Biogen Idec receives conditional EU approval for Fampyra

Biogen Idec has been granted conditional approval from the European Commission for its new multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment Fampyra.

The drug has been ratified as a means of treating walking disability among MS patients on condition that the manufacturer conducts further studies into its safety and efficacy profile.

Fampyra, which was developed by Acorda Therapeutics and is marketed under the name Ampyra in the US, becomes the first treatment to be approved for this indication in Europe.

It can be used as a monotherapy or in combination with disease-modifying therapies such as immunomodulatory drugs, with clinical studies having shown the treatment's potential.

Dr Douglas Williams, executive vice-president for research and development at Biogen Idec, said: "Patients worldwide are benefitting from Biogen Idec's therapies and Fampyra is the third product Biogen Idec is bringing to the MS community in Europe."

Earlier this month, the company published data from a study showing the potential benefits of using therapies that block the death receptor-6 function to treat MS.