RISKS?
before trying to conceive.
How it works: Selectively targets the B and T
cells that have roles in the MS attack.
When it is expected:;Possibly;2012.
BG 00012 (dimethyl fumarate)
also called BG- 12
•;Two;or;three;pills;a;day;for;relapsing;forms;of;MS
•;Effect;on;MS:;Preliminary;data;show;31%
reduction in relapse rate in a trial against
Copaxone with a lowered rate of disability pro-
gression;and;a;decrease;of;more;than;60%;in
“The dream that we do this intervention and a
person can forget about MS for a year—well, we
just aren’t there yet.”
Dr.;Loren;Rolak,;who;heads;the;MS;program;at
Wisconsin’s venerable Marshfield Clinic, agreed.
“I’m in a very conservative rural community.
Many are farmers. And I have only a handful of
patients who have accepted my suggestion to take
Tysabri. They refuse because of the risk.
“My center wasn’t in on the fingolimod (Gilenya)
studies, so I’ve called up some of the principal
investigators;to;get;their;personal;take,”;Dr.;Rolak
continued. “I got a wide range of opinion. Some are
ready to roll and will use this new drug as a first line
treatment.;Others;want;to;wait;and;see;how;it;plays
out once many more people are taking it.”
Hanging in, doing well
Basically, if one is doing well, why fix what ain’t
broke,;as;Dr.;Ransohoff;remarked.
Lynette Steinmetz was 34 with a husband and
two young kids when debilitating vision problems
lesions;seen;on;MRI;;preliminary;data;also;sug-
gest it may reduce inflammation and enhance
healing
•;Risks:;Appears;to;be;low;risk
•;Pregnancy:;a;wash-out;period;of;several;weeks
might be recommended to women before try-
ing to conceive.
