Biogen announces three Tysabri trial results at European MS conference

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 29 - Biogen Idec and Elan Corp. plc presented data from a new trial showing Tysabri's (natalizumab) sustained effect on relapse rate in multiple sclerosis patients.

The data was presented at the 22nd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis in Madrid, Spain.

Approximately 1,900 patients participated in a phase 3 Tysabri open-label extension study to evaluate the therapy's long-term effects.

The annualized relapse rate over the three-year period was 0.23, or an average of one relapse every 4.3 years.

Results were consistent with the 0.23 annualized relapse rate from the two-year Affirm study, according to Biogen.

"The efficacy benefit of Tysabri when considered with the management of its known risks, offers an important therapeutic option for many patients living with the debilitating effects of MS," lead investigator Paul O'Connor of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto said in a news release.

Tysabri is indicated as a single disease-modifying therapy in highly active relapsing-remitting MS patients in the European Union.

Biogen and Elan, a Dublin, Ireland biotechnology company, also presented data from the phase 3 Affirm monotherapy study demonstrating that showed treatment with Tysabri reduced the proportion of MS patients with worsening cognitive function, measured by the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (Pasat 3).

In addition, at the conference Biogen announced findings from the Global Adherence Project that demonstrated that 85% of patients taking Avonex (interferon beta-1a) for MS adhered to treatment more than patients taking other approved disease-modifying therapies in the study.

Biogen is a Zug, Switzerland, pharmaceutical company.

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