New MS Drug

FDA approves Novartis drug for MS.
Bloomberg News (9/22, Von Schaper) reports that Novartis AG says the FDA cleared its Gilenya (fingolimod) oral drug for sale as a treatment of recurring multiple sclerosis, allowing the company to beat Merck's Cladribine (leustatin) to market in the US. Standard treatments for MS relapses are injectable medications, but the National Multiple Sclerosis Society says some patients have difficulty maintaining the treatments "because they're difficult to use or have side effects," according to Bloomberg News. Both Novartis and Merck have received approval in Russia to use their drugs for MS, and Merck also has Australian approval. The Wall Street Journal (9/22, Greil) also covers the story.