Posted on 27/08/2010 in Pharmaceutical Company Product News Biogen Idec has published data from a recent study which supports the potential benefits of an investigational anti-JC virus (JCV) antibody assay.
The company is currently trialling the two-step assay as a means of risk stratification for multiple sclerosis patients treated with the Biogen Idec drug Tysabri, as the presence of anti-JCV antibodies is related to the risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
Data from the study revealed the assay to be both "sensitive and specific", as well as demonstrating the link between anti-JCV antibody positivity and the onset of PML among a number of patients.
Dr Alfred Sandrock, senior vice-president of neurology research and development at Biogen Idec, said the assay could help to improve the clinical management of multiple sclerosis patients.
He added: "This data supports our ongoing clinical studies to assess the clinical utility of this assay and our commitment to further mitigating the rare risk of PML in Tysabri-treated patients."
Earlier this month, Biogen Idec agreed a collaboration with Knopp Neurosciences to jointly develop a compound for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Other news stories from 27/08/2010
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