Those living with MS excited about new drug, Ocrevus – WEAU

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU)-- Sally Pathos has lived with primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis for the past 30 years.

My symptoms don't go away anymore. They just continue to slowly worsen. When I was first diagnosed, there really weren't any drugs out there. It was kind of a scary disease. A progressive neurological disease without a cure and it still doesn't have a cure but now there are so many drugs that slow the progression down, says Pathos.

But a new drug just approved by the FDA may change the way people with MS live.

Ocrevus, approved Wednesday is the first treatment for primary progressive MS, which is the most aggressive type of the disease.

I immediately called Dr. More's office and said, "Ok this is approved, I want to start tomorrow," tongue and cheek knowing that there's a lot of steps.

Steps pathos is excited to take, in hopes of reversing the stages of MS, a treatment that has never been available before.

We've had no treatments that have been proven to help and this is the first treatment that has the ability to delay progression so it's a very exciting thing, says Marshfield Clinic Neurologist Roland More who explains, the drug is given to patients every six months through an IV. And it's not cheap. $65,000 a year, but still less expensive than other options.

This potentially will be a breakthrough and one of the more prescribed medications, says More.

With walking becoming more difficult each day, Pathos hopes this breakthrough is one she can be a part of.

I would like to get on board as soon as it's realistic but we need to check it out. This could be a great treatment for this disease, says Pathos.

Although this drug is expected to be on the market within a few weeks, Dr. More says he is waiting until side effect surveillance programs gather even more results.

He says patients like sally could be using this drug within the year.

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Those living with MS excited about new drug, Ocrevus - WEAU