NHS England makes Fampridine available for MS walking

Fampridine, the first drug proven to improve walking in people with multiple sclerosis, is being rolled out on the NHS in England as a twice-daily pill aimed at helping around 5,000 patients in the first year. Clinical trials showed about 43% of users walk faster and can walk longer, with the drug functioning as a signal booster that helps nerve messages reach muscles more effectively. Eligibility is limited to adults with MS within certain walking impairment ranges, and patients will undergo a 2 to 4 week trial with assessments before deciding on ongoing treatment. The move follows years of frustration for some patients who paid privately and had access to the drug in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and it marks a potential life-changing difference in independence for many. NHS officials describe fampridine as a meaningful advance for walking difficulties, though the drug’s previous NHS rejection for value for money in England is noted in broader context. Aysen Slack, among others who paid privately, voiced optimism about the NHS rollout and its impact on daily mobility and social engagement.