Archive: July, 2009

• Biogen Receives FDA Fast Track Status for PEGylated Interferon Beta-1a

  July 8, 2009 Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted PEGylated interferon beta-1a (BIIB017) Fast Track designation for relapsing [...]

  • Caroline says: I posted an article about this last week-- it's basically a new formulation of Avonex (less frequent injections) and it has been fast-tracked for FDA approval as of this morning.
     
  
  

  • Link Between Autism and Maternal Autoimmune Disease?

    MONDAY, July 6 (HealthDay News) — Children of mothers who have autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease have up to a [...]

    • Caroline says: This article has no mention of MS at all...just autoimmune diseases in women and the potential link to autism in their offspring. Nothing conclusive here, just hypotheses. Specifically it mentions celiac disease (gluten intolerance), RA and Type 1 diabetes. Food for thought for PWMS nonetheless...
       
    
    

    • First 10-Year Follow-Up Shows That AVONEX® Leads To Long-Term Benefits In Early MS Pts

      July 4, 2009 Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) announced data results from the CHAMPIONS (Controlled High-Risk AVONEX® (interferon beta-1a) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Prevention Study In Ongoing Neurologic Surveillance) [...]

      • Caroline says: Avonex, Betaseron, and Copaxone have all been approved to treat a first episode of possible MS (Rebif is currently recruiting for their Ph III trial and not far behind in FDA approval). These findings are very significant for those with a first episode because they determine that there was a 40% reduction in conversion to clinically definite MS in pts treated immediately after a first episode. I think that all 10-year follow up studies involving interferons being administered after a first episode will yield similar results. This is very good news for those with a first episode or "possible MS".
         
      
      

      • Hot off the AAN Press: Tysabri Promotes Remyelination

        July 4, 2009 Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) and Elan Corporation (NYSE: ELN) announced results of a study demonstrating that Tysabri® (natalizumab) promoted regeneration and stabilization of damage [...]

        • Caroline says: I don't understand why this is just coming out now when the rest of the AAN stuff came out months ago. Several new cases of PML have been diagnosed in the last couple of weeks and Biogen has had some bad press so this timing is interesting...I'm just saying.
           
        
        

        • Clay Walker’s BAMS Foundation Donates $150K To Support MS Research

          Pebble Beach Golf Tournament Hosted by Band Against MS to Support the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 6 /PRNewswire/ — A [...]

          • Caroline says: I remember when Clay Walker was diagnosed with MS because it was around the same time I was. I think he was the poster boy for Copaxone for a while. Good for him and his fundraising efforts!
             
          
          
          Next Entries »