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Fampridine Prolonged Release: A Review in Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Walking Disability

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Abstract

Oral fampridine prolonged release (PR) [Fampyra®] is a lipid-soluble selective potassium channel blocker that is approved in the EU for the improvement of walking in adult multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with walking disability (expanded disability status scale score of 4–7). In clinical trials (MS-F203 and MS-F204) using an objective measure of walking improvement [the timed 25-foot walk (T25FW)], more than one-third of patients receiving fampridine PR achieved a consistent on-treatment improvement in walking speed (i.e. became TW responders) over 9–14 weeks of treatment. Fampridine PR recipients who fulfilled the definition of TW responder had mean improvements of ≈25% from baseline in T25FW walking speed. In a clinical trial (ENHANCE) that used a patient-rated measure of walking improvement [12-item MS walking scale (MSWS-12)], a significantly greater proportion of fampridine PR recipients than placebo recipients achieved a ≥8-point improvement on the MSWS-12 with 24 weeks of treatment. Where reported, adverse events were mostly mild or moderate in severity, and generally consistent with the underlying disease or mechanism of action of fampridine PR. Fampridine PR is a useful treatment option to consider in adult MS patients with walking disability.

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Acknowledgements

During the peer review process, the manufacturer of fampridine PR was offered an opportunity to review this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

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    Esther S. Kim

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  1. Esther S. Kim
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Correspondence to Esther S. Kim.

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Funding

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

Conflict of interest

Esther Kim is a salaried employee of Adis/Springer, is responsible for the article content and declares no relevant conflict of interest.

Additional information about this Adis Drug Review can be found at http://www.medengine.com/Redeem/6128F06037461F38.

Additional information

The manuscript was reviewed by: G. Comi, Department of Neurology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; M. Linnebank, University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany, Helios Klinik Hagen Ambrock, Hagen, Germany; T. Menge, Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.

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Kim, E.S. Fampridine Prolonged Release: A Review in Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Walking Disability. Drugs 77, 1593–1602 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-017-0808-z

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