Pill to tackle multiple sclerosis in children delivers ‘some of most promising results ever seen’

By Sally Wardle30th October 2017News EnglandDisabilities, Medication / Vaccines, Multiple Sclerosis, News England, Prescriptions, Young People / Youth Work, Youth Work

A new pill can reduce the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) among children and teenagers, a study has found.

Sufferers aged between 10 and 17 who were treated with Gilenya tablets had an 82% lower relapse rate compared to those injected with an alternative standard treatment, pharmaceutical giant Novartis said.

Dr Cheryl Hemingway, consultant paediatric neurologist at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, said the results were “some of the most promising we have ever seen” for young MS patients.

There are limited licensed treatments available to children with MS and scientists believe the use of Gilenya could help hundreds of young people every year.

Dr Hemingway (pictured) said: “MS is too-often thought of as a condition that only affects adults, and there remain few licensed treatment options able to help children and adolescents who live with its symptoms on a daily basis.

“The data on Gilenya in this group of patients are some of the most promising we have ever seen.

“Being able to reduce MS activity by over 80% means these young people could have more time to live their lives free of significant, disabling symptoms.

“Our hope now is that this will enable us to fundamentally change the course of this disease earlier than ever before.”

MS affects more than 100,000 people in the UK, with symptoms often becoming present in adult years.

But between two and five in every 100 people experience their first symptoms before they turn 18.

The study, which involved 215 young people, compared Gilenya with interferon beta-1a injections – currently widely used in the UK – over a period of two years.

Those treated with Gilenya saw reduced flare up of symptoms and less brain shrinkage, which is associated in adults with the loss of physical and cognitive function.

The pill has previously been shown to improve long-term outcomes for adults with relapsing MS.

Novartis is not currently licensed for treatment of MS in children but the company said it would now work to secure regulatory approval.

The study was conducted over 87 sites in 25 countries, including at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.