Tysabri and skin cancer
07 Feb 2008
A new report published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has reported two cases of melanoma (a form of skin cancer) in people who were treated with Tysabri. The cases reported refer to two people with MS, one who had received a single dose of Tysabri and the other with a family history of melanoma.
The report notes that in one previous study Tysabri blocks the action of certain molecules which were shown in one previous study to inhibit the spread of melanoma cells.
As of late December 2007, there are more than 21,000 patients on Tysabri either in a commercial or clinical trial setting. Tysabri reduces relapse rate by 81 per cent and shows a 64 per cent reduction in the risk of disability progression and is available for people with severe forms of MS for whom there are few treatment options. As with all treatments the benefits of the therapy must be weighed with the risk of potential adverse side effects.
It is worth noting that clinical trials have shown that over all the occurrence of malignancies is similar in people who did not receive Tysabri compared to people who did in clinical trials and there is no direct evidence to show that Tysabri caused the melanoma formation.
As of late December 2007, there are more than 21,000 patients on Tysabri either in a commercial or clinical trial setting. Tysabri reduces relapse rate by 81 per cent and shows a 64 per cent reduction in the risk of disability progression and is available for people with severe forms of MS for whom there are few treatment options. As with all treatments the benefits of the therapy must be weighed with the risk of potential adverse side effects.
It is worth noting that clinical trials have shown that over all the occurrence of malignancies is similar in people who did not receive Tysabri compared to people who did in clinical trials and there is no direct evidence to show that Tysabri caused the melanoma formation.
