Drugs/Therapy

FDA Approves Production of First Drug to Treat Multiple Sclerosis [VIDEO]

By Abbie Kraft | Update Date: Mar 31, 2017 09:42 AM EDT

The Food and Drug Administration finally approved the production of the first drug to treat multiple sclerosis, ocrelizumab. The disorder is said to affect its patients as the body's own immune system attacks the brain and the spinal cord, leaving the person immobile.

Researchers were finally able to come up with the first drug to treat multiple sclerosis. The lead author of the study, Dr. Jerry Wolinsky, came across the findings in regards to the effectivity of the drug, ocrelizumab. It was mentioned that the medication slowed down the pace of the body's deterioration due to the effects of the disease.

"We've been banging on a wall with a bunch of drugs, and we finally put a big crack in the wall," Dr. Wolinsky, stated during an interview.

Thousands of women are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the United States. The disease would often leave the patient paralyzed as it scars the body's nerve tissue.

The condition may either get better or worse over time, but around 15 percent of the patients are caught with a progressive disease that gets worse. The "primary progressive" form of sclerosis affects around 15 percent of the patients. It was then added that there had been no approved cure for the primary progressive type of sclerosis, according to the CNN.

The researchers are still in the works to provide a cure for the "primary progressive" variation of sclerosis. They were, however, able to find a cure for the other variation.

The Food and Drug Administration finally approved the production of the first drug to treat multiple sclerosis which will be released within two weeks, as mentioned in the New York Times.

"The drug is so much more effective at shutting down inflammation," Dr. David Hafler, a multiple sclerosis researcher stated.

The medication is said to cost $65,000 per year, which is said to be at par with other medications similar to the extent of the condition. The price tag is applauded by multiple health care providers, thus the researchers are positive that the launch will be successful.

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