Latest Therapies under investigation for multiple sclerosis Stories

By Bill Berkrot NEW YORK (Reuters) - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd's multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Copaxone reduced relapses by 75 percent in both new patients and those who had not done well on the older Schering AG medicine Betaseron, according to a large study. The open label 805-patient study did not compare the two drugs but tested Copaxone in both new patients with relapsing-remitting MS and those who had taken Betaseron, but discontinued its use for a variety of reasons. In...

By Susan HeaveyWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health officials cleared the way on Monday for multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri to return to the market with restrictions, following its withdrawal last year when it was linked to a rare but potentially fatal brain disease.Three patients taking the drug, made by Biogen Idec Inc. and distributed by Elan Corp., had developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Two of them died.Food and Drug Administration officials, who faced calls from...

By Deena BeasleyLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A high dose of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.'s multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone is more effective at limiting relapses and brain lesions than the standard dose, without more side effects, researchers said on Wednesday."For some people a higher dose may work better," said Dr. Jeffrey Cohen of the Cleveland Clinic's MS research center and lead investigator of a small nine-month trial comparing the two doses.The study, funded by...

WASHINGTON -- The government approved a drug Tuesday that tries a new method of attacking multiple sclerosis, an incurable disease of the central nervous system that affects 350,000 Americans. The drug -- a monoclonal antibody produced by Cambridge, Mass.- based Biogen Idec Inc. and Irish drug maker Elan Corp. -- is known chemically as natalizumab. During clinical trials, it was called Antegren, but in the Food and Drug Administration announcement, the name was changed to Tysabri. Earlier...

FRIDAY, Nov. 26 (HealthDayNews) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Tysabri (natalizumab) as a new treatment for multiple sclerosis. The incurable nervous system disease affects about 350,000 Americans. The drug, known as a humanized monoclonal antibody, appears to work by preventing immune cells from migrating from the bloodstream to the brain, where they cause inflammation and lead to nerve fiber damage, its two manufacturers said in a statement. The medication is...

WASHINGTON -- The government approved a drug Tuesday that tries a new method of attacking multiple sclerosis, an incurable disease of the central nervous system that affects 350,000 Americans. The drug -- a monoclonal antibody produced by Cambridge, Mass.- based Biogen Idec Inc. and Irish drug maker Elan Corp. -- is known chemically as natalizumab. During clinical trials, it was called Antegren, but in the Food and Drug Administration announcement, the name was changed to Tysabri....