Fampridine boosts nerve signals to make it easier to walk, with up to 5,000 eligible.

Aysen Slack says she used to pay for the drug privately until it became too costly The first drug to help people with multiple sclerosis walk is being made available on the NHS in England. Fampridine boosts nerve signals to make it easier for some people to move and live independently. Aysen Slack, who used to pay for fampridine privately until it became too costly, said the decision would make a "huge difference". Up to 5,000 people in England could benefit each year. The drug is already available elsewhere in the UK. Multiple sclerosis is caused by the immune system attacking the protective covering around nerve cells - known as myelin. This damage impairs the ability of nerves to carry electrical messages from the brain to the rest of the body - including those needed for the precise control of muscles needed to walk. Fampridine is known as a "signal booster" as it helps those electrical messages still get through.