Biogen Idec announced that Health Canada has approved a product monograph change for TYSABRI® that will help enable individual benefit risk assessment for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The new label identifies anti-JC virus (JCV) antibody status as a risk factor for developing an uncommon, but serious, brain infection known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This marks the third risk factor identified to help physicians and people with MS have more confidence in their treatment decisions when considering TYSABRI, a highly effective treatment for relapsing remitting forms of MS.

“This label change marks an important advance in assisting people with MS and their physicians to make better informed decisions concerning the challenges of balancing effectiveness with safety,” said Dr. Virender Bhan, Director, Dalhousie MS Research Unit, Halifax, Nova Scotia. “TYSABRI is an important treatment option for appropriate patients so the ability to confidently address PML risk stratification may allow for earlier treatment to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations and delay the progression of physical disability.”

Infection with the JC virus (JCV) is required for the development of PML. The new label states that anti-JCV antibody negative status indicates that exposure to the JC virus has not been detected, while patients who are anti-JCV antibody positive have a higher risk of developing PML. Patients who are anti-JCV antibody positive, have received prior immunosuppressant (IS) therapy and have received treatment with TYSABRI for more than two years have the highest risk of developing PML.

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