The Rockland biotechnology company said that an application has been submitted by EMD Serono to the Food and Drug Administration seeking approval for a pill to treat multiple sclerosis.

The tablet, called cladribine, will be the first ever oral therapy to decrease relapses in people with some forms of multiple sclerosis, as per the company.

A two year trial’s results were contained in the application involving patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

The data was presented from the study to the American Academy of Neurology in April and at other recent international scientific meetings.

EMD Sereno which is a division of the German drug-making company Merck KGaA will market Cladribine. It is now marketed as a treatment for a rare type of leukemia by Ortho Biotech which is a division of Johnson & Johnson.

Multiple sclerosis makes the immune system attack the protective tissue around nerve fibers which causes difficulty in muscle control and strength along with vision, balance, sensation and mental function.