Fresh MS Drug Connected to Our Medical Center's portfolio
Fampridine-SR, marketed as Ampyra by Acorda Therapeutics, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). This drug improves neurological function, particularly walking ability, in some patients with MS.
The drug works as a potassium channel blocker, enhancing nerve conduction in demyelinated nerves. By restoring electrical conduction along nerves that have impaired myelin, it improves motor function, particularly walking and mobility.
In clinical trials, Fampridine-SR has shown to improve gait and walking speed, as measured by standardized tests like the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW) and patient-reported scales such as the MS Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12). It produces a modest but clinically meaningful improvement in motor function in MS patients with moderate disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] scores between 4 and 7).
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center, who have been evaluating the effects of the drug in MS for over 10 years, have reported that patients taking the drug consistently improved their walking speed by an average of about 25%. Additionally, patients reported improvements in their ability to walk farther distances, climb stairs better, and stay on their feet longer.
While Fampridine benefits a subset of MS patients, it does not help everyone. This variation in response is partly because walking difficulties in MS have multiple causes beyond nerve conduction defects.
The most concerning risk identified in the clinical trials for the drug is the complication of seizures. However, the incidence of seizure-related events in the ongoing clinical safety studies has remained relatively low at the dose approved by the FDA.
Andrew Goodman, M.D., chief of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center, stated that the drug will provide a new tool for physicians and improve walking and regain some independence for certain patients with multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system and is the most common cause of neurological disability in young adults, with an estimated 2.5 million people worldwide suffering from the disease. The progress in evaluating the drug's impact accelerated when the license to develop it was acquired by Acorda Therapeutics.
It is important to note that Fampridine-SR is a symptomatic treatment that improves neurological functions related to motor conduction in MS, mainly enhancing walking by improving nerve signal transmission disrupted by demyelination. It is distinct from disease-modifying therapies and is used to address mobility impairments rather than slowing disease progression.
The FDA's adoption of the recommendation of an expert advisory panel to approve the drug marks a significant milestone in the treatment of MS. Ampyra is expected to be available beginning in March.
- Scientific studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that Fampridine-SR, marketed as Ampyra, can significantly improve the walking ability and motor function of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological disorder and the most common cause of neurological disability in young adults.
- By restoring electrical conduction along nerves that have impaired myelin, Fampridine-SR, a potassium channel blocker, improves motor function and mobility, making it an important addition to health-and-wellness therapies and treatments for managing MS.
- In the realm of science, Fampridine-SR's approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signals a major advancement in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, offering a new tool for physicians and potentially enhancing the quality of life for patients by improving their walking abilities and regaining some independence.
