MS Society disappointed over Elan drug deaths
The head of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland has described news that a second patient being treated with the new MS drug, Tysabri, has developed a rare neurological virus as "very disappointing".
Shares in Elan, the pharmaceutical company which produces the drug and has bases in Ireland, plunged again following the confirmation.
In a statement, Elan confirmed it was co-operating with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the voluntary suspension in the marketing of the drug.
Sales of the drug were suspended on Monday after one patient died from PML while participating in a long-term clinical trial of Tysabri in combination with Avonex, Biogen's older MS drug.
Tysabri has been on the market in the US since last November. It had been expected to get EU approval later this year.
