The National Health Service in England is rolling out a significant new treatment option for thousands of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). The drug natalizumab has received formal approval from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) for use within the NHS.
A New Option for Active Relapsing-Remitting MS
This decision is set to benefit individuals diagnosed with highly active relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), the most common form of the neurological condition. Nice estimates that at any given time, around 43,000 people in England have RRMS out of a total MS population of approximately 123,000.
The treatment will be available for patients where the disease remains highly active despite trying other therapies, or when other treatments are unsuitable. Natalizumab, administered via an infusion or injection every four weeks, works by binding to immune cells. This action prevents them from entering the brain and spinal cord, where they would typically attack the protective myelin sheath around nerves.
Particular Benefits for Women Planning a Family
A crucial aspect of this approval is the safety profile for women who wish to start a family. Natalizumab is considered safe to take during pregnancy, unlike several other highly effective disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). This is a major development, given that MS is around three times more common in women than in men.
Ceri Smith, head of policy at the MS Society, highlighted this benefit, stating the decision will be particularly impactful for people with MS who want to get pregnant, offering them a highly effective treatment option without compromising their family plans.
Clinical Choice and Personalised Care
Two versions of the drug have been approved: Tysabri (by Biogen), given as an injection, and Tyruko (by Sandoz), administered as an infusion. This provides both patients and clinicians with choice.
Helen Knight, Nice's director of medicines evaluation, emphasised that "having choice matters enormously to people managing a lifelong condition." She added that it allows individuals and their doctors to select the treatment best suited to their personal circumstances.
Professor Ruth Dobson from the Wolfson Institute of Population Health welcomed the news, noting it gives people with breakthrough disease activity "access to a wider range of treatments without needing to wait." James Palmer of NHS England said the recommendation supports more personalised care and informed choices for patients.
The move is seen as a significant step forward in managing a condition where symptoms—including vision problems, fatigue, and balance issues—can severely impact daily life, offering new hope to thousands across England.
