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MS Society Welcomes Tysabri 'Yes'
LONDON, July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- THE MS Society has welcomed the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) decision to recommend the use of Tysabri (natalizumab) to treat people with highly active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). NICE had been poised to reject Tysabri - a drug that stops immune cells leaving the blood stream and entering areas of inflammation - on cost and efficacy grounds. But following a strong consultation response, NICE today (3 July) issued a final appraisal determination recommending its use for people affected by highly active relapsing MS, defined as having had two or more disabling relapses in the last year, with evidence of developing brain lesions in MRI scans. Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the MS Society, said: "MS symptoms can range from loss of sight and mobility, through nerve pain, fatigue, depression and more. In highly active relapsing MS, people experience repeated 'attacks' of these symptoms, which can have a devastating impact on their lives and those of their families. "For the small number of people with this highly active form of MS - we understand around 3,000 people UK-wide could stand to benefit - Tysabri represents a vital treatment option. We welcome NICE's decision to take note of the consultation response." Unless an appeal against the decision is made in the next two weeks, final guidance will be issued shortly afterwards and health trusts will then have three months to make Tysabri available. This would bring the UK - except for Scotland, which has a separate assessment process - in line with other EU countries and the USA where the drug is already being used by more than 12,000 people with MS. Simon added: "Once final guidance is issued, we will be keeping a close eye on prescribing to make sure that people who stand to benefit from Tysabri are able to get the drug. We hope no-one living with this severe form of MS finds their access to treatment limited by local funding concerns." More information about Tysabri is available at www.mssociety.org.uk. The MS Society is the UK's largest charity for people affected by MS, with more than 44,000 members.
