NHS considering funding fampridine in England
We’re pleased to share that NHS England is considering fampridine for use in England. Fampridine is a drug that helps some people with MS walk more quickly. The current brand name for fampridine is Fampyra.
At the moment, it’s approved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but not in England. So, a positive recommendation would be a big step towards equal access across the UK.
The fampridine story so far
In 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) decided not to recommend fampridine for use in England. This is because they decided it wasn’t cost effective.
We reached out to our community to find out their views on fampridine. Hundreds of people with MS told us what the treatment means to them.
In autumn 2024, NHS England committed to considering fampridine through its own process. Unfortunately, this was delayed. This is because NHS England couldn’t find funding for new treatments through this route.
We were really disappointed that people in England would continue to miss out. So, we wrote to the government and kept raising the issue with decision makers.
When will NHS England make a decision on fampridine?
A group made up of NHS England staff and ‘patient and public voice’ members will meet in May 2026. They’ll consider fampridine alongside other specialised treatments and recommend which should be prioritised.
Then there’ll be a closer look at the costs before NHS England makes a final decision. So, we’re not sure how long it will be until we hear whether fampridine will be funded. But we’ll keep you up to date.
Will NHS England fund fampridine?
We don’t know how likely fampridine is to be recommended. NHS England will assess it against other treatments for a variety of conditions. It will only fund the ones that are most effective for how much they cost.
Fampridine will soon be cheaper
In July 2026, the patent on the fampridine brand Fampyra runs out. This means other companies will be able to start selling cheaper versions of fampridine, called generics. A generic version of a drug is an identical version of the original brand name drug. We’ve told NHS England it’s vital to take this into account when they consider fampridine in May.
In the short term, generic versions should mean anyone paying for fampridine privately can get it cheaper.
Fampridine is not the only drug with generic versions.
What happens next?
We’ll share the decision as soon as we can. Whatever the outcome, we’ll involve you in our next steps. This could be supporting the rollout of fampridine in England or challenging the decision.
We’re also supporting better access to fampridine in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Even though it’s approved in these nations, we know that it’s not yet available to everyone. We’re working with local health systems and staff to make sure this changes. This includes running a fampridine webinar for healthcare professionals working with people with MS.
We believe everyone with MS should have access to life-changing treatments, wherever they live. Join thousands of people in the campaigns community to have your say, take action, and change lives.
