Sanofi’s experimental drug for a form of multiple sclerosis delayed the progression of disability by nearly a third, providing hope for patients for whom there’s currently no treatment.

Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) released new data Wednesday from the ALITHIOS open-label extension study. Data show first-line Kesimpta (ofatumumab) treatment for up to six years led to less disability and disease progression in recently diagnosed (≤3 years) and treatment-naïve (RDTN) people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS),

Researchers have identified biomarkers that can predict disease progression in multiple sclerosis, which could lead to the development of more personalized treatment strategies.

Sanofi said on Friday that its multiple sclerosis drug candidate was shown to delay worsening of a progressive form of the disease by 31%, as the French drugmaker eyes a request for approval later this year.

Sanofi is pursuing several opportunities in MS, a debilitating nerve disease, to offset revenue losses after the recent end of MS pill Aubagio’s patent protection