Doctor, first DC area patient have high hopes for new MS drug – WJLA

Bob King and Dr. Heidi Crayton at the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Greater Washington . (ABC7)

The appointment begins with a timed walk.

Bob King has lived with multiple sclerosis for 38 years and tried different treatments, including a stem cell transplant in Panama.

Now he sees Dr. Heidi Crayton at the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Greater Washington for treatment.

Its quite a bit worse now than it was then, said King.

But now there is a new drug, approved by the FDA just two weeks ago, to address his progressive form of MS. Its called Ocrevus.

And what Im hoping for now is with this drug it will like halt it where it is, said King.

Dr. Crayton says its the first treatment in the DC area.

The goal is always to try to make people as flat as possible and unchanged as possible, said Dr. Crayton.

Thats because right now, theres no drug to turn back the clock.

King realizes he may not get to travel to Europe again. He calls a trip to Ukraine just three years ago his last adventure, when he used just a cane instead of a walker.

There is a reason Dr. Crayton timed the walk. She hopes King does not slow down when she sees him again in six months. That may mean Ocrevus is working.

His insurance pays but without coverage, the treatment is $65,000 a year.

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Doctor, first DC area patient have high hopes for new MS drug - WJLA