US regulators to speed up drug review

US drug regulators have agreed to speed up a review of Elan’s application to market a treatment for Multiple Sclerosis.

Elan and its development partner, Biogen Idec, submitted the Antegren product for review with the US Food and Drug Administration in May. The review process, which ensures that the drug is safe to go on the market, normally takes about 10 months. However, the FDA said it will decide in just six months. “The FDA grants Priority Review status to products that are considered to be potentially significant therapeutic advancements over existing therapies that address an unmet medical need,” Elan said in a statement.

MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that affects approximately 400,000 people in the US and approximately one million people worldwide. It is a disease that affects more women than men, hitting most people between the ages of 20 and 40. Symptoms of MS include vision problems, loss of balance, numbness, difficulty walking and paralysis.