Biogen Idec Inc. disclosed five more cases of a rare brain infection in multiple sclerosis patients on Tysabri, which it sells with Elan Corp. (ELN), bringing the total number of cases to 75 as of Nov. 2.
The Weston, Mass., biotech company also reported an additional death among patients that have developed the infection--known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or PML--a number that is now 15.
The number of PML cases is important because if the infection rate climbs too high, the drug's sales growth may drop. Regulators have said that they watch the cases, but have concluded that the benefits of the medicine to MS patients outweigh the risks.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1905