“In a study of patients with relapsing-remitting MS, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, use of the most widely prescribed disease-modifying drugs, interferon beta, was not associated with a delay in disability progression."

"Avonex is directly involved in this study and in a few years, Tysabri will likely end up with similar numbers. Only difference is the cost MS patients will have to dole out for Ty. How many years have you guys been telling us that Avonex is such a great treatment?! At least Avonex hasn't killed anyone that we know about.

Surly your a moron if you don't think Tysabri slows the progression of MS more effectively than anything currently FDA approved.“

“So I see you have reverted to name calling...how typical for some of you Biogen types!

Remember, we have been told for years that the CRAB drugs slowed the progression of MS. But now we are being told that they don't slow the progression at all compared to taking nothing. Perhaps reduce the risk of attacks but not disease progression.

We don't know if Tysabri slows the progression of MS. Again, perhaps reduces the frequency of relapse. But 5 years from now, there is every possibility that it will end up doing the same thing for progression that the CRAB drugs have done...nothing! So being more effective than nothing wouldn't take much for Tysabri, would it?“

“If you actually read the interferon study, there are so many flaws in it it's amazing it was published. No educated physician who treats ]MS believes this crap after they read the entire article and not the conclusion. Your an asshole go back to the hole from which you came from.“

“My oh my, getting a little testy now...did I hit a nerve or what?

I guess if you feel the study should not have been published you should take it up with the Journal of the AMA and voice your objections. Somehow, though, I think they would likely tell you to GFY....that is language you would understand, isn't it?

Bottom line buddy....taking beta interferon for years does nothing to stop the progression of MS. And most neuros will tell you that the CRAB drugs do little if anything for their patients in the long run. Of course, as a Biogen employee, you will throw a hissy fit at this kind of info so go ahead...nobody cares. :-)))))”

“Hey....if you are going to use vulgar language on this site, at least learn how to spell properly...your instead of you're!! Then again, you were probably all upset with the guy who is playing you that your nerves got the better of you and you lost your typing skills :-))”

“Perhaps you didn't read this part of the article...

"Dr. Claire Riley, director of the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care & Research Center at Columbia University, was equally impressed with the work and somewhat troubled by its results. “It’s a little dispiriting to see this well-designed, well-conducted assessment showing no association between reduction of disability progression and interferon use,”

Don't know why you would be surprised the article was published. Dr. Riley is no dummy!”

“If you think this study is going to change 17 years of interferon use then you have another thing coming. De Riley is a copaxone trained physician and doesn't impact her or Tulmans patients one bit. Who cares about your little Gilenya. They day BG 12 is launched its over for you. But wait, it's been kinda over for you losers at Novartis since they day you started.

Enjoy your salary for another 12 months. You'll have a 4% share and be laid off while Biogen Idec has a 65% franchise share across all products.

Interferons don't work. Ya ok. And Gilenya cures cancer.”

“I didn't say that the study would change 17 years of interferon use. Don't put words into my mouth, please.

I just pointed out a large, well designed trial that took several years to complete, used a large number of patients for data accumulation and published the results they found. If you have an issue with the trial take it up with the people who published it and the docs that conducted it. The effectiveness of the interferons over the years has been minimal...if you want to believe otherwise, then that's your choice.

Another wrong assumption....you presume I work for a drug company! I don't. You also feel that DeRiley is unqualified to comment on the interferons because the good doc is "copaxone trained". Oh give me a break!!

And in good Biogen typcial thinking...that's all you are interested in is getting that bonus and raking in as much money as you can regardless of the garbage you sell. Who cares if it works or how many people die from using it...what's a little collateral damage along the way?”

“As bad at Novartis is Gilenya will hit 1 billion dollars next year. That's right 1 BILLION. Yes BG12 will do better but don't be to cocky. Gilenya will be the second best oral I can live with that. From what I see Betaserone was the 4th used drug and they lasted a very long time with very good jobs.”

“Who the fuck is Dr. Riley and who cares what she thinks. I have been in MS a long time and never heard of her. If this was Dr. Rudick I would take notice her opinion means nothing to the MS community.”