This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Linda, thank you for your post with an expiration date. The more of these, the more accurate my calculations.

On the yahoo mb for elan, a poster reported seeing a 12/05 expiration on 1/31/05. Today a poster reported an expiration of 01/06. This means it took no more than 24 days for Biogen to ship its entire 09/04 production.
As of today 10/04 production has reached the end user.

IMO, as of today and for the next six months, there is no problem at all with supply. Biogen today is producing more than consumption AND it has its inventory of prior months' production.

If end users will report the date they see a given expiration date, I will report back, as I did in this post, with my take of consumption vs production.

Thanks again, and I hope the Tysabri does well for you.

Dear Don, I am thinking of buying stock in Biogen Idec. LOL It sounds like it is a good investment.

God bless
Linda

Ramairdad,

I am a long time ms'r also, diag 1989. Will be starting Tysabri on March 3"rd. I use a walker or wheelchair all the time. If you get approved maybe we can compare how we do. It would be great if we react like DenverCO, but I would be happy with anything.

For all here who have put their faith and hope to Tysabri, such as myself, this is a very sad event. I know a lot of us will have to make new choices now and I hope we can guide each other. I too am very saddened by the news of the suspension of Tysabri. We can only hope that the best will come of this and perhaps the medication will be reinstituted at a later date when all research is done and a the situation evaluated.


BIOGEN IDEC AND ELAN ANNOUNCE VOLUNTARY SUSPENSION OF TYSABRI®
Cambridge, MA and Dublin, Ireland (February 28, 2005) -- Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) and Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) announced today a voluntary suspension in the marketing of TYSABRI® (natalizumab), a treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). The companies are suspending supply of TYSABRI from commercial distribution and physicians should suspend dosing of TYSABRI until further notification. In addition, the companies have suspended dosing in all clinical trials.

This decision is based on very recent reports of two serious adverse events that have occurred in patients treated with TYSABRI in combination with AVONEX® (Interferon beta-1a) in clinical trials. These events involve one fatal, confirmed case and one suspected case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare and frequently fatal, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Both patients received more than two years of TYSABRI therapy in combination with AVONEX.

The companies’ actions have been taken in consultation with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Worldwide regulatory agencies are being kept informed.

The companies will work with clinical investigators to evaluate TYSABRI-treated patients and will consult with leading experts to better understand the possible risk of PML. The outcome of these evaluations will be used to determine possible re-initiation of dosing in clinical trials and future commercial availability.

"Our ongoing commitment to MS patients has led us to take these steps," said Burt Adelman, MD, executive vice president, Development, Biogen Idec. "Because we believe in the promising therapeutic benefit of TYSABRI, we are working to evaluate this situation thoroughly and expeditiously. While we work through this matter, we must place patient safety above all other considerations."

"We are working with leading experts and regulatory agencies to responsibly investigate these events and to develop the appropriate path forward," said Lars Ekman, MD, executive vice president and president, Research and Development, Elan. "Our primary concern is for the safety of patients."

In total, approximately 3,000 patients have been treated with TYSABRI in clinical trials of MS, Crohn’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. To date, the companies have received no reports of PML in MS patients receiving TYSABRI monotherapy or in patients with Crohn’s disease or rheumatoid arthritis in TYSABRI clinical trials. Biogen Idec has received no reports of PML in patients treated with AVONEX alone, a product that has been on the market since 1996.

A copy of the Dear Healthcare Professional Letter regarding this matter is available at www.tysabri.com and the companies’ corporate websites. Patients and physicians with questions should call 1-888-489-7227.

Biogen Idec will host a webcast for the media and the investment community at 10:00 a.m. EST today. Elan will also host a webcast at 11:30 a.m. EST today. These webcasts can be accessed through the investor relations’ sections of the companies’ websites.

About Biogen Idec

Biogen Idec creates new standards of care in oncology and immunology. As a global leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of novel therapies, Biogen Idec transforms scientific discoveries into advances in human healthcare. For press releases and additional information about the company, please visit www.biogenidec.com.

About Elan

Elan Corporation, plc is a neuroscience-based biotechnology company. We are committed to making a difference in the lives of patients and their families by dedicating ourselves to bringing innovations in science to fill significant unmet medical needs that continue to exist around the world. Elan shares trade on the New York, London and Dublin Stock Exchanges. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.elan.com..

Safe Harbor/Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the potential for TYSABRI. These statements are based on the companies’ current beliefs and expectations, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. There is no assurance, for example, that the serious adverse events discussed above were not caused by TYSABRI, that there are not or will not be more such serious adverse events or that we will be able to gain sufficient information to fully understand the risks associated with the product. There is also no assurance that the companies will be able to resume marketing and sales of TYSABRI. For more detailed information on the risks and uncertainties associated with TYSABRI and the companies’ drug development and other activities, see the periodic and other reports of Biogen Idec Inc. and Elan Corporation, plc filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The companies assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

We don't know all the why's. So far the combination w/ Avonex is the problem. Maybe not Tysabri only. But yeah, something good will come out of this regardless. As I always say. DON'T LOSE HOPE!

i had one infusion on feb. 11. for the first time, my body did not have any side effects. i am completely devastated and thankful at the same time. my heart goes out to the families that lost their loved ones. it could've been any one of us.
hope? in what aspect? pharmaceuticals? faith? God?
your body has an innate capacity to heal. this is fact.
ms is a diagnoses of exclusion.
don't know what path it will take.
don't know if the meds will work.
don't know how they work in ms'rs.
please, at what point are we going to raise up and make it clear?
enough is enough!
now people are dying. i think the time is now. the ms community is quite large. we all have a voice and we all can make things happen.
i refuse to accept " i don't know " anymore.

I been have been diagnosed siince 98. After an incredibly bad experience with Avonex, all interferons were ruled out. I alternate between chemp and steriods (both of which I hate)
My last attack left my vision in shreds. I was only doing chemo til Tysabri came out. Now that it is off the market- I do not kniw what I will do. But I sm amazed at hpe easily the FDA has robbed all of us patients of hope- more and more so each day.
I've tried the supplements... coral calcium etc. They areextremely expensive, and there is just hte hope that they will help. Again, my hope has been robbed. And I really don't want pats of understanding. I want these irresponsible medical executives punished for letting us think life good get better.

Hi - I was on the Yale Clinical trial of Antegren. I had 10 infusions and then had to drop out due to a move. In retrospect I'm glad I only had the 10. Never had a side effect and could have sworn I was on placebo. I was surprised to find out I was on the dreaded Tysabri. Now I'm going into an after-trial where they run MRI's and we see a neuro every 3 months at Biogens expense (imagine that). Not a pretty picture and I share the anger of those others that feel duped by the pharma companies.

I hate the idea of lawsuits but boy I see how it happens. Part of me wishes I could sue the pants off Biogen/Elan for taking the risks with my body that they did.

Mexigrl