Biotech Values

[tinkershaw]

I would suggest that, in due course, a high proportion of Tysabri patients who test positive for JC virus will indeed cease treatment with Tysabri, either temporarily or permanently. The only reason this hasn’t happened yet is that the JC test is relatively new and the sample size of patients for the issue discussed in this thread is small.
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I believe that will be accelerated because their is the new oral option, which although not as powerful (yes, no apples to apples trial, but it is not as powerful) but more powerful than the other existing drugs. There is an alternative, so that changes the risk/reward profile. Why not try another drug that might have very good efficacy without as much risk. There is no reason.

On the other hand, yes, if you don't have the JC virus, tysabri should be the #1 drug to be used. It simply is the best for long term treatment of the disease. If not for the rather dramatic adverse event, tysabri is nearly a "cure" in regard to symptom halt and disease progression for many patients who were advancing.

But we know this latter paragraph won't be the case, but the former paragraph will be. So on net, yes, it may, at least initially, decrease demand for the drug.

Tinker