Drug to aid MS patients wins approval

The Food and Drug Administration Friday approved a new drug from Acorda Therapeutics Inc. to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The Food and Drug Administration Friday approved a new drug from Acorda Therapeutics Inc. to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The FDA said the drug, Ampyra, is the first drug approved to improve walking in MS patients.

The agency said clinical trials showed patients treated with Ampyra had faster walking speeds than those treated with a placebo, or fake pill.