by Paul Páez

MS Awareness Week : National MS Society.

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I will admit to being a bit surprised by the number of MS patients I have met who are on Tysabri, considering the incidents of  PML that are associated with the drug. I recognize the improved quality of life associated with the drug, and I’m told it’s efficacy is superior to other disease modifying drugs; but according to my neurologist, the risks do not justify the benefit (and that the scuttlebutt among the medical community is that the risks are worse than officially reported).

The decision, of course, is up to each patient, but it’s important to have the most up to date information in order to make that decision. Here’s the latest from Biogen, the company that manufactures the drug, and it suggests the risk of PML increases the longer one is on Tysabri.

News Detail : National MS Society.

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• Tysabri, the MS Drug Haunted by Deadly Side Effect, Doesn’t Look So Deadly Anymore (xconomy.com)
• FDA warns of brain risks with frequent Tysabri use (sfgate.com)

New MS research lifts victims\’ hopes – Times LIVE.

Robert Foyil, a patient with Multiple Sclerosis, plans to walk the Oklahoma City marathon this year and he’s looking for people to make donations on his behalf.

While it’s a tough challenge, Robert has done this before, finishing 17th from last in the 2008 Oklahoma City Marathon. (I hope those other 16 people had similar handicaps or else it would be rather embarrassing for them. “Yeah, I got beat by a guy with MS.”

Best of luck Robert. For more information, here’s his Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=288316026490&ref=mf

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