTs), but it has also been the catalyst for the development of MS services, completely transforming the landscape for the 110,000 people living with MS across the UK.
"As administrator of the scheme, we are proud to have contributed to what has been achieved, but we won't be resting on our laurels. People with MS still face many challenges and we will continue to fight to ensure everyone has access to the best possible treatments and MS services, now and in the future."
The MS Risk Sharing Scheme was a unique partnership – the first of its kind in the UK – which enabled people with MS to access the original four disease modifying therapies on the NHS.
- (Avonex (interferon beta 1a)
- Betaferon (interferon beta 1b)
- Copaxone (glatiramer acetate)
- Rebif (interferon beta 1a)
It was established in 2002 following an assessment by the then National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) of the four DMTs. It concluded that, while clinically effective, these drugs were not cost effective and therefore should not be made available on the NHS.