The 1p pill that slows disease

PATIENTS with early-stage MS could be offered an antibiotic commonly used to treat acne.

The drug, minocycline, costs less than 1p a pill and has been shown to delay the progress of the disease. In a six-month Canadian trial, 142 patients with early signs of MS were given either a twice-daily minocycline tablet or a placebo. Twice as many in the placebo group went on to develop MS.

Treating patients with minocycline could be far cheaper than injectable therapies currently available, which can cost tens of thousands of pounds per patient.

The dose given to MS patients was twice that for acne and there are side effects, including nausea and skin discoloration, which may be permanent.