Update:

I met with my neuo-team today and we discussed my condition relative to my two main Tysabri concerns:
1. Cost
2. Alternatives if Tysabri fails

Results:
1. Cost - My team is going to discuss with Biogen directly a method by which the financial impact of Tysabri can be reduced. Gail Hartley will be doing this for me and I will let you know how it goes.

2. Alternatives if Tysabri fails - The most promising medication is in Phase III of its trial and looks good: Fingolimod. Dr. Shubin is in charge of a portion of this study and several folks here at MS World are in that trial. I do not know the technical details of the evaluation as the trial is on-going, but it looks very promising.

We did discuss medications like Revimune. Generally, this type of medication eliminates and then restores the immune system entirely. There are two downfalls to this approach: a) potential lethality is very high (10-17%, though not necessarily with Revimune itself), and; b) the high liklihood that even after the immune system is restored, whatever causes MS will eventually just start again, thereby making this approach just a delaying process with very high risks.

I will continue with Tysabri until my data are complete.

What a grand day it is here in Southern California! I could not be happier.

-Vic