Enhanced Mobility Observed in certain Multiple Sclerosis Patients Due to New Pharmaceutical
A new drug, fampridine, offers a fresh approach to therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, focusing on improving function rather than targeting the disease process itself. This breakthrough was revealed in a recent clinical trial led by neurologist Andrew Goodman, M.D., chief of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
The study, funded by Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., found that fampridine improves the transmission of signals in the central nervous system of some MS patients by blocking potassium ion channels. This enhancement in nerve conduction leads to improved motor function, particularly walking speed.
The trial involved 301 adult MS patients at 33 locations in the U.S. and Canada over a 14-week period. Participants were given either the drug Fampridine-SR or a placebo. Among those who received the drug, 34.8% experienced an improvement in their walking speed, with an average increase of about 25% compared to the placebo group.
The study, published in the journal The Lancet, also highlighted a strong correlation between walking speed and overall disability as measured by the Estimated Disability Status Score (EDSS). The 12-question scale used to evaluate walking ability improvements includes measures such as walking distance, speed, and endurance.
However, it's important to note that fampridine does not work for all MS patients. The drug improves walking ability in some, but not all individuals with the disease. For those who show improved walking speed, they are able to identify improvements in various aspects of MS-related walking difficulties.
The study focused on evaluating the drug's effect on walking and leg strength, which are common problems for MS patients. The experimental drug represents a symptomatic treatment, improving functional motor capacity in MS patients, while other approved therapies are primarily disease-modifying agents targeting the autoimmune component of MS.
Physicians will need to select patients with walking difficulties and monitor their response to treatment in a practical manner. Unfortunately, the study did not provide a clear way to predict which patients will respond to treatment.
In summary, fampridine offers a new hope for MS patients, providing a symptomatic treatment that improves functional motor capacity, while other approved therapies are primarily disease-modifying agents targeting the autoimmune component of MS.
| Aspect | Fampridine | Other Approved MS Treatments | |-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------| | Mechanism | Blocks potassium channels to enhance nerve conduction in damaged nerves[1][5] | Immune modulation or suppression to reduce inflammation and disease activity | | Effect on Disease Process | Does not alter the disease progression or inflammatory process[1] | Aim to slow progression and reduce relapses | | Functional Outcome | Improves walking speed and physical function (symptomatic treatment)[1] | Reduce relapse rate, new lesions, and disability progression (disease modification) |
[1] References available upon request.
Fampridine's impact on health-and-wellness for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) is centered on improving their motor functions, specifically their walking speed, through its mechanism of blocking potassium channels and enhancing nerve conduction in damaged nerves. On the other hand, multiple-sclerosis medical-conditions are conventionally managed by disease-modifying treatments that primarily target the autoimmune component of MS to slow disease progression and reduce relapses.
