Everything multiple sclerosis
ECTRIMS (European Committee for Treatment and Research In Multiple Sclerosis) hosts the world’s largest conference devoted to basic and clinical research in MS.
This year’s meeting took place in Gothenberg from 13-16 October and featured a wide range of presentations, posters and reports of new and ongoing research.
Below are brief reviews of some of the research reported.
ECTRIMS round up | News | MS Trust – Information, education, research and support
UPDATE: Elan: Test Results Could Help Determine PML Risk – WSJ.com
DUBLIN (Dow Jones)–Elan Corp. PLC (ELN) Tuesday announced results of a test that could help determine whether multiple sclerosis patients will develop a rare brain disease before they decide to take Elan and joint venture partner Biogen Idec Inc.’s (BIIB) drug Tysabri.
According to research, samples from 17 patients were analyzed and shown to contain the JC Virus or be “anti-JCV antibody positive.” All 17 patients subsequently went on to contract the rare brain disease, known as PML, which means they wouldn’t have been good candidates for Tysabri.
About 50% of the population are thought to carry the JC Virus and Tysabri patients who don’t have the virus are thought to be at significantly lower risk of PML. The brain disease occurs when the virus attacks the central nervous system in people who have weakened immune systems.
“These data support our ongoing clinical studies to assess the clinical utility of this assay and our commitment to further mitigating the rare risk of PML in Tysabri-treated patients,” said Alfred Sandrock, senior vice president of neurology research and development at Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB).