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Stock News : Biotech/Pharmaceuticals

Biogen, Elan Uncover Third Illness in Tysabri Review

By Steyer

TheStreet.com Staff Reporter

3/31/2005 7:59 AM EST

Updated from March 30

Biogen Idec (BIIB:Nasdaq - commentary - research) and Elan (ELN:NYSE ADR -

commentary - research) were down sharply in early trading Thursday after their

disclosure late Wednesday that they had uncovered a third case of a rare, often

fatal central nervous system disease linked to a patient who had used the

multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri.

The companies pulled Tysabri from the market Feb. 28 after receiving

reports of one death linked to a patient who had taken the drug during clinical

trials. A second case of the rare disease was confirmed later.

Both patients took Tysabri for more than 24 months in conjunction with

Avonex, an MS drug made by Biogen Idec. However, in the latest case, the patient

didn't take Avonex.

The announcement, which came after U.S. markets had closed, hit both

stocks in premarket trading Thursday.

Elan, based in Dublin, Ireland, lost $3.88, or 55.6%, to $3.10. Biogen

Idec, of Cambridge, Mass. fell $4.10, or 10.7%, to $34.25.

The companies said Wednesday that a patient taking Tysabri during a

clinical trial for Crohn's disease, a debilitating gastrointestinal disorder,

contracted the rare disease, known as progressive multifocal leukoencphalopathy,

or PML.

They said the patient, who died in December 2003, previously had been

diagnosed as having malignant astrocytoma, a type of brain cancer, rather than

PML. The original diagnosis was made in July 2003.

" As part of this ongoing safety review, the companies, in agreement with

the clinical trial investigator, reassessed the case, " the companies said.

" Following this additional evaluation, the diagnosis is being reassessed as

PML. "

They said this patient had received eight doses of Tysabri over 18 months.

They said the patient also had a history of taking " multiple courses of

immunosuppressant agents. " They didn't provide details, but such drugs are used

to treat people with inflammatory diseases like MS and Crohn's disease as well

as people who have received organ transplants.

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[Guest guest]

Tysabri

Hello Jeff,

I saw your post regarding Biogen's withdrawal of their new ms drug.

This is a very complex and lengthy story. Several years ago the same drug was

called " Antegrin " and was being touted as a miracle drug for ms.

Unfortunately the trials were a failure and were suspended. Two years later

they renamed the drug and named it " Tysabri " . Once again the trials were a

disappointment with much more negative results.

I do not mean to be intentionally cynical but after being very successful with

my ms for over twenty years using alternative medicine ( very inexpensive and

effective). It has to do with money and power.

All four of the current ms drugs cost in excess of $1200. a month. Tysabri

would have cost $ 2200. There are approximately 400,000 ms patients in the US.

This equals $10,560,000,000. a year in the US alone.

All of the executives of " Elan " sold their stock the day before the announcement

of the failure and reaped tens of millions ( And they had the gall to send

Martha to jail).

There is a doctor in New York City that is significantly helping ms patients at

a cost of less than $40. a month. Go to www.lowdosenaltrexone.org for further

info.

The Nat'l MS Society along with all the other so-called experts will not give

him the time of day.

There is another doctor in Canada " Ashton Emry " having more success with ms

patients without drugs. He too is passed over as fad.

This is a very complex issue, I have written two books about ms thesecond " 20

Years and Still Coping and Prevailing " details some of the natural and effective

steps that one can take to deal with ms. www.copingandprevailing.com

Regards,

Tom Bayuk

19868 Cypress Woods Ct.

North Fort Myers, Fl. 33903

There is no