Daclizumab withdrawn from NHS after safety concerns
Disease modifying therapy daclizumab (Zinbryta) has been withdrawn from sale worldwide. Its manufacturers took the decision after reports that a number of people taking the treatment developed serious inflammatory brain disorders.
Daclizumab will no longer be available on the NHS. All clinical trials involving the treatment will be stopped.
Why has this happened?
Pharmaceutical companies Abbvie and Biogen have withdrawn daclizumab from the market in light of these safety concerns.
Daclizumab had already been restricted to people who had first failed on two other treatments due to concerns that some people had experienced liver failure while taking it.
The European Medicines Agency has started an urgent review of daclizumab.
What will happen now?
If you’re currently taking daclizumab you will need to discuss next steps with your neurologist as soon as possible. All neurologists who have patients on daclizumab are being contacted and should reach out to you as soon as possible. They will be able to discuss alternative treatment options with you and when you could be able to start.
> If you're concerned by this news, you can call our MS Helpline on 0808 800 8000 (Monday to Friday 9am-7pm) or email [email protected] for information and support.
