Like all drugs, it has side effects. Patients who take it will need to be monitored. And it has not even been approved yet by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But Maria Melanson, MD, Clinical Director of the Waddell Center for Multiple Sclerosis, is among those who are clearly excited about the first oral drug for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. An FDA advisory committee recommended approval of the drug, fingolimod, on June 14.

Fingolimod has the potential to improve the lives of many of the Waddell Center’s more than 1,000 patients for two reasons: It will spare patients the discomfort – and in some cases misery – of injections. And, because it is an entirely new drug, it offers hope to patients who do not respond to current medications.

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