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Pooled data from two large Phase III studies have demonstrated a significant early treatment effect of Novartis' multiple sclerosis pill Gilenya on relapses and MRI outcomes, including brain volume loss.

The data, presented at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) congress in Lyons, France, shows that treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod) led to significant benefits on relapse-related outcomes within the first three months and on brain volume loss by six months compared to placebo. Specifically, in the FREEDOMS study, treatment with the once-daily pill resulted in, on average, a 35% reduction in brain volume loss compared with placebo after six months of treatment. In FREEDOMS II, there was a 39% reduction.

David Epstein, head of Novartis Pharma, said that "as the first once-daily oral MS therapy, growing real-world experience reinforces Gilenya's high efficacy and long-term safety profile". The company also quoted Ludwig Kappos, chair of neurology at University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland, as saying that "understanding the onset of efficacy is an important consideration in the treatment of MS as early effective treatment may improve patient outcomes".... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1309

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