A drug designed to improve the walking ability of people with multiple sclerosis is being made available on the NHS in England for the first time. Known as fampridine, it is described as the first medication of its kind, and patients in England who are eligible and suitable for the treatment will now be able to access it through the health service after years in which it was out of reach there.
The drug is not suitable for everyone, and its use is decided on an individual basis. According to those involved, patients will have the opportunity to discuss the medication with their MS healthcare team, and treatment typically begins with a trial period. During that time, doctors assess whether the patient experiences a noticeable benefit before the drug is prescribed on a longer-term basis.
For those it does work for, the benefits can be significant. Specialists say patients see an increase in the speed of their walking, along with greater mobility and independence. The treatment can also reduce fatigue and improve overall quality of life, with knock-on effects that make it easier for some people to engage with work and everyday activities that had become difficult.
The change has been described as a long time coming. Fampridine was initially licensed in Europe back in 2011 and had already been approved for use in Scotland, Ireland and Wales some years ago. England had remained the exception, and its introduction there is now seen as bringing the country into line with the rest of the United Kingdom and improving equity of access for patients.
The move has been driven by specialists working in MS neurology, with figures such as Dr Rachel Farrell and many colleagues pushing the treatment forward over a number of years. Patient organisations, which say they have strong links with healthcare professionals working in MS, have welcomed the change and say they are keen to make sure information reaches those who could benefit from it.
Attention is now turning to how services are designed so that equity of access becomes a reality across the country. Those involved stress the importance of ensuring that the right support is in place for people living with a long-term neurological condition, so that eligible patients can actually receive the treatment now that it has been approved for the NHS in England.