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Pill welcome news for MS sufferers
17 Apr 2008
A pill to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) has been developed to reduce the number of debilitating attacks suffered by people living with the condition.
Italian researchers carried out a six-month study on the effects of the medication called FTY720 (also known as fingolimod) on 281 people with MS.
Two thirds of the people took the treatment, which is swallowed with a glass of water, while one third of the group took a dummy pill.
After six months, people taking the pill experienced 50 per cent fewer attacks than those taking the dummy pill. At this point all of the study participants were given the opportunity to take part in an extension of the study where they would all receive the pill.
Over three years, researchers found that continuous use of the drug led to low rates of attacks, with more than 67 per cent of the people taking the medication staying free of relapses during this time.
Furthermore, 89 per cent of people showed a reduction of inflammation in the central nervous system associated with MS.
Study author Giancarlo Comi described the findings as a "significant development" for people with MS.
"All of the current treatments for MS must be injected, so having a pill you can swallow with a glass of water would be a welcome improvement for many people," he explained.
MS causes the body's immune system to attack the central nervous system, leading to a range of health problems including loss of vision, balance and muscle control.
The pill works by binding to immune cells in the body, isolating them in the lymph nodes and preventing them from causing damage to nerves surrounding the central nervous system.
Click here to learn more about multiple sclerosis
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