Drug named Gilenya, one of Novartis’s most anticipated, to be available soon
Swiss drug maker Novartis has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a multiple sclerosis pill, called Gilenya, which treats relapsing MS, the most common type of the disease. This puts it ahead of Merck, a rival drug maker, another contender to be the first with an oral treatment on the shelves in the U.S., Reuters reports. Gilenya reduces the frequency of MS relapses and helps slow the progress of some physical problems caused by the disease, Novartis says. Currently, only injectable drugs are available to treat MS, a neurological condition with symptoms that include dizziness, fatigue, and cognitive problems.