Five more cases of PML linked to Tysabri

Biogen has reported five more cases of rare brain infection PML in patients taking Tysabari, the multiple sclerosis drug it jointly sells with Irish based Elan. This [...]

• Caroline says: Biogen is reporting another 5 cases of Tysabri-induced PML No information is given on country of origin -- and if I had to guess I would assume the US probably has the fewest cases because of the mandatory TOUCH prescribing program. According to this article, 52,000 patients are currently taking Tysabri and the MS Society estimates that 2.5 million people worldwide have MS.
   

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• Elan and Biogen are in a Fight

  Elan starts legal action in drug row with Biogen By Andrew Jack Published: August 6 2009 22:34 | Last updated: August 6 2009 22:34 Elan has launched [...]

  • Caroline says: It's all about the Benjamins in this breach-of-contract nonsense between Elan and Biogen over Tysabri...sheesh.
     
  
  

  • 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.
           
        
        

        • 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.