Dr. Mark Freedman:

“Gilenya brings with it many advantages. The obvious one, is that it’s easily tolerated, once a day pill, with no immediate side-effects.”

But what is he really saying, with his carefully chosen words?

From what I see, there are many mild and very serious side-effects. He may be right, that you will have no problems "immediately" but there sure seems to be many side-effects, that eventually may show up. What does "immediate" mean to you? Within an hour, day, week or month?

If you went to a Used Car Salesman, and he said that the car you are looking at won't give you any problems "immediately."  Would you buy that used car from him, or walk away? - WaYnE

First oral treatment for people with multiple sclerosis approved in Canada:

(see video with Dr. Freedman)

http://smr.newswire.ca/en/novartis-pharmaceuticals-canada-inc/first-oral-treatment-for-people-with-multiple-sclerosis

Canadian MS Society Recommends Gilenya - November 28 2011:

“The MS Society of Canada is working closely with the provincial and territorial governments, urging them to make quick and positive decisions to include Gilenya in their list of drugs for reimbursement under their public drug plans.”

Gilenya Assessment Report, Page 88 - 2.6.3. Serious adverse event/deaths/other significant events Deaths

"A total of 84 deaths were reported in the clinical development program including 12 patients in the MS and ongoing studies (cut off date: 30 September 2009) and 72 in the renal transplantation completed studies." 

Gilenya Assessment Report: London, February 17 2011:

http://tinyurl.com/3zo8ny5

On November 16, 2011, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health announced the Common Drug Review (CDR) recommendation that fingolimod (Gilenya), the first oral disease modifying therapy, be reimbursed through provincial and territorial public drug programs. Health Canada approved Gilenya in March 2011 as a “second line” therapy for people with relapsing-remitting MS who have had inadequate response to, or are unable to tolerate, other approved MS therapies.