This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Dear all,

The following appeared in today's Times - suggests that Tysabri could be back by April (in the UK).

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/artic ... 78,00.html


Enjoy Christmas (although I note that the US and Canada do not use the 'C' word - but the odd phrase holiday e.g we got a Christmas card from our Canadian relatives with the phrase 'Happy Holidays').

Harry Z, I suspect that your anti-Tysabri campaigning will start in the New Year. Or you could just admit that you were wrong and that Tysabri is a good drug. But you're too proud!

Ian

Harry Z, I suspect that your anti-Tysabri campaigning will start in the New Year. Or you could just admit that you were wrong and that Tysabri is a good drug. But you're too proud!

Ian

Gee Ian, that was kind of a cheap shot! I don't complain that you run a "pro Tysabri" campaign for a drug that has had limited trial info on it compared to what other MS drugs have had to endure. I just happen to be giving the readers a different perspective on this drug and look beyond all the marketing and sales pitches that Biogen/Elan have preached for the past couple of years.

Prior to Tysabri being originally approved, I and a few others in this forum expressed our concerns and caution about Tysabri. We endured the typical name calling and labels of Biogen bashers. Then they pulled Tysabri when it was discovered a couple of people died because of PML. The researchers had to go back to the drawing boards and try to figure out just what was happening. Some 5000 new Tysabri users were placed in limbo. The name calling suddenly stopped!!

Now that the FDA is doing a priority review on Tysabri and Biogen/Elan are starting up the press releases again (directed at the financial markets) I see an indication of the same comments surfacing. I've said many times over the past number of months that I think Tysabri will be re-approved but under much stricter guidelines and patient monitoring. Will Tysabri be good for some MS patients in the long run....perhaps but at this point, nobody knows for sure. It's too bad that you are translating these comments as being an "anti Tysabri campaign" and me being "too proud" to admit that this medication is wonderful! There are MS docs out there that have the same cautionary opinion on Tysabri and won't give it to their patients until far more safety data is available. I don't see you making similar comments to them as you have to me!

Harry

Harry Z,

I thought your campaign would start after the Christmas break! You know I'm only joking. It's so easy to get you going. I like to know that I'm giving you something to do in your old age.

Tysabri won't get to the UK until 2007 / 2008 at the earliest, so the fast track review is of little interest to me.

In reality, treatments don't really interest me much at all - the key thing about this disease is not to get it in the first place!

Happy Holidays

Ian

Ian

While I share your frustration at the lack of medications coming from trial results (I'm not though so critical of the individual researchers as you seem to be) I share also Harry's healthy scepticism of the pharma cos. Making profit out of misery is to my mind the real "unpleasant and unacceptable face of capitalism". And the real reason why the cure is still years away! (Take the rant against the creeping privatisation of the UK's health service as read )

And the prospect of making a decision about Tysabri (should we ever get it in the UK) scares me no end - it has killed people!!

Hope you just forgot the emoticon in your postscript

JFH,

And the prospect of making a decision about Tysabri (should we ever get it in the UK) scares me no end - it has killed people!!

You big baby!

As I read both your comments my own two cents (pence?) worth is that while I have an opinion it is based on hope. You two arguing is the closest I can get to differing viewpoints and it is INVALUABLE. Don't stop.

Lee the Lurker

Ian,

bromley wrote:Harry Z,

I thought your campaign would start after the Christmas break! You know I'm only joking. It's so easy to get you going. I like to know that I'm giving you something to do in your old age.

Understood....BTW, it always helps to place a "smiley" in a paragraph if you are joking...that way there can be no misunderstanding. Sorry for taking it the wrong way.

Take care.

Harry

Harry,

The whole point about my posts is that you're not supposed to know if I'm joking or not.


Ian

bromley wrote:Harry,

The whole point about my posts is that you're not supposed to know if I'm joking or not.


Ian

Sigh!!!!

Harry