Drug Discovery and Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

FDA Warns of Increasing Risk from Tysabri

By Drug Discovery Trends Editor | February 8, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal health officials warned doctors that the risk of a deadly brain inflammation linked to the multiple sclerosis treatment Tysabri increases with use of the drug.

Tysabri has been plagued for years by rare cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or PML, which can cause swelling of the brain that is usually fatal. It is mostly seen in patients with immune deficiencies.

The biotech drug is marketed by Cambridge, Mass.-based Biogen Idec Inc. and Irish drugmaker Elan Corp. PLC, for multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease.

The Food and Drug Administration said in a statement it has confirmed a total of 31 cases of PML since mid-2006. Eight of those patients have died, as of last month, according to the FDA. The agency posted updated labeling information for the drug to its Web site.

In the new labeling, FDA notes there have been no reports of PML in patients taking Tysabri for less than 12 months. In patients taking the drug for two to three years the rate of PML is one case per 1,000 patients.

The new labeling also warns of a complication of PML, known as Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome, that can dramatically damage patients’ health even after they have stopped taking Tysabri. The agency urges doctors to monitor patients for signs of inflammation.

Tysabri was approved in November 2004 and pulled from the market the next year due to PML reports. It was reintroduced in July 2006, and has been used by 66,000 people worldwide.

Date: February 8, 2010
Source: Associated Press


Filed Under: Drug Discovery

 

Related Articles Read More >

Lokavant’s Spectrum v15 uses AI to cut trial-feasibility modeling from weeks to minutes
Prime time for peptide-based drug discovery 
Why smaller, simpler molecular glues are gaining attention in drug discovery
Glass vial, pipette and woman scientist in laboratory for medical study, research or experiment. Test tube, dropper and professional female person with chemical liquid for pharmaceutical innovation
Unlocking ‘bench-to-bedside’ discoveries requires better data sharing and collaboration
“ddd
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news and trends happening now in the drug discovery and development industry.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Drug Discovery and Development
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • Medtech100 Index
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Drug Discovery & Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE