NHS rolls out ‘life-changing’ drug to help multiple sclerosis patients walk - The Independent

What the report says

The Independent reported that the NHS in England is rolling out fampridine, a twice-daily tablet intended to improve walking in some people with multiple sclerosis. The drug, also marketed as Fampyra, is described as the first licensed medicine specifically targeting MS-related walking problems, a major symptom for many patients with the incurable autoimmune condition affecting the brain and spinal cord.

According to the report, NHS officials expect about 5,000 people to be eligible in the first year. The medicine will be offered to patients within specified Expanded Disability Status Scale scores, a clinical measure used to assess MS-related disability. Patients will initially take fampridine for two to four weeks, with their walking assessed before and after the trial period; those who show improvement can continue treatment with regular reviews.

The Independent said fampridine works by helping electrical signals pass through nerves damaged by MS, which may allow muscles to work more effectively. Trial findings cited in the article said walking speed improved in 43% of patients and that some people were able to walk for longer. The report also noted that people with mobility problems have often relied on physiotherapy, walking aids or supportive devices.

The development matters because MS can restrict independence, work and daily activity through symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, muscle spasms, sensory changes, vision issues and memory problems. The MS Society welcomed NHS approval while urging services to ensure access across England. The article also highlighted the case of Aysen Slack, 65, from Eastbourne, who previously stopped private treatment because of cost and hopes to try the drug again through the NHS.