Lemtrada anyone?

[ssusan]

I just came back from my appt at MS Clinic in Worcester. She talked to me about Lemtrada. It is currently being used in Europe and Australia with great results for both remitting relapsing MS and Secondary Progressive. FDA had rejected it previously because not enough long term data, but they are reviewing it again with a decision expected in November. She feels confident enough about it that she sent me for MRI.

What does anyone know about this? I guess my heart condition is not an issue.
~Susan

[agate]

I just came back from my appt at MS Clinic in Worcester. She talked to me about Lemtrada. It is currently being used in Europe and Australia with great results for both remitting relapsing MS and Secondary Progressive. FDA had rejected it previously because not enough long term data, but they are reviewing it again with a decision expected in November. She feels confident enough about it that she sent me for MRI.

What does anyone know about this? I guess my heart condition is not an issue.
~Susan

If you're not already aware of this, it might be something to consider:

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[SalpalSally]

If you're not already aware of this, it might be something to consider:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

This is Copaxone not Lemtrada...right?

[agate]

This is Copaxone not Lemtrada...right?

Copaxone's generic name is glatiramer acetate. Lemtrada is also known as alemtuzumab or Campath.

The scorecard for this game is a bit confusing!

[stillstANNding]

It ends in -mab so it's a monoclonal antibody. I think that means that PML is a possible side effect. :-(

ANN

[SalpalSally]

Oh, Campath, yes I was thinking Copath. Thanks.

[agate]

Just to muddy things up a bit more, Copaxone began as Copolymer-2, known as Cop-2....

[SalpalSally]

I was close..LOL

[ssusan]

Is Lemtrada Campath? Damn. Do the do this name game thing on purpose to stay convoluted. I know that when it goes from research to the drug company the name changes. Confused-nah, not me?

[ssusan]

I just asked doc. Yes, it is Campath. She said the PML risk is only for Leukemia patients.

[Cherie]

There have been no cases of PML in MS patents on any drug other than Tysabri although some lupus patients on CellCept have been diagnosed with PML. The FDA nixed Lemtrada a year ago and asked for another phase III trial using it against placebo...an ethical no no in later stage MS. You at least want your subjects to be on something to modify the disease whether it is the trial med or another proven med. All of a sudden, Genzyme is rallying again and hiring nurses to be part of their patient education call center team so it looks like there may be another attempt to get it approved for MS.

[Lazarus]

I take rituxan which is Rituximab. You are correct Ann and I do test positive for the JCvirus but they have a test now to determine your relative risk which is helpful in making decisions.

[Lazarus]

Actually a few people on rituxan have developed PML. Risk is low but my neuro worries

[Lazarus]

There have been no cases of PML in MS patents on any drug other than Tysabri although some lupus patients on CellCept have been diagnosed with PML. The FDA nixed Lemtrada a year ago and asked for another phase III trial using it against placebo...an ethical no no in later stage MS. You at least want your subjects to be on something to modify the disease whether it is the trial med or another proven med. All of a sudden, Genzyme is rallying again and hiring nurses to be part of their patient education call center team so it looks like there may be another attempt to get it approved for MS.

Cherie,
There have been few but some PML cases with Rituximab. There is always a low level of concern because we took that blood test that determined my odds were on the low end.

The leukemia patients you mentioned...is that because they were taking a much higher dosage of cellcept than we would be taking? A friend of mine was taking Rituxan for non- Hodgkin's lymphoma and he was on a much higher dosage than I take so I was thinking that the dosage increases the odds.

Glad to see your posts again You were missed when you were not posting frequently for a short time span!