The drug fampridine, which helps improve walking ability in patients with multiple sclerosis, is now available on the NHS in England.
Key facts
- •Fampridine is the first drug made available on the NHS in England specifically to help people with MS walk.
- •Clinical trials showed that 40% of participants saw improvements in walking speed and duration.
- •Patients must show a clear benefit after a one-month trial to remain on the medication.
- •Approximately 5,000 people in England are expected to benefit from the drug annually.
- •Aysen Slack, a 65-year-old patient from Eastbourne, noted the drug's high cost previously prevented her from continuing private treatment.
The NHS in England has begun offering fampridine, a medication designed to assist people with multiple sclerosis (MS) with walking. The drug acts as a signal booster to help nerve signals travel from the brain to the rest of the body. Up to 5,000 people in England are expected to be eligible for the treatment each year.
By the numbers
How the treatment works
Multiple sclerosis damages the myelin, the protective covering around nerve cells, which impairs the transmission of electrical messages needed for muscle control. Fampridine helps these signals pass through the damaged areas. Clinical trials indicated that approximately four in 10 patients experienced improvements in their walking speed and endurance.
Eligibility and access
Patients will initially trial the medication for up to one month. Only those who demonstrate a clear benefit from the drug will be permitted to continue the treatment. While more than 120,000 people in England live with MS, eligibility is restricted based on the severity of a patient's walking difficulties. The drug was previously rejected for NHS use in England due to value-for-money concerns but has been available in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Health.
