Fw: MS drug sickens patient...again

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MS drug sickens patient...again

MS drug sickens patient...again

Posted by _ Gawrylewski_

(http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/browse/blogger/30/)

_http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/55285/_

(http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/55285/)

Another case of a potentially fatal brain infection has been reported in a

patient taking the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri, the biotech who developed

the drug announced yesterday.

This is the fourth case of infection, called progressive multifocal

leukoencephalopathy (PML) this year. They are the only cases reported since the

drug

was taken off the market in 2005 because of three cases of infection. The

FDA allowed Tysabri back on the market in 2006 with restrictions and stronger

warnings. Regulators have still not been able to understand the link between

the drug -- a monoclonal antibody -- and the brain infections.

A spokeswoman for the drug's manufacturer, Biogen Idec Inc, Naomi Aoki, said

the drug's effectiveness at preventing relapses of multiple sclerosis

symptoms justifies its use, despite the relatively low risk of PML, according to

_Reuters._

(http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081215/hl_nm/us_biogen_elan_tysabri;_ylt=AicUIsAEY\

wMyctU8uRx.m5SJhMgF) About 35,000 patients worldwide are taking

Tysabri.

PML is a viral disease that infects and damages the white matter of the

brain, usually affecting people who are immunosuppressed.

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