A to Z of MS Fampridine

Product name

Ampyra

Fampridine is drug that has been shown to improve walking speed for some people with MS.

A phase III study involving 301 people with both relapsing and progressive MS who were treated for 14 weeks was reported in The Lancet in 2009. This showed a greater proportion of people taking fampridine had a consistent improvement in walking speed, compared to people taking placebo (34.8 percent v 8.3 percent) as measured by the Timed 25-Foot Walk test. This improvement was maintained for the duration of the study.

Prior to the recent work looking at improving mobility, the drug was studied as a possible treatment for fatigue and cognitive problems, which includes symptoms such as memory, concentration, attention span.

In 2003, the Cochrane Review, an independent organisation that reviews research, published a report covering six trials of fampradine as a treatment for various symptoms. Although there was no apparent effect on cognitive symptoms, 54% of participants reported some degree of improved muscle function, 9% reported improvements in walking and 9% also showed improvement on the EDSS scale, a standard measure of neurological disability.

Fampridine was licensed by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), the American regulatory body, in January 2010.

Fampridine is not currently licensed in the UK. In January 2010, fampridine was submitted for a licence application in Europe. A decision is not expected before 2011.

Prior to settling on Ampyra, several names for fampridine were suggested during the development process including Amaya and Ampriva.

How fampridine works

Fampridine is a formulation of 4-Aminopyridine - a potassium channel blocker, which works by blocking some of the chemical processes in nerves and seems to improve the transmission of messages along damaged nerves.

How is fampridine given?

Fampridine is taken orally as tablets.

Side effects and contraindications

Common side effects experienced included falls, back pain, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, nausea and balance disorders.

Reference

Goodman AD, et al.
Sustained-release oral fampridine in multiple sclerosis: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial.
Lancet. 2009;373(9665):732-738.
abstract

Korenke AR, et al.
Sustained-release fampridine for symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2008;42(10):1458-1465.
abstract

Solari A, et al.
Aminopyridines for symptomatic treatment in multiple sclerosis.
Cochrane Database Systematic Review 2003;(2).
abstract

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