Multiple Sclerosis: New Drugs Offer More Hope For Patients

Posted by Caitlin Bronson on December 29, 2011 

Multiple sclerosis patients now have more treatment options than ever before in dealing with their illness, the New York Times reported Tuesday. Several new drug options have emerged after years of slow progress and doctors now have eight options to choose from in helping to slow the progression of the disease.

“We have a disease that’s gone from having no treatments 20 years ago to having multiple treatment options,” said Timothy Coetzee, chief research officer for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. “There is a growing recognition that M.S. is becoming a manageable disease.”

In addition to treating M.S. overall, three new drugs have been granted approval from the Food and Drug Administration over the past two years to treat specific symptoms of the disease. Amprya improves walking, Nuedexta helps to control laughing and crying, and Botox treats urinary incontinence and spasticity in the upper limbs.

Dr. Richard Rudick of the Cleveland Clinic told the Science Times that progress has been so positive, he sees brighter signs for the future.

“We’re shooting for a disease-free status, where someone with M.S. is on a medicine and has no sign of M.S.,” he said.

M.S. has previously been difficult to treat because the disease flares up on a relapsing, remitting basis. Attacks are often short, but patients eventually develop longer-lasting complications from the disease.

M.S. affects the body’s immune system and damages neurons in the brain and spinal cord, the New York Times explained. It can affect the ability to walk, to see and to control the bladder. 

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