Tuesday July 10 2012 11:21 AM

Fingolimod, under the trade name Gilenya, the first oral drug therapy for the treatment of MS, is now available under the direction of a neurologist. Gilenya is licensed as a second line therapy, making it suitable for people that have failed on conventional first line therapies or those individuals with highly active MS.

Gilenya allows for a new method of administration for the treatment of MS – taken once a day orally instead of current therapies taken by injection or infusion. It acts by trapping T cells (immune cells which cause inflammation) in the lymph nodes, preventing them from the entering the bloodstream, and therefore entering the brain. This prevents T cells from causing damage to the myelin sheath of nerve cells within the central nervous system, thereby alleviating the symptoms of MS and stopping the progression of the condition.

For more information please read our Gilenya Information Sheet.

There are more than 32,000 patients on the drug worldwide. In June reports emerged that there was one confirmed case of Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in a patient taking Gilenya. Investigations are ongoing but it is known that the person had been on Tysabri (natalizumab) for 4 years and discontinued due to a positive JCV antibody test (this positive test increasing the likelihood of acquiring PML). PML is associated with Tysabri infusions.

MS Ireland are pleased that Gilenya is now accessible to all people with MS deemed suitable for its use. Its reimbursement by the HSE and the new contract between the HSE and the Irish Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association now provide a way forward for the reimbursement of novel therapies for the future treatment of MS.

Thank you to everyone who got involved in our Access to Treatments campaign, demanding that Gilenya, Tysabri and all future therapies are funded appropriately.