News Release: BIOGEN IDEC AND ELAN ANNOUNCE AVAILABILITY OF TYSABRI® FOR THE TREATMENT OF RELAPSING FORMS OF MS
"Cambridge, MA and Dublin, Ireland - July 24, 2006 - Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) and Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) today announced the commercial availability of TYSABRI® (natalizumab) for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the U.S. As previously announced, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for the reintroduction of TYSABRI as a monotherapy treatment for relapsing forms of MS to slow the progression of disability and reduce the frequency of clinical relapses.
The FDA granted approval for reintroduction based on the review of TYSABRI clinical trial data; revised labeling with enhanced safety warnings; and a risk management plan (TOUCH Prescribing Program) designed to inform physicians and patients of the benefits and risks of TYSABRI treatment and minimize potential risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Because of the increased risk of PML, TYSABRI is generally recommended for patients who have had an inadequate response to, or are unable to tolerate, alternate MS therapies.
Under the TOUCH Prescribing Program, only prescribers, infusion centers and pharmacies associated with infusion centers registered in the TOUCH program are able to prescribe, infuse or distribute TYSABRI. Elan has contracted with a single distributor, ICS, a division of AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group, and 12 specialty pharmacies: Caremark, CuraScript, PharmaCare, PrecisionRx Specialty Solutions, Medmark, BioScrip, McKesson Specialty, Option Care, Cigna Tel-Drug Specialty Pharmacy, Aetna Specialty Pharmacy, Prescription Solutions, and Accredo NovaFactor. ICS and the 12 specialty pharmacies have been trained on the TOUCH Prescribing Program and are obligated to follow the requirements of the program in order to purchase and distribute TYSABRI to authorized infusion sites and central pharmacies.
In addition, following the recent approval by the European Commission, the companies have introduced TYSABRI in several countries in Europe.
About TYSABRI
Two-year data from the AFFIRM monotherapy trial showed that treatment with TYSABRI reduced the risk of disability progression by 42% (p<0.001),>
TYSABRI increases the risk of PML, an opportunistic viral infection of the brain that usually leads to death or severe disability. Three cases of PML occurred in clinical trial patients who were concomitantly exposed to immunomodulators (interferon beta in the patients with MS) or were immunocompromised due to recent treatment with immunosuppressants (e.g., azathioprine in the patient with Crohn's disease). Two of the cases were observed in 1,869 patients with MS treated for a median of 120 weeks. A third case of PML occurred among 1,043 patients with Crohn's disease after the patient received eight doses. The number of cases is too few and the number of patients treated too small to reliably conclude that the risk of PML is lower in patients treated with TYSABRI alone than in patients who are receiving other drugs that decrease immune function or who are otherwise immunocompromised. Healthcare professionals should monitor patients on TYSABRI for any new signs or symptoms that may be suggestive of PML. TYSABRI dosing should be withheld immediately at the first sign or symptom suggestive of PML.
TYSABRI is contraindicated in patients who have or have had PML or with known hypersensitivity to TYSABRI or any of its components. In Phase III placebo-controlled trials of TYSABRI in MS, the overall incidence and rate of other infections were balanced between TYSABRI-treated patients and controls. Herpes infections were slightly more common in patients treated with TYSABRI. Commonly reported infections with TYSABRI included urinary tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, gastroenteritis and vaginitis. Serious opportunistic and other atypical infections have been observed in TYSABRI-treated patients, some of these patients were receiving concurrent immunosuppressants.
The incidence and rate of other serious and common adverse events in clinical trials were similarly balanced between treatment groups. Serious events that occurred in TYSABRI-treated patients included hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis), depression and gallstones. Appendicitis was more common in patients receiving TYSABRI with AVONEX. Common adverse events reported in TYSABRI-treated patients include infusion reactions, headache, fatigue, joint and limb pain, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea and rash.
For more information about TYSABRI please visit www.biogenidec.com, www.elan.com, or www.tysabri.com...."
