According to a study published in JAMA Neurology, multiple sclerosis patients are greatly benefited by Biogen Idec’s Tysabri (natalizumab) and tend to relapse if they discontinue treatment. Natalizumab had a protective effect on patients who were continuously treated with Tysabri beyond a 24-dose timepoint within the study, compared to those who switched treatment or discontinued treatment.
To begin, patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a disease that damages myelin in the brain similar to multiple sclerosis, are often infected with polomavirus John Cunningham (JC virus). If a patient’s immunity is lowered, JC virus can wreak havoc, and there is no cure for JC virus infection.
Multiple sclerosis patients are a a high risk for developing PML. Many multiple sclerosis patients are also treated with natalizumab, which is an monoclonal antibody immunosuppressive medication. Putting the two together, some multiple sclerosis patients see a risk for extended use of Tysabri and desire a different treatment.
“It’s difficult for patients to make decisions, and I think they need time to make their decisions,” said Kjell-Morten Muhr, MD, PhD, from University of Bergen, Norway, in a report from Medscape Medical News. In his experience, when the risk of PML for multiple sclerosis patients is explained, some patients initially choose to remain on Tysabri but eventually ask to switch after long consideration
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