Quote:
The ASCEND study is part of the ongoing commitment of both Biogen Idec and Elan to find ways to improve the well-being of patients with multiple sclerosis.
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Sally,
The above excerpt was part of the overall article. As a follower of MS research and big pharma for several years, the hypocrisy of such a statement is unbelievable! Biogen and Elan's interest in conducting this trial is for one reason and one reason only....make that bottom line as thick and black as possible. That's what they are in business for...not the well being of MS patients. Remember, this is the same company that withheld the PML information about Tysabri for about 10 days while their upper execs made millions in stock sales before they released the information.
Earlier small trials with Tysabri for those experiencing an exacerbation or those with SPMS have shown no benefit at all. But if they can massage the data from the ASCEND trial to make it look decent, the revenue generation could be immense. And THAT is their incentive...nothing else.
Harry