Elan: Tysabri demonstrates sustained improvement in MS

Elan and Biogen Idec have announced the result of a new post-hoc analysis of Tysabri (natalizumab) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

The companies claimed the compound increases the probability of a sustained improvement in physical disability over a two-year period when compared to placebo.

Elan said this marks the first time Tysabri has been associated with a significant improvement in functional outcome in relapsing MS patients, as opposed to merely preventing progression of disability or slowing it down.

Tysabri was approved by regulatory authorities earlier this year as a treatment to induce and maintain clinical response and remission in adult patients with moderate to severely-active Crohn’s disease.

Frederick E Munschauer, Smith Professor and chair of the department of neurology at the State University of New York at Buffalo, said: “These results show that Tysabri treated patients are significantly more likely to experience a sustained improvement in disability compared to placebo patients.”

He added the results of the trial support the earlier findings of the study that the compound is associated with improvements in quality of life, as well as anecdotal evidence of some functional recovery in patients.

Earlier this month, Elan and Biogen Idec announced the start of the first clinical trial of Tysabri in oncology.