Cost-effectiveness analysis of prolonged-release fampridine to treat walking disability of multiple sclerosis in China

Objectives: This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of adding prolonged-release (PR)-fampridine to best supportive care (BSC) versus BSC alone in adult multiple sclerosis patients with walking disability in China. Materials & methods: A hybrid decision tree and Markov model from both the societal and healthcare perspectives were constructed. Parameters were derived from clinical trials of PR-fampridine, published sources and clinical expert interviews. Results: Over a 10-year time horizon, adding PR-fampridine to BSC led to 0.15 quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gain and lower costs, with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of -238,806 Chinese Yuan/QALY and -113,488 Chinese Yuan/QALY from the societal and healthcare perspectives, respectively. Conclusion: Compared with BSC alone, PR-fampridine plus BSC is considered an economically dominant strategy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis-related walking disability in China.

Real-life experience with fampridine (Fampyra®) for patients with multiple sclerosis and gait disorders

BACKGROUND

Fampridine is a broad-spectrum voltage-dependent potassium channel blocker that enhances synaptic transmission. The drug has been shown to be able to ameliorate conduction in demyelinated axons, thereby leading to improved gait in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

OBJECTIVE

To assess the "real-life" efficacy and safety of fampridine prescribed for gait disorders in MS. This was an observational and prospective study carried out at MS Units participating in the Brazilian Multiple Sclerosis Study Group.

METHODS

Patients with MS and gait disorders were prescribed fampridine (10 mg twice a day), irrespectively of the degree of disability determined by MS. Neurological disability determined by MS was assessed with the expanded disability scale score (EDSS). Outcomes for efficacy and safety of the drug were evaluated by the 25 foot-walk test and by the adverse events of fampridine.

RESULTS

The time taken to walk 25 feet decreased by 20% or more in 62 patients (70%). Twenty-five patients were considered to be non-responders to this treatment. Improvement in walking speed was independent of improvement of disability. Mild or moderate adverse events were reported in 8% of patients.

CONCLUSION

Fampridine is an efficient and safe therapeutic option for patients with MS and gait disorders.

Reducing falls and improving mobility in multiple sclerosis

Falls are common in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), and are related to physical injury and reduce the quality of life. Mobility impairments are a significant risk factor for falls in persons with MS. Although there is evidence that mobility in persons with MS can be improved with rehabilitation, much less is known about fall prevention. This review focuses on fall prevention in persons with MS. Ten fall prevention interventions consisting of 524 participants with a wide range of disability were systematically identified. Nine of the 10 investigations report a reduction in falls and/or proportion of fallers following treatment. The vast majority observed an improvement in balance that co-occurred with the reduction in falls. Methodological limitations preclude any firm conclusions. Numerous gaps in the understanding of fall prevention in persons with MS are discussed. Well-designed randomized control trials targeting mobility and falls are warranted.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis is a good model of multiple sclerosis if used wisely

Although multiple sclerosis is a uniquely human disease, many pathological features can be induced in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models following induction of central nervous system-directed autoimmunity. Whilst it is an imperfect set of models, EAE can be used to identify pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutics. However, the failure to translate many treatments from EAE into human benefit has led some to question the validity of the EAE model. Whilst differences in biology between humans and other species may account for this, it is suggested here that the failure to translate may be considerably influenced by human activity. Basic science contributes to failings in aspects of experimental design and over-interpretation of results and lack of transparency and reproducibility of the studies. Importantly issues in trial design by neurologists and other actions of the pharmaceutical industry destine therapeutics to failure and terminate basic science projects. However animal, particularly mechanism-orientated, studies have increasingly identified useful treatments and provided mechanistic ideas on which most hypothesis-led clinical research is based. Without EAE and other animal studies, clinical investigations will continue to be "look-see" exercises, which will most likely provide more misses than hits and will fail the people with MS that they aim to serve.