Biogen enrolls patients in new MS trial

Biogen Idec has enrolled its first patient in a phase 3 trial for a potential multiple sclerosis treatment that, when compared with existing therapies, would reduce the [...]

• Caroline says: This is interesting...Biogen is launching a Phase III study using Avonex and PEGylation, which can potentially extend the amount of time a drug stays in your system (read: fewer injections). I have never had an issue with injections, especially when they're only once-weekly. That said, I know many people DO have serious side effects and nasty injection site reactions, so, this is good news.
   

• Biogen Says Eighth Patient Has Infection From Tysabri

  By Tom Randall June 12 (Bloomberg) — Biogen Idec said a patient taking its multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain illness, the eighth [...]

  • Caroline says: Biogen confirms the 8th case of PML in the last year with a pt taking Tysabri. No real information on the pt was revealed in this article, such as pt's age, time on Tysabri, etc. Best of luck to them, however.
     
  
  

  • Hot off the AAN Press: Fingolimod effective but safety an issue

    UPDATE 3-Novartis MS drug effective but safety an issue ZURICH, April 29 (Reuters) – Novartis AG  said 80-83 percent of those taking its multiple sclerosis drug FTY720 [...]

    • Caroline says: Novartis presented Phase III results showing an annual relapse rate of 52% lower than Biogen's Avonex. That's significant. Safety issues abound with fingolimod though, but as we saw with Tysabri, many patients choose to accept these risks if it means more control of their disease.
       
    
    

    • Hot off the AAN Press: Tysabri May Reverse MS Damage

      UPDATE 1-Elan’s Tysabri may reverse MS damage, shares up April 29 (Reuters) – Elan’s  Tysabri drug may be able to reverse damage caused by multiple sclerosis, the [...]

      • Caroline says: Data presented at this year's AAN showed Tysabri promoted the regeneration of the protein coat that protects nerve fibres and whose damage causes the symptoms of MS. This is good news, Tysabri has done wonders for so many people. It didn't work so well for me and I was on it for just a few months before a new lesion broke through.
         
      
      

      • Biogen Idec announces sixth case of PML linked to use of Tysabri

        Biogen Idec reported that another patient with multiple sclerosis taking Tysabri (natalizumab) was diagnosed with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) earlier this month, raising the total number of [...]

        • Caroline says: Yikes...more evidence for the Tysabri holiday people have been pushing...best of luck to this patient.
           
        
        

        • Biogen Receives FDA Warning for Tysabri (re Internet Ads)

          FDA Warns Drug Firms Over Internet Ads WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration warned 14 major pharmaceutical companies about brief Internet ads that accompany searches on [...]

          • Caroline says: Tsk, tsk, Biogen. They got a letter from the FDA regarding internet ads for Tysabri and the fact that they do not discuss any of the risks of Tysabri.
             
          
          

          • Biogen hopes to have PML-related test by year-end

            By Toni Clarke BOSTON (Reuters) – Biogen Idec Inc said on Wednesday it is developing a test that can identify the presence of a virus that can [...]

            • Caroline says: This is interesting. For people taking Tysabri now, intensive monitoring and frequent (read: painful) spinal taps are often needed. According to this article, MS drug making giant Biogen (maker of Tysabri) is developing a test to determine whether a candidate for Tysabri has the JC virus (precursor to PML) in their blood.
               
            
            

            • Malaria Pill=The End of PML?

              Elan shares soar on news of possible Tysabri side-effect treatment SHARES IN drug company Elan bounced more than 10 per cent yesterday after news emerged of a [...]

              • Caroline says: Tysabri (Biogen) is a terrific drug that has helped a LOT of people. However, even after its re-emergence into the market in July 2006, Biogen reported 5 new cases of PML in PWMS taking Tysabri. PML is nearly 100% fatal, so this isn't a trivial matter. Today, there's news that Biogen/Elan are testing a malaria pill developed during the Vitenam War as a potential treatment for PML.
                 
              
              
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