The NHS is offering a new pill called fampridine to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) walk more easily. The twice-daily drug acts like a “signal booster” for nerves damaged by MS, helping electrical messages travel more effectively to the muscles.
Around 5,000 patients in England who previously only had access to physiotherapy, walking aids or foot support devices will now be eligible for the medication.
Life-changing impact
Ceri Smith, head of policy and evidence at the MS Society, said: "We're delighted that fampridine has now been approved for use on the NHS. Over 120,000 people live with MS in England and Fampridine is the only licensed treatment that helps improve walking ability and speed for some of these people. For many of them, it's life-changing, allowing them to live more independently or stay in employment."
MS is an incurable autoimmune disease affecting the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can include tiredness, dizziness, tingling, muscle cramps, vision problems and memory problems.
Cost and eligibility
Fampridine has a list price of around £4,700 per patient per year, but the NHS has negotiated a confidential discount. Patients are scored on disability levels; those rated between four (able to walk without aid for about 500 metres) and seven (using wheelchairs or unable to walk further than five metres) will be offered the drug.
Patients will try fampridine for two to four weeks, with walking ability assessed before and after. Those who show progress will continue and be reviewed regularly. Trials found the drug improved walking speed in 43% of patients and helped people walk for longer.
Patient experience
Aysen Slack, 65, from Eastbourne, previously paid for fampridine privately but stopped due to costs. She said: "Fampridine seemed to be working well for me, but paying for the medication was a significant expense and I could not keep doing that forever. So I had to make the difficult decision to stop taking it. I would definitely like to try fampridine again on the NHS. My mobility has decreased a lot and even in my flat I have to use sticks now. It would make a huge difference to my life if I were able to improve my walking."
Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director, said: "Walking difficulties can have a huge impact on the freedom and independence of people with MS, so this signal-boosting pill could be life-changing for thousands of patients. Fampridine helps electrical messages travel along nerves damaged by MS, giving people the chance to walk more easily and helping them be more mobile to do more of the everyday things that matter to them. For some, even a modest improvement could mean getting around the house more easily, going out with greater confidence and living more independently."
Ceri Smith added: "It's vital that MS services now have the support they need to make fampridine available to all people with MS who could benefit from it, regardless of where in England they live."
