NHS Approves First Walking Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis

Thousands of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in England will now have access to the first NHS-funded medicine specifically designed to improve walking difficulties caused by the condition.

NHS England has announced that fampridine will be routinely available from 23 July 2026 for eligible adults with MS. The oral treatment, marketed as Fampyra, has been shown to improve walking speed and mobility in some patients and is expected to benefit approximately 5,000 people during its first year of rollout.

The announcement marks a significant milestone for MS care, offering a targeted treatment option for one of the condition’s most disabling symptoms.

First Treatment Targeting Walking Difficulties

MS is a chronic neurological condition caused by damage to nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms vary considerably between individuals but commonly include muscle weakness, fatigue, balance problems, sensory disturbances, and difficulties with walking.

Until now, treatment options for walking impairment have largely focused on symptom management through physiotherapy, exercise programmes, walking aids, and interventions for muscle stiffness. Fampridine is the first licensed medicine developed specifically to improve walking ability in people with MS.

Taken twice daily as a tablet, the drug works by helping damaged nerve fibres transmit electrical signals more effectively. By improving nerve conduction, fampridine may enhance communication between the brain and muscles involved in movement.

Clinical Trials Demonstrate Improvements in Mobility

Clinical trial data found that 43% of patients experienced improvements in walking speed while taking fampridine. The treatment has also been shown to help some individuals walk longer distances.

Patients prescribed the medication will initially undergo a 2-to-4-week treatment period, during which their walking ability will be assessed before and after therapy. Those who demonstrate meaningful improvements will be able to continue treatment, provided it remains effective, with regular clinical reviews.

Eligible patients include adults with any form of MS who have walking difficulties corresponding to an Expanded Disability Status Scale score between four and seven. This ranges from individuals who are able to walk approximately 500 metres without assistance to those who are largely dependent on wheelchairs but retain limited walking ability.

Improving Independence for People Living With MS

NHS England has described fampridine as a potentially life-changing treatment for patients whose mobility has been affected by MS.

For many individuals, even modest improvements in walking can have a meaningful impact on daily life, increasing independence and making everyday activities easier. Improved mobility may also help patients remain socially active, maintain employment, and reduce reliance on carers or mobility aids.

The rollout follows a review by NHS England’s Clinical Priorities Advisory Group, which assessed the treatment’s clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness. Its approval brings access to fampridine in England into line with other UK nations.

The introduction of fampridine represents an important addition to the MS treatment landscape, offering eligible patients a new opportunity to improve mobility and quality of life through a therapy specifically designed to address walking difficulties associated with the condition.

Reference

NHS England. 2026. Thousands with MS to get “life-changing” drug on NHS to help them walk more freely. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2026/07/thousands-ms-life-changing-drug-nhs-help-walk-more-freely/. Last accessed: 23.07.2026.