Biogen Idec launches FAMPYRA in Canada

Today, Biogen Idec Canada announces that FAMPYRA (fampridine sustained release tablets or fampridine SR) is now available for prescription for patients living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Canada.  Health Canada approved FAMPYRA on February 10, 2012 for the symptomatic improvement of walking in adult MS patients with walking disability (EDSS 3.5-7). Walking impairment is one of the most common and disruptive consequences of MS and FAMPYRA is the first approved treatment that addresses this unmet medical need. In clinical trials, it demonstrated efficacy in people with all types of MS.

Patients with MS consistently rate walking as the most important function they want to maintain, regardless of what stage they are in their disease.  Walking impairment is directly associated with loss of independence, restrictions on a patient's ability to work and a reduction in overall levels of household income. In fact, a research survey shows that 88 per cent of sampled Canadians living with MS report that difficulty walking affects their overall mobility.

"For patients with MS, one of the greatest areas affected in their lives is walking.  Until fampridine SR (Fampyra), there have been no pharmacologic agents shown to directly improve walking function in persons with multiple sclerosis," said Dr. Christine Short, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.  "As a clinician who manages persons with multiple sclerosis, the approval of this treatment in Canada represents a real breakthrough in our battle to help individuals maintain independence and quality of life in the face of a progressive neurologic disease."