2 new PML cases apparently recovering
 

I just read this today. Not sure what "being out of danger" means. The question is: was there any lingering damage? But still sounds like positive news.

27 August 2008 Tysabri - PML Multiple Sclerosis patients recovering

Two European patients who recently developed a dangerous brain infection after taking Elan's multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri are now recovering. Elan's shares rose sharply in Dublin on the news.

A researcher involved in their care told the Reuters news agency that one patient in Scandinavia was now out of danger while a second man in Germany was in the early recovery phase.

Ralf Gold of the Ruhr University Bochum was presenting an update on the cases at the annual meeting of the European Federation of Neurological Societies in Madrid.

Tysabri was withdrawn in 2005 amid three cases of PML, but returned to the market in 2006 with warnings and tougher prescription guidelines.

Source: RTÉ Business © RTÉ 2008 (27/08/08)

http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuse...ow/pageid/1076

More detail in another article.

http://www.rehabpub.com/reuters_arti...26clin012.html

Two MS patients treated with Tysabri recovering from PML
Last Updated: 2008-08-26 16:04:45 -0400 (Reuters Health)

LONDON (Reuters) - Two European patients who developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) after being given Biogen Idec and Elan Corp's multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri are now recovering, a researcher involved in their care said on Tuesday.

One patient in Scandinavia is out of risk while a second man in Germany is in the early recovery phase, Ralf Gold of the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, told Reuters.

Gold, who presented an update on the cases at the annual meeting of the European Federation of Neurological Societies in Madrid, said he was optimistic both men would survive.

"For the Swedish patient now, there's no question he is out of risk. For the other, I have moderate optimism," he said in a telephone interview.

Tysabri was withdrawn in 2005 when three cases of PML were reported, but returned to the market in 2006 with warnings and tougher prescription guidelines.

Gold said the new cases underlined the need for vigilance, but Tysabri remained a "very effective therapy" and the two cases need not change current prescribing practice.

However, if further cases of PML were seen in the coming months, the risk/benefit balance might have to be reassessed.

The latest cases involved patients who were using Tysabri as monotherapy for more than a year. Previously, PML had been seen in patients taking Tysabri with other medicines.

"These cases came earlier than expected under monotherapy. I always expected to see some in 2009; I never expected to see them in 2008," Gold said.

Well, it sounds like they are not imminently going to die, and that at this point, the one person might actually be expected to live.

I want to know how much permanent damage this has caused them? Even with the first case (the person from the trials that lived), I've never heard anything more about their ongoing condition. :confused:

It is really great that they caught these cases early on, and hopefully mitigated a lot of damage through the use of plasma. :hug:

Cherie

I'm with Cherie. I'd like to know the lasting effects of PML.

It is wonderful and uplifting news to hear that they have survived in any case.

Thanks for posting that. I have my first treatment scheduled this month. Going to have to think about postponing it.