Until as recently as this year, most of the treatment options for treating symptoms of late stage MS involved injecting one or many drugs. Fingolimod Multiple Sclerosis finally gained FDA approval on September 22, 2010. Fingolimod MS pills could mark a turning point in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. Pills are much more convenient and tolerable for patients, and could mean they are more likely to stay on their treatment plans. Fingolimod Multiple Sclerosis oral medication is marketed under the name Gilenya and targets the relapsing-remitting MS that is defined as relapsing episodes, usually progressively worse, followed by a period where the symptoms either completely or partially disappear. It both slows the progression of disability and reduces the frequency of relapses.
The most frequent side effects reported with the Fingolimod MS pills were headache, diarrhea, back pain, influenza, liver enzyme level elevation and cough.
Long term side effects still being monitored
The National MS Society (NMSS) is naturally enthusiastic about the approval. But they are concerned about the long term effects that are still a potential wild card. So the company has also started a 5-year, worldwide comprehensive post-authorization safety study to monitor outcomes and a voluntary pregnancy registry for women to sign up for to provide more data on the use of Fingolimod Multiple Sclerosis pills in women with MS who are pregnant or may later become pregnant.
In a statement, the NMSS noted that “Other phase 3 clinical trials of Fingolimod, including one involving people with primary progressive MS, are still under way, as are extension studies involving those who’ve completed Fingolimod trials. These and other post-marketing studies should provide additional data on the safety and efficacy of Fingolimod.”
In the medical and patient community, there is still a lot of discussion and a wide range of opinions. But no matter your opinion, this has to be looked as a breakthrough and another step in improving the quality of life for MS patients around the world.
Good news for Fingolimod oral drug
Other good news for MS patients on Fingolimod MS treatment is that of some of the original trial patients from the experimental stages of the drug have remained relapse free – three years later. The normal reduction in relapse rate for earlier first-line treatments was only about 30%. So it seems the news gets better as time passes, even if the debates rage on.
