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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOSTON (AP) -- The makers of Tysabri, a new drug used to treat multiple sclerosis, announced Monday they are voluntarily suspending sales of the drug after one patient died and another developed a serious disease of the central nervous system.Stocks of both Biogen Idec Inc. and Elan Corp. tumbled, while shares of ther makers of rival MS drugs rose.The biotechnology companies said in a news release that they have suspended supplying and marketing the drug Tysabri and advised doctors to suspend prescribing the medication. The companies also have stopped using the drug in clinical trials.The companies...

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved a drug for multiple sclerosis that has shown early evidence of being more effective than existing drugs. The drug, Tysabri, was developed by Biogen Idec and Elan and was called Antegren until the F.D.A. requested a name change to avoid confusion with other drugs. Some analysts predict annual sales will eventually surpass $2 billion. Doctors and analysts say the drug represents an advance but is far from a cure. Long-term data on safety and efficacy are still lacking. "The initial data suggests that it's better than the other drugs but it doesn't shut...

ANTEGREN One-Year Data from Phase III AFFIRM Study Showed Compelling Results in Meeting Primary Endpoint in Multiple Sclerosis BIOWIRE2K CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and SAN DIEGO, Calif. and DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 2004-- One-Year Data Show 66% Reduction in Relapse Rate Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) and Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) announced today that one-year data from the Phase III ANTEGREN(R) (natalizumab) AFFIRM trial met the primary endpoint of clinical relapse rate reduction. In this international study of 942 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), natalizumab reduced the rate of relapses by 66 percent compared to placebo, a statistically significant result. All...