To Stay, or Not to Stay, on Natalizumab in MSTo Stay, or Not to Stay, on Natalizumab in MS
As PML risk is greatest after 2 years of taking natalizumab, patients may consider switching to another drug, but a new study suggests that those who do are at increased risk for disability progression. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - June 2, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news
Shorter Washout Better for Natalizumab-to-Fingolimod Switch Shorter Washout Better for Natalizumab-to-Fingolimod Switch
A new study further confirms that upon switching from natalizumab to fingolimod in patients with multiple sclerosis, the washout period should be less than 3 months. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - March 26, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news
New Clues to Link Between MS Drug Tysabri and Rare Brain Disease
Researchers report drug mobilizes a kind of cell easily infected by a virus that attacks the brain (Source: WebMD Health)
Source: WebMD Health - March 25, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
New Clues to Link Between MS Drug Tysabri and Rare Brain Disease
Researchers report drug mobilizes a kind of cell easily infected by a virus that attacks the brain
Source: HealthDay
Related MedlinePlus Pages: Brain Diseases, Drug Safety, Multiple Sclerosis (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Source: MedlinePlus Health News - March 25, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Natalizumab treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis associated with JC virus infection
Treatment with natalizumab in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) appears linked with JC virus (JCV) infection, which can lead to a rare and often fatal demyelinating disease of the central nervous system called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) that destroys the myelin that protects nerve cells. The movement of cells with JC virus into the blood stream may provide researchers with a possible reason why patients with MS develop PML.Since natalizumab was reintroduced as a biologic therapy for MS in 2006, more than 440 cases of PML have been reported. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - March 24, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Multiple Sclerosis Source Type: news
Natalizumab treatment in patients with MS associated with JC virus infection
(The JAMA Network Journals) Bottom line: Treatment with natalizumab in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) appears linked with JC virus (JCV) infection, which can lead to a rare and often fatal demyelinating disease of the central nervous system called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) that destroys the myelin that protects nerve cells. The movement of cells with JC virus into the blood stream may provide researchers with a possible reason why patients with MS develop PML. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - March 24, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
First-line Natalizumab in Multiple SclerosisFirst-line Natalizumab in Multiple Sclerosis
How safe and effective is natalizumab as a first-line treatment for multiple sclerosis? This new study investigates. Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - March 17, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery Journal Article Source Type: news
Biogen Buys Rights to Experimental Alzheimer’s Drugs
Biogen Idec Inc., maker of the multiple sclerosis drugs Avonex, Tysabri and Tecfidera, bought rights to Japan’s Eisai Co.’s experimental Alzheimer’s disease medicines as it seeks to add treatments for brain disorders. Biogen will pay Eisai an upfront payment, and a fixed amount of development and milestones as the drugs... (Source: PharmaManufacturing.com)
Source: PharmaManufacturing.com - March 7, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Flu vaccine and disease modifying drugs
Norwegian research found that people with MS taking glatiramer acetate (Copaxone), natalizumab (Tysabri) or mitoxantrone had a less effective response to the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations. People taking beta interferon showed no reduction.
MSIF
Flu immunisation - A to Z of MS (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - January 21, 2014 Category: Neurology Source Type: news
A possible case of natalizumab-dependent suicide attempt: A brief review about drugs and suicide - Mumoli L, Ciriaco M, Gambardella A, Bombardiere GN, Valentino P, Palleria C, Labate A, Russo E.
β-Interferon therapy is known to be a potential trigger of suicidal behavior, but this effect has not been previously reported for other multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments, such as, natalizumab. Here we report the case history of a 32-year-old woman affec... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - December 25, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Alcohol and Other Drugs Source Type: news
Antibody Index Test May Aid PML Diagnosis on Natalizumab Antibody Index Test May Aid PML Diagnosis on Natalizumab
The test compares JC virus antibody levels in CSF with those in serum and may be a useful complementary tool for the early diagnosis of PML in patients with MS taking natalizumab. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - October 30, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news
FDA Investigates Brain Infection-Gilenya Case
WebMD Health News
By Kathleen Doheny
Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD
Oct. 18, 2013 — The FDA is continuing to investigate a possible link between the multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya (fingolimod) and a case of a rare brain infection in a European patient.
The patient took the drug for nearly 8 months before being diagnosed with the brain infection. The FDA issued an alert at the end of August to inform the public of its investigation.
The brain infection, sometimes fatal, is called PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy). The European case is the first reported in a patient who has not previously taken the d...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - October 23, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: mreal197 Tags: WebMD News Source Type: news
IgM Antibody Identifies Good Candidates for Natalizumab IgM Antibody Identifies Good Candidates for Natalizumab
Lipid-specific antibody bands in CSF are associated with an aggressive presentation of multiple sclerosis and a much lower risk for PML with natalizumab, a new study has found. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - October 8, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news
Shorter Washout Reduces MS Relapse Switching Off NatalizumabShorter Washout Reduces MS Relapse Switching Off Natalizumab
New data suggest that relapse rate can be kept low with washout period of 8 weeks or less when switching from natalizumab to fingolimod. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - October 7, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news
Test May Suggest Tysabri for More MS Patients (CME/CE)
COPENHAGEN (MedPage Today) -- A blood test for L-selectin expression on circulating immune cells may identify multiple sclerosis patients who could safely receive natalizumab (Tysabri) despite past exposure to the JC virus, a small study suggested. (Source: MedPage Today Meeting Coverage)
Source: MedPage Today Meeting Coverage - October 7, 2013 Category: Journals (General) Source Type: news
