Psoriasis Drug Like Biogen’s BG-12 Linked to Brain Disease
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Biogen Idec Inc.’s Fumaderm, an early formulation of the company’s just approved multiple sclerosis pill Tecfidera, was tied to three cases of a brain infection more often linked to its potent medication Tysabri.
Fumaderm has been sold in Germany for almost two decades to treat psoriasis. All three patients had the skin condition and risk factors for the brain disease known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, doctors said. The three cases were disclosed in letters today to the New England Journal of Medicine, along with a fourth case in a psoriasis patient given a pharmacy-made drug including Tecfidera’s active ingredient.