Enhanced Mobility Observed in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Using Certain Pharmaceuticals
New Study Finds Fampridine Improves Walking Ability in Some Adult MS Patients
A recent study has found that Fampridine, an experimental drug, improves walking ability in some individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, conducted by Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., involved 301 adult MS patients at 33 locations in the U.S. and Canada over a 14-week period.
Fampridine is believed to improve the transmission of signals in the central nervous system by blocking potassium ion channels. This mechanism differs from existing MS treatments, which primarily focus on modulating or suppressing the immune system. Fampridine, on the other hand, directly improves neurological function, specifically walking ability.
The study found that 34.8% of those receiving Fampridine-SR experienced an improvement in walking speed, compared to only 8.3% in the placebo group. Among the participants who met the criteria for consistently improved walking speed, they themselves were able to identify improvements in various aspects of MS affecting their walking and ability to function on their feet.
The study did not identify any negative interactions between Fampridine and other disease modifying or symptom treatments. However, eleven patients (4.8%) in the Fampridine-treated group discontinued the study due to side effects such as dizziness, insomnia, and fatigue.
The most consistent and sensitive measurement of changes in walking ability was the repeated timing of the 25 foot walk, with any change of more than 20 percent being significant. There was a very strong correlation between the speed a patient could walk and the overall measurement of disability in the Estimated Disability Status Score (EDSS).
Physicians will need to approach treatment selection in a practical manner, selecting patients with walking difficulties, prescribing the medication, and monitoring their progress. The existing approved treatments for MS, known as disease modifying agents, address the fundamental disease process that causes damage to the central nervous system. Participants were allowed to continue taking most other medications for MS during the study.
The study results were published in the journal The Lancet. However, it's important to note that the study did not provide a clear way to predict who will respond to treatment with Fampridine. As such, further research is needed to determine the drug's efficacy and safety in a broader patient population.
In conclusion, Fampridine represents a new approach to therapy that impacts function, specifically improving walking and leg strength in MS patients. While it does not replace existing treatments for MS, it offers a promising symptomatic therapy that enhances function and complements disease-modifying therapies designed to manage MS's progression.
Table: Key Distinctions Between Fampridine and Conventional MS Treatments
| Aspect | Fampridine | Conventional MS Treatments | |-----------------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| | Mechanism | Potassium channel blocker; improves nerve signal conduction in damaged nerves | Immune modulation (e.g., anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressants) | | Primary effect | Improves function, especially walking speed and mobility | Slows or reduces disease activity/progression | | Therapeutic goal | Symptomatic improvement (function enhancement) | Disease modification (controlling underlying disease process) | | FDA approval indication | Improvement of walking in adult MS patients | Prevention of relapses and progression of disability |
- This new study on Fampridine, an experimental drug, indicates that it could offer a significant improvement in walking ability for some individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological disorder.
- Unlike conventional MS treatments that primarily focus on modulating or suppressing the immune system, Fampridine works by improving the transmission of signals in the central nervous system, specifically by blocking potassium ion channels.
- The study results, published in The Lancet, demonstrate that Fampridine could provide a promising symptomatic therapy, especially for managing walking difficulties and enhancing function, even though it does not replace existing disease-modifying therapies designed for managing MS's progression.
