Cheryl,

I think one of the main reasons that The Medication Guide and associated educational tools are slanted towards risk is the fact that some drug companies do a very poor job in pointing out these risks to prospective patients. After all, highlighting a risk as opposed to mentioning it in the fine print, doesn't help potential sales!

Leaving Tysabri for a moment, Teva, the makers of Copaxone, spend very little effort or time to mention the dangers of Lipoatrohpy to prospective Copaxone users. Yet this problem can occur in up to 45% of Copaxone users!
Teva has said only about 1% of the users may have this problem. Hmmm.

The Touch program has certainly put a lot of doctors and MS patients at greater ease when it comes to making a decision as whether to use Tysabri or not. While Biogen can be commended for establishing this program, I sometimes wonder if they would be running it if it wasn't connected to the FDA's re-approval of the drug. The cost must be significant and in almost every case, this cost is passed on to the patient and/or insurance company.

Keep up the good work with your efforts.....you are certainly to be congratulated.

Harry