New data show no new cases of PML in Tysabri patients

H.P.Acthar Gel is a natural form of adrenocorticotropic hormone, now cleared to treat multiple sclerosis exacerbations. Questcor Pharmaceuticals is also seeking approval for a new indication—to treat the orphan disease infantile spasms.

We know that about 400,000 people in the United States currently suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS), and it's more common in women and Caucasians. We also know that early treatment of the condition makes a difference. Recently, we've read that Biogen Idec and Elan Corp. were given the go-ahead to reintroduce natalizu-mab (Tysabri) for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS. But beyond that, we haven't heard too much lately regarding the treatment of this devastating disease. What, if anything, coming down the pipeline looks promising? Here are a few of the possibilities.

Recently, the Food & Drug Administration gave the green light to Biogen Idec and Elan's natalizumab (Tysabri) to return to the market through a restricted distribution program. It's been a long and bumpy road for the multiple sclerosis therapy that was withdrawn from the market only three months after its introduction due to a serious side effect that affected three patients and killed two of those three.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an estimated 10,000 new cases of multiple sclerosis are diagnosed every year. The most common form of MS at the time of diagnosis is the relapsing-remitting form, in which acute signs and symptoms occur intermittently and will go into intermission either spontaneously or with steroid therapy.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory disease that affects more than 400,000 people in the United States. Typically diagnosed in young adults, MS is an autoimmune disease that is associated with demyelination of the neurons in the central nervous system over time. The chronic recurrent inflammatory nature of the disorder of the CNS results in injury to the myelin sheaths and the oligodendrocytes, and, to a lesser extent, the axons and nerve cells.

Neutralizing antibodies

Pharmacists can play a major role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with this debilitating disease.