The choice of an MS treatment is affected not only by disease course, speed of progression and personal attitudes, but is also subject to the licence of each disease-modifying drug (DMT). A drug’s licence dictates the conditions (for example, the stage and severity of disease) under which it can be used. There are regional and country differences in the licences for many of the newer disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).

Following approval by decision-making bodies such as the European Medicine Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration, national and local authorities issue prescribing guidelines for the use of a drug in their region. These are not always in line with current diagnostic criteria, and some may be more restrictive than the DMT licences. Your local MS team will be aware of the licence conditions of the DMTs available in your region, and these conditions will affect the choices available to you.