MS Drug is Effective, But Causes PML
Saturday, March 04, 2006 5:34 AM:

Natalizumab (Tysabri), a drug used to treat relapsing-remitting MS, has been shown to reduce the risk of sustained deterioration due to MS by 42% in one study. This is a significant step up from other drugs which hover around the 33% mark.

Unfortunately, it also may cause PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) in a fraction (1/1000) of patients. As an immunomodulator, natalizumab inhibits the auto-attack on myelin in the central nervous system, slowing the progression of MS. It also may reactivate latent JC virus, which is strongly associated with PML, effectively swapping out one demyelinating condition for another.

The drug was voluntarily taken off the market in 2005 when three patients developed PML, of which two died. With these new findings the FDA and researchers must weigh the benefits and potential serious consequences of further study and use of this drug.

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