Novartis: MS pill efficacy sustained for 18 months:
"Drugmaker Novartis AG said on Thursday
its experimental multiple sclerosis pill FTY720 continued to
work well after patients used it for 18 months, supporting the
case for the drug as it moves into decisive Phase III testing.
Novartis said FTY720, which would be one of the first oral
multiple sclerosis drugs on the market, showed sustained
efficacy and good tolerability after 18 months in patients with
a relapsing form of the disease.

Data from a Phase II test, to be presented at a meeting of
the American Association of Neurology, showed that patients
taking the drug who had seen their relapse rate reduced by 50
percent after six months maintained the low relapse rate during
the following 12 months....."