Biotech Values

[zipjet]

>>i don't see this as particularly surprising or newsworthy

"this" = A study of n=175 pts, not immune compromised, on Tysabri for six months. All started the study with none/unmeasurable BKV/JCV. But at 6 months 3 tested positive for BKV and two for JCV.

IF, I have "this" correct, then I disagree.

The study suggests that six months of T treatment is alone* sufficient to give rise to measurable levels of JCV and BKV. Six months is a very short treatment time for a chronic disease like RRMS.

We know that JCV is a precursor of PML. We do not know yet whether T alone, for a sufficient time, will allow JCV or BKV to grow to levels that will offer real injury to the patient or lead to PML. But I consider it reckless to dismiss the possibility.

ij

* Many have argued that it was ONLY combo (T + Ifn) that lead to PML. That is still true. But T promoting (admittedly an inference) JCV brings us one step closer (a step that may never prove true) to concluding that T causes PML.