Momentum - Fall 2012

What could a blood test mean for
someone with relapsing MS?

insight

TYSABRI is for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to slow worsening
brain infection that usually causes death or severe disability, it’s generally recommended for patients

Indication:

TYSABRI is a prescription medicine approved for adult patients with relapsing forms of MS to slow the worsening of disability and decrease the number of flare-ups (relapses). Because TYSABRI increases the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare brain infection that usually causes death or severe disability, TYSABRI is generally recommended for patients that have not been helped enough by, or cannot tolerate, another treatment for MS. TYSABRI does not cure MS and has not been studied for longer than two years or in patients with chronic progressive MS.

Important Safety Information about TYSABRI:

•;TYSABRI increases your chance of getting a rare brain infection that usually causes death or severe disability called PML. PML usually happens in people with weakened immune systems. No one can predict who will get PML. There is no known treatment, prevention, or cure for PML.

•;Your;chance;may;be;higher;if;you;are;also;being;treated;with;other;medicines;that;can;weaken;your;immune;system,;including
other MS treatments. Therefore, you should not take certain medicines that weaken the immune system at the same time you are
taking TYSABRI. Even if you use TYSABRI alone to treat your MS, you can still get PML.
o Your chance of getting PML increases if you have been exposed to JCV, the virus that causes PML. Your doctor may do a
blood test to check if you have been exposed to JCV.
o If you have been exposed to JCV, your chance of getting PML increases even more if:
– You have received TYSABRI for a long time, especially longer than 2 years.

– You have received certain medicines that can weaken your immune system before you start receiving TYSABRI.

Your risk of PML is greatest if you have all 3 risk factors listed above. If you haven’t been exposed to JCV, you could still be at risk of getting PML due to the possibility of a false negative result or future exposure to JCV. Because of this risk, you may want to be retested periodically. Your doctor should discuss the risks and benefits of TYSABRI treatment with you before you decide to take TYSABRI.

•;If;you;take;TYSABRI,;it;is;important;to;call;your;doctor;right;away;if;you;have;any;new;or;worsening;medical;problems;(such;as a new or sudden change in your thinking, eyesight, balance, or strength or other problems) that have lasted over several days.