The goal was to create a summary for the following two 2025-2026 publications:
Evidence supports the use of an effective disease modifying therapy in minimizing long-term disability in pediatric-onset MS (PoMS), yet access to an MS therapy is a known barrier to effective treatment in this population.
A Canada-wide survey of PoMS clinicians was conducted to document the challenges in accessing treatment for PoMS and identify patterns and barriers. The ability of clinicians to get approval for funding and/or access to disease modifying treatment for PoMS through drug plans, either government or private, or compassionate use programs (allows access at no cost) was investigated.
Those surveyed used all available options to access treatments for their pediatric-MS patients. Access was challenging and differed greatly by province and by disease modifying therapy. This raises concerns about health equity and barriers to optimal care. These survey results support a call for policy change to improve access to treatment for PoMS across Canada and ensure equal access for all with pediatric-MS.
Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (PoMS) makes up approximately 1–5% of all MS cases and is associated with more frequent relapses compared to adults with MS, early and progressive physical and cognitive disability in young adulthood, and high amounts of depression and fatigue.
Few therapies have been approved for use in children with MS, although real-world studies have shown that the effectiveness of MS therapies in children is similar to that of adults. This Review sought to understand issues surrounding access to therapies for children and adolescents with PoMS, with the ultimate goal of mapping out a path for future work to address these barriers and ensure better, more equal access to therapies for all children with MS.