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Study suggests MS drug Tysabri treatment can be safely continued past 24 months

A recent study suggests that treatment with natalizumab (Tysabri) beyond 2 years compared with switching to other drugs can control relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with adequate safety.

The longer a patient with RRMS is treated with natalizumab, the greater the risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), especially in patients who are infected with JC virus after 2 years of monthly treatments.

"Our study provides evidence to support the choice of continuing treatment with natalizumab after the 24th administration," Luca Durelli, MD, from the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences at the University of Torino and the San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital in Obassano, Italy, reported here at the 24th Meeting of the European Neurological Society (ENS)..... Read More - http://www.ms-uk.org/tysabri

Dr. Myhr has received honoraria for lecturing; participation in advisory boards or pharmaceutical company–sponsored clinical trials; and travel support from Allergan, Almiral, Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, Novartis, Merck-Serono, Roche, and Sanofi-Aventis.

Does not surprise anyone that this kind of data would be presented at the conference. It's called slick marketing and sales and is what big pharma does to keep their product front and center.

As well, the 462 reported cases of PML are those which have been reported. Earlier info provided by Cheerleader indicates that far more cases of PML exist with Tysabri users. Just adds to the dilemma for MS patients in trying to choose which drug they may want to use.