NHS Introduces Groundbreaking Drug to Aid MS Patients' Mobility

WHO:

The Independent - Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director

The Independent - Aysen Slack, 65, from Eastbourne

The Independent - Ceri Smith, head of policy and evidence at the MS Society

WHAT:

The Independent - The NHS is rolling out a new drug called fampridine, which is a twice-daily pill designed to improve walking ability for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

The Independent - Fampridine is the first drug specifically designed to address walking difficulties associated with MS.

The Independent - Approximately 5,000 people with MS are expected to be eligible for fampridine in the first year.

The Independent - Fampridine trials showed that the drug improved walking speed in 43 percent of patients.

WHERE:

The Independent - The rollout of fampridine is taking place in England.

BBC - The drug had previously been available in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

WHEN:

The Independent - Patients will try fampridine for two to four weeks, with walking ability assessed before and after treatment.

WHY:

The Independent - Walking difficulties significantly impact the freedom and independence of people with MS, making the introduction of fampridine potentially life-changing.

The Independent - Fampridine helps electrical messages travel along nerves damaged by MS, improving mobility.

HOW:

The Independent - Fampridine functions by acting as a signal booster within the nervous system, restoring electrical signals along damaged nerves to enable better muscle function.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 19:28 UTC)

The NHS is set to roll out a new drug called fampridine, a twice-daily pill designed to improve walking ability for multiple sclerosis patients in England, with around 5,000 individuals expected to be eligible in the first year. Fampridine is the first medication specifically aimed at addressing walking difficulties associated with MS, and trials have shown it improved walking speed in 43 percent of participants. Patients will be able to try fampridine for two to four weeks, with their walking ability assessed before and after treatment, potentially making a significant difference in their freedom and independence.