The FDA recently announced some encouraging news for those struggling with progressing and relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.
Mayzent (from Novartis) was approved on March 26th and is used for different forms of MS, including active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis and clinically isolated syndrome.
While the approval of Mayzent is certainly encouraging for those with MS, the cost is less-than-encouraging at $88,500 per year!
At almost the same time Mayzent was approved by the FDA, EMD Serono’s MS drug Mavenclad was also approved. Mavenclad is used for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, but not for clinically isolated syndrome.
The price tag for Mavenclad is even higher than that of Mayzent at $99,500 per year, for a two-year treatment plan!
How Mayzent Works
According to their website, Mayzent focuses on treating inflammation by sequestering certain white blood cells in lymph nodes which are considered “important” in MS inflammatory responses. Mayzent prevents these white blood cells from getting into the system, thereby limiting the over-inflammation seen in MS patients.
Mayzent crosses the blood brain barrier, and while scientists are not exactly sure how it works, the drug does appear to slow the progression of the later stages of the disease. As with any prescription drug, there are reported side effects. Mayzent patients commonly see headaches, elevation in blood pressure, increase in liver enzymes and a reduction in white blood cell counts which could lead to infection.
How Mavenclad Works
Mavenclad’s manufacturer states that the drug is the first ever oral treatment to provide two years of proven efficacy when taken for 8-10 days in each of the two years of treatment, with no additional treatments required. Mavenclad targets lymphocytes which cause MS attacks, temporarily reducing the number of those lymphocytes without a continuous suppression of the immune system.
Common side effects seen among those taking Mavenclad include alopecia, lymphopenia, herpes, headache and upper respiratory tract infection.
The Need for MS Treatment
As many as a million people in the United States currently live with MS, with about 2.3 million across the globe. Those with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis have about a 50 percent chance of their disease progressing to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis within the first 10 years following diagnosis.
There are currently some 15 FDA approved disease modifying treatments (DMDs) for relapsing remitting forms of MS. These two new MS drugs, while an exciting breakthrough for those with MS, could end up being unattainable for many because of the cost.
Alternatives to Costly DMDs?
Inflammation is the common element impacting people with some form of degenerative condition including MS. In addition to medication, there are a number of complementary ways of reducing inflammation including exercise, acupuncture, better eating and vitamin supplementation.
Here at Avior Nutritionals, our customers often report that they are hesitant to try DMDs not only because of the costs, but also the potential risk of side effects. Their search to find an alternative to DMDs for MS often leads them to try Myetin® to support healthier nerves.
Myetin® is a dissolvable tablet with 150 mg of high dose biotin plus 25 mg of NAD+ per dose. It combines the nutritional punch of high-dose biotin and the energy boosting qualities NAD+ to support nerve health. A recent study participants reporting a 15 percent improvement in fatigue levels and a 48 percent improvement in pain levels once they began taking Myetin®.
And, don’t worry, a 3 month supply of Myetin® costs less than $150 and comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee!