Enhanced Mobility Found in Certain Multiple Sclerosis Patients Using a Specific Drug
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Fampridine, a selective potassium channel blocker, has emerged as a groundbreaking treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) as it is the first drug to improve certain symptoms of the disease, specifically impaired functions such as mobility problems. This unique drug offers a symptomatic treatment approach, differing from the disease-modifying strategies of most other MS medications.
The results of a multi-center Phase 3 clinical trial, published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, support this conclusion. In this study, led by Andrew Goodman, M.D., chief of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center, participants with MS were allowed to continue taking most other medications for the disease, and no negative interactions were observed.
The study evaluated a sustained-release formulation of the drug, Fampridine-SR, developed by Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. The most consistent and sensitive measurement of changes in walking ability was the repeated timing of the 25 foot walk. In the trial, 34.8% of those receiving the drug experienced an improvement in their walking speed, compared to only 8.3% in the placebo group.
However, it's important to note that fampridine does not work for all MS patients. The study did not provide a clear way to predict which patients will respond to treatment. Common side effects observed in the study include dizziness, insomnia, and fatigue. A total of eleven patients (4.8%) in the fampridine-treated group discontinued the study due to side effects.
Clinicians will need to select patients with walking difficulties, prescribe the medication, and monitor their progress. A change of more than 20 percent in the timed 25 foot walk is considered significant.
The therapeutic effect of fampridine primarily revolves around symptomatic improvement, specifically walking ability enhancement. In contrast, most other approved MS treatments focus on modulating or suppressing the immune system to reduce inflammation, delay disease progression, and limit new lesions in the central nervous system.
| Aspect | Fampridine | Other Approved MS Treatments | |-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Mechanism of Action | Blocks potassium channels to improve nerve signal conduction in damaged nerves[1][3][4] | Immunomodulation or immunosuppression to reduce inflammation and slow disease progression[5] | | Therapeutic Effect | Symptomatic improvement, primarily walking ability enhancement[1][2] | Disease modification: reduce relapse rate, lesion formation, and progression[5] | | Target Patient Outcome | Improves nerve function to alleviate disability symptoms | Aims to delay or prevent long-term neurological damage | | Use | Adjunctive to other MS therapies, specifically for adults with walking difficulties[2] | Can be first-line or subsequent treatments targeting disease biology |
Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. has submitted a new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Fampridine-SR, hoping to bring this innovative treatment to more MS patients in the near future. The correlation between the speed someone could walk and the overall measurement of disability using the Estimated Disability Status Score (EDSS) was very strong, suggesting that fampridine could significantly improve the quality of life for many MS patients.
- Science has played a crucial role in the development of therapies and treatments for neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), with Fampridine emerging as a groundbreaking treatment for impaired functions associated with MS, like mobility problems.
- Health and wellness professionals often manage multiple sclerosis (MS) by administering Fampridine, a drug that blocks potassium channels to improve nerve signal conduction in damaged nerves, along with other medications that focus on modulating or suppressing the immune system to reduce inflammation and slow disease progression.
- While Fampridine offers symptomatic improvements to walking ability for some MS patients, its efficacy varies among individuals, and it's essential for clinicians to monitor multiple sclerosis patients' progress using tests like the repeated timing of the 25 foot walk to ensure an appropriate response to this medication.
