The WHO includes for the first time drugs against multiple sclerosis in its list of essential medicines

Nearly three million people suffer from multiple sclerosis in the world -55,000 in Spain, according to data from the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN)- a chronic, autoimmune and degenerative disease that affects the nervous system.

This Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its list of essential medicines and, for the first time, incorporates drugs for the treatment of this disease, and others such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and infectious diseases.

What is the essential medicines list?

“Essential medicines are those that cover the priority health needs of the population and that, in a properly functioning health system, must be available at all times, in the appropriate pharmaceutical form, with guaranteed quality and at prices that individuals and the community can pay”, highlights the organization.

These medicines lists are updated by WHO every two years, and used by more than 150 countries, to determine the medicines that best suit their context and health priorities, and thus be able to compile their own list of essential medicines.

Three key medicines

The list includes cladribine, glatiramer acetate and rituximab, three drugs that delay and slow down the progression of this disease, which is another great step forward towards equal access to health and medicines.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO, warned at the press conference that “increasing prices and disruptions in the supply chain make it increasingly difficult for all countries to guarantee constant and equitable access to many quality-assured essential drugs.

Other news

WHO has also incorporated, for the first time, multidrug fixed-dose combinations for the prevention of heart and blood vessel disease, particularly cholesterol-lowering agents with one or more blood pressure-lowering agents with and without acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin).

In addition, two new treatments have been added to treat cancer: pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for Kaposi's sarcoma and pegfilgrastim to stimulate the production of white blood cells and reduce the toxic effect of some anticancer drugs on the bone marrow.

In addition, two new drugs have also been added for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.