BIOGEN IDEC AND ELAN PRESENT NEW TYSABRI DATA AT THE 60th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY
Approximately 26,000 Patients on Commercial and Clinical Therapy Worldwide
Additional Analyses Show TYSABRI Significantly Increased the Proportion of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Patients Who are Considered Disease Free for Over Two Years
Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) and Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) today announced new data on the global utilization, safety and overall patient exposure of TYSABRI® (natalizumab). As of the end of March 2008, approximately 26,000 patients were on commercial and clinical therapy worldwide with no cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) reported since re-launch in the U.S. and launch internationally in July 2006. Growth in global utilization plus increasing confidence in the favorable benefit-risk profile of TYSABRI indicate the companies are making great progress toward the goal of 100,000 patients on therapy by year-end 2010. These data were presented today at the 60th Annual Meeting
of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN).
"These data suggest that neurologists and patients are increasingly choosing TYSABRI for the treatment of their disease. The significant clinical benefits are established and TYSABRI continues to offer the potential for compelling efficacy and hope for those patients living with MS," said Michael Panzara, MD, MPH, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Neurology Strategic Business Unit, Biogen Idec.
"Positive outcomes for patients continue to support TYSABRI's strength as a valuable treatment for multiple sclerosis patients in more than 30 countries around the world. We are also excited that patients with Crohn's Disease are now enrolling in the TOUCH program and beginning to receive TYSABRI treatment in the U.S.," said Gordon Francis, MD, Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Development, Elan.
According to data available as of the end of March 2008:
In the U.S., approximately 15,300 patients were on TYSABRI therapy commercially and approximately 2,750 physicians have prescribed the therapy;
Outside of the U.S., more than 10,200 patients were on TYSABRI therapy commercially;
In global clinical trials, more than 600 patients were on TYSABRI therapy; and
There have been no cases of PML since re-launch in the US and launch internationally in July 2006.
Cumulatively, in the combined clinical trial and post-marketing settings:
More than 36,700 patients have been treated with TYSABRI; and
Of those patients, over 9,900 have received at least one year of TYSABRI therapy and more than 3,600 patients have been on therapy for 18 months or longer.
