Biogen and Elan Team Up to Fight Multiple Sclerosis with Tysabri

Image via Wikipedia

Wikinvest--Biogen Idec (BIIB)

Wikinvest--Elan (ELN)

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML)--severe brain infection problem associated with Tysabri that had resulted in a few deaths, Anti-JC Virus Assay was a Key Compenent in Tysabri Clinical Trials 

This is good news for the MS community as patients will now have some assurance that their experimental medicine will not cause PML because of a new Anti-JC Virus Test.

Tysabri problems in the past:  Another Tysabri Brain Infection Reported: 8th PML Infection Since Re-Launch

Data Further Supporting Anti-JC Virus Antibody Assay Presented at the 26th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis


Posted on: Saturday, October 16, 2010 - 
GOTHENBURG, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) and Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) today announced data further supporting the potential clinical utility of an investigational assay that detects anti-JC virus (JCV) antibodies in human plasma or serum. The detection of anti-JCV antibodies may provide a means to segment, or stratify, multiple sclerosis (MS) patients considering or receiving treatment with TYSABRI® (natalizumab) and assess their risk for developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare, but serious, brain infection. These data have been presented at the 26th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Gothenburg, Sweden.

BioPharma Stock Watch Tuesday August 10th

Image via Wikipedia Stocks I am following for Tuesday.

Monday's BioPharma List for August 9th

Top Pharmaceuticals for Monday August 9th

1. K-V Pharmaceuticals This one is slightly unpredictable (NYSE:KV.A) at 1.46 up +0.17 a 13.17% gain after having a 20.6% increase last week.

2. Roche Holdings RHHBF; F denotes a foreign stock trading on Nasdaq this quote is from last week as this stock trades based on a foreign market. Last week up 10.50 at 142.00 a 10.50% gain. The stock has been down as of late but I predict that things could change in the near future for the better.

Their US Based stock RHHBY was flat today. (RHHBY)

Top BioPharma Pipeline Plays August 2010

Image via CrunchBase Stocks currently on my Watchlist for top BioPharma plays in the near future.

1. Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:VRX)

Biotechnology Research Report on Valeant's Potiga

On August 11, 2010, we expect the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee to review the marketing application of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International’s (VRX) Potiga (formerly known as Retigabine), designed for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in epilepsy patients who have become refractory (failing to show response to prior therapy) to anti-epilepsy drugs (AEDs).