People suffering from multiple sclerosis have been given a boost with the announcement of a new drug which is available on the NHS which is set to drastically cut treatment times. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance. It is a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause disability, although it can occasionally be mild.
In an announcement the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the medicine ocrelizumab to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) in adults. Around 9,000 patients in England currently receiving the drug ocrelizumab via an infusion can now be offered a jab that takes just ten minutes - cutting treatment times by 90 per cent. Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong condition that is estimated to affect more than 150,000 people in the UK, including over 120,000 people in England.
It is more common in women and each week around 135 people in the UK are diagnosed with MS. Ocrelizumab can be used in two types of patients - adults with RMS, where the patient has flare-ups (relapses) followed by periods with mild or no symptoms; adults with PPMS, where symptoms get steadily worse over time. The active ingredient ocrelizumab was previously approved in the United Kingdom in 2018, administered as an infusion (drip) into a vein.
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