The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7466 p198
25 August 2007

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NICE allows MS drug for specific patients

Natalizumab (Tysabri) has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for the treatment of selected multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in its latest round of appraisals, released this week.

The monoclonal antibody is approved as an option only for patients with rapidly evolving severe relapsing-remitting MS, defined by two or more disabling relapses in one year, and one or more gadolinium- enhancing lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging or a significant increase in T2 lesion load compared with a previous MRI scan.

According to NICE, patients who are already receiving natalizumab but who do not fit the institute’s latest restriction should have the option of continuing therapy with the drug.