Fampridine submitted to licensing body

13 January 2010

Fampridine, a new oral drug to improve walking ability in some people with multiple sclerosis, has been submitted for a licence to the EMEA, the European regulator.

In two clinical trials, a greater proportion of people with relapsing remitting, secondary progressive, and primary progressive MS showed improvement in walking speed when compared to people taking a placebo (34.8% vs 8.3% and 42.9% vs 9.3%).

Pam Macfarlane, Chief Executive of the MS Trust, said "The submission of fampridine to the EMEA means that, with cladribine and fingolimod, there are there are three possible drug therapies for MS being assessed by the regulatory agencies, a really positive development for people with MS. However, it is unlikely that any of the licence applications will be granted before the end of 2010."