Biogen Inc. Wins Approval for its First Pill to Treat MS

Biogen Inc, makers of multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs Avonex and Tysabri, have recently won approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its first pill for the disease: Tecfidera.

The drug, formerly known as BG-12, is excepted to gain as much as 20 percent of the market in its first year due to its believed safety as well as its convenience - previous treatments were limited to injection or infusion with few exceptions. With 2.1 million people diagnosed with MS, this could mean as much as $3.25 billion in revenue for the company based in Massachusetts, according to an article published by Bloomberg Businessweek.

In studies regarding the drug, it was shown to reduce annual relapses by 49 percent when given two to three times a day. 

Timothy Coetzee is the chief research officer of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He expressed his enthusiasm to the news organization saying that he believes it is a "great addition to the toolbox" when it comes to treating MS.

What's more, he reported that patient awareness is high, which could only help people access it more quickly. The most common adverse side effects were flushing and gastrointestinal effects.

MS remains a disease that cannot be cured. It is a chronic disease in which the body's immune system attacks the tissue surrounding the nerve fibers in the spinal cord, brain and optic nerves. As a result, people with the disease develop scarring which, depending on where it occurs, can cause problems with muscle control, balance, vision or speech.

Symptoms include weakness in an arm or leg, numbness, loss of balance, muscle spasms and issues with vision, including loss of color vision and blurred vision. Slurred speech, though less common, can also indicate MS, as well as mild memory loss and fatigue that persists despite a good night's rest.

It's important to note that a stroke accounts for similar symptoms - in cases of sudden difficulty speaking or moving one's limbs, one should visit the ER immediately.