There is good news for those people whose daily lives are overshadowed by the disease multiple sclerosis.
The race is finally on to develop a more effective treatment for the disease between major drug manufactures.
Merck has been in the process of testing their newest medication Cladribine as a potential MS treatment.
Their research has proven that patients who have undergone a short series of treatments with this new oral drug have a high rate of success in achieving lower relapse rates when compared to many of the currently available medications.
To emphasize the potential for Cladribine as a treatment for MS the manufacturer presented a report to the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis Congress.
The results they presented showed involved a study group consisting of patients who took one of two different doses or a placebo.
The results showed that 43 and 44% of those taking the drug were found to be symptom free for a period of two full years.
This was compared to only 16% of those who were given the placebo.
Merck is currently working hard with the FDA to gain approval even as their rivals at Biogen and Novartis are developing mediations and seeking approval.
The overall potential for Cladribine as an MS treatment is slightly overshadowed by a very slight risk of cancer in some patients.
Because this may be the first oral treatment available for MS patients and as such could be a potential blockbuster for the manufacturer.
One of the biggest benefits of this medication is for those in the late stage of multiple sclerosis are far less likely to end up being disabled.
It has also been proven that this new drug can help to reduce the risk of lesions developing.
According to many neurologists the potential for Cladribine as an MS treatment far outweighs any known risks and in fact they are far more likely to prescribe this new drug for their patients in any phase of the disease over the medications being developed by either Novartis or Biogen.
No matter which set of tests you look at the numbers coming back show the definite potential of Cladribine as a treatment for MS.
Patients who have waited years for a truly effective treatment are anxiously awaiting approval of this new medication and are praying that the FDA does not drag their feet.
This is the first new medication to come along in many years to show this kind of potential and anticipation is high in both the medical community and patients alike.