Patients suffering with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in East Kilbride will now have access to a new treatment.
Ozanimod, whose brand name is Zeposia, has been approved for use on the NHS in Scotland – the first UK nation where it will be available.
The country has one of the highest rates of the condition in the world with well over 15,000 people living with MS.
Ozanimod has been shown to reduce relapses in people with relapsing MS and, as an oral treatment, offers many people with the condition another alternative to injected therapies.
Decisions on which treatments to take are determined by a variety of factors including efficacy, the method and frequency of administration, and lifestyle factors so increased choice is highly valued by people living with MS.
Ozanimod has been shown in trials to decrease the number of relapses people experience by 38 per cent when compared to beta interferon, an already available treatment
It joins 14 others available on NHS Scotland.
A little over two decades ago there were no such treatments available.
MS is a life-long, progressive neurological condition affecting the central nervous system.
In MS the immune system attacks the brain or spinal cord, resulting in damage to the protective coating around the nerve fibres.
This damage means that electrical signals that are passed along the nerves to stimulate the muscles are not transmitted properly.
This can lead to muscle weakness, stiffness and difficulty walking.
The latest treatment has been welcomed by the MS Society Scotland.
Director, Morna Simpkins, said: “It’s very welcome that ozanimod has been approved for use on the NHS in Scotland. MS is relentless, painful, and disabling, and this treatment increases the options for people to manage their condition and help prevent symptoms.
“Our community’s experiences tell us just how big a difference having different treatments available can make.
“We hope that appraisal bodies in other parts of the UK follow suit as soon as possible, so everyone with MS can access Ozanimod if it is the right option for them.
“We have never been closer to stopping MS, and this is just the latest in a number of new treatments which have been made available in the past few years for the 15,000 people living with MS in Scotland.”
The MS Society has a free MS helpline on 0808 800 8000.
