Tysabri Injury Lawyers
Tysabri Leads to Rare and Deadly Disease
Tysabri is a drug that is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, a disease of the nervous system in which the body’s immune response attacks one’s central nervous system. Tysabri is also marketed to treat severely active Crohn’s disease, a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract. Thousands of users each year take Tysabri to combat these two serious illnesses. Since the drug has been on the market, the FDA has received numerous reports of users of Tysabri developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), which is a rare and usually fatal viral disease that has no known cure.
Tysabri and Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is characterized by progressive damage or inflammation of certain areas of the brain. Tysabri was pulled from the market due to safety concerns in 2005, a year after it was introduced. Before it was pulled from the market in 2005, it had led to three confirmed cases of PML, and two resulting deaths.
However, it was re-introduced to the market in 2006 with more stringent regulations. Despite these precautions, there have been 13 FDA-confirmed cases of deadly Tysabri-related PML in patients who were being treated for multiple sclerosis since the drug was re-introduced. The risk of developing PML increases with the number of Tysabri infusions received.
Contact the Injury Attorneys at the Pintas Firm
If you or a loved one has suffered from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy as a result of using Tysabri, please contact an injury attorney at the Pintas Firm immediately. However, do not discontinue your medication unless you have checked with your physician first.