Long-term safety and effectiveness of fampridine

Fampridine (Fampyra or Ampyra) is the only approved drug to improve walking speed for some people with MS. In this study from University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, researchers aimed to expand on the current knowledge of longer term effects and safety of prolonged-release fampridine for walking improvements.

In an extension study of the FAMPKIN trial, 53 people with MS were assessed using measures of walking speed in this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

They found that the use of Fampridine was safe over a longer term (two years) and observed significant improvements in walking. Several people who did not show improvements when they were assessed shortly after starting the therapy did show improvements after long-term treatment.

This study demonstrated a good safety profile and positive persisting effects of prolonged-release fampridine on walking over more than two years of follow-up. The authors highlight that those who only showed a poor to moderate initial response to this drug should be reassessed more regularly as they may still benefit from prolonged-release fampiridine over a longer time.

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