Thousands of MS patients to benefit from pill that improves walking ability
- Thousands of people in England living with multiple sclerosis (MS) are set to benefit from fampridine, a new twice-daily pill now being rolled out on the NHS.
- Fampridine is the first drug specifically designed to improve walking ability in individuals with MS, an incurable autoimmune disease affecting the brain and spinal cord.
- The drug, also known as Fampyra, functions by restoring electrical signals along damaged nerves, thereby enabling muscles to function more effectively and improving overall mobility.
- Around 5,000 MS patients are expected to be eligible in the first year, specifically those with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores between four and seven.
- Patients will undergo a two to four-week trial period, and if progress in walking ability is demonstrated, they will continue the treatment with regular reviews.
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