NICE recommends Cladribine for RRMS

Thousands of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in England will soon have the option to take a tablet at home to manage their condition, reducing the need for hospital visits for injections or infusions.

The treatment, called cladribine, is already used for highly active MS, but the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has now recommended expanding its use to help those with active relapsing-remitting MS too.

Current treatments involve regular trips to hospital, drug infusions, frequent injections and extensive monitoring, which add to the burden on patients and healthcare systems.

Experts say this change will not only give people with MS more freedom but also help ease pressure on NHS clinics. England will be the first country in Europe to roll out this take-at-home treatment, with Wales and Northern Ireland likely to follow. Scotland is also reviewing the decision.

Research shows that cladribine can cut the number and severity of relapses by targeting immune cells linked to inflammation and myelin damage in MS. The treatment involves taking tablets over two short courses, 12 months apart – around 20 tablets in total.

The list price is about £2,000 per tablet, though the NHS is expected to negotiate a lower cost. Around 2,000 people could be offered this treatment over the next three years.

NICE is expected to confirm final guidance for England in April, with rollouts in other parts of the UK to follow.