Landmark moment for MS patients after treatment becomes available on NHS

The availability of the first ever treatment for early primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) on the NHS has been called a “landmark moment” by the MS Society.

Ocrelizumab is the first and only treatment which can slow disability progression in primary progressive MS but was rejected for use on the NHS by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) last year due to being too expensive.

In response, the MS Society launched a campaign calling on NICE, NHS England and the drug’s manufacturer Roche to find a deal allowing accessing to ocrelizumab on the NHS. A 21,000 strong petition, backed by both celebrities and healthcare professionals, as well as politicians helped see a deal reached eight months after the campaign was launched

During clinical trials the drug saw an average drop of 25% in the risk of patients’ disability getting worse. More so, it’s thought that ocrelizumab could delay the need for a wheelchair by seven years.

Genevieve Edwards, director of External Affairs at the MS Society, said: “This is a landmark moment and an incredible victory for the more than 21,000 of us who helped overturn this result. We now want to see everyone who could benefit from ocrelizumab being able to access it, with increased support for MS services to make sure this happens.

“Right now however there isn’t enough evidence to show ocrelizumab can work for everyone, and we know the restrictions will be a massive blow for those who still don’t have any options. We’re driving research to find more and better treatments, and calling for drug trials to more fully address the needs of everyone with MS, until the day we are able to stop it in its tracks.”

In the UK, over 100,000 people have MS with 650 every year diagnosed with the disease’s primary progressive form.

Zoe Bowman and Vikki Langford are sisters who were diagnosed with MS within weeks of each other.

Zoe, 43 from Crystal Palace, found out that she had the primary progressive form of MS a year after her initial diagnosis in December 2016.

“I felt so isolated when I was told by doctors there was nothing they could do for me. It was like being discriminated against – it’s not my fault I have this particular type of MS. Now that there’s a treatment available that could work for me, I finally have a glimmer of hope for the future. Anything that could help me keep my independence for longer would have a massive impact,” Zoe said.

Zoe’s sister Vikki, 52, lives in Battersea, and was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in January 2017. She said: “It was awful knowing I have a world of treatment choices at my fingertips, yet Zoe had nothing. She’s my little sister and a lot of my anxieties around MS have been focussed on her, rather than myself, because it’s affected her a lot more than it has me. I’m overjoyed she could now have a shot at hope. And this isn’t just for Zoe – this decision sends a message that people with primary progressive MS matter and they equally deserve treatments and care.”