Novartis brings new approved treatment for young people with RRMS (multiple sclerosis) in Europe

Novartis’s Gilenya became the first and only oral disease-modifying treatment for young patients with relapsing-remitting forms of multiple sclerosis (RRMS), as it was approved by the European Commission.

Novartis revealed the approval on Thursday, noting that the young population living with MS have a critical need for an effective treatment option, as they experience two-to-three times as many relapses as adults, often leading to a more severe prognosis and earlier irreversible disability compared to adult-onset MS.

The new approved treatment for young people with RRMS in Europe, was welcomed by Pedro Carrascal, President, European Multiple Sclerosis Platform. He hopes this can become the first step to having more therapy options. “Young patients affected by MS often experience a more severe impact during their overall lifetime. Today’s approval provides an opportunity for a brighter future for them and their families,” he said.

Paul Hudson, Chief Executive Officer, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, noted that early onset MS can have a devastating impact on children and adolescents’ daily life, such as going to school and spending time with friends and family. “Our mission is to change the course of MS as we’ve been doing since the treatment’s initial approval in 2011, and we won’t stop until we stop MS. We are delighted that today’s decision has brought us one step closer to reimagining the treatment of MS, across all ages,” Hudson said.