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Mark & Associates, P.C. Announces Launch of PMLPatients.com to Provide Patients with Information about Progressive Multifocal leukoencephalopathy


WEBWIRE

March 31, 2009 – Uniondale, New York -- Mark & Associates, P.C., a leading nationwide personal injury law firm, announces the launch of a new website, www.PmlPatients.com. The site is designed to provide information about a deadly brain disease known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy or PML to patients taking powerful immunosuppressant medications. Concerned patients and loved ones can get more information on progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and request a free legal evaluation by visiting this site, or by calling 1-866-50-RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448).

Several Medications May be Linked to Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

Raptiva (efalizumab) is an immunosuppressant drug used to treat and prevent psoriasis, a chronic, non-contagious autoimmune disease which causes excess skin production and joint pain. The FDA has recently warned that the drug, which was approved in October 2003 for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis in adults, may be linked to several cases of PML. Raptiva is marketed in the United States by Genentech.

Tysabri (natalizumab) is used to treat multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s Disease. The drug, which is co-marketed by Biogen and Elan, was approved for MS in 2004, but removed from the market after it was linked to three cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. After an exhaustive safety review, the drug returned to the US market in 2006 with a special prescription program.

Cellcept and Myfortic (Mycophenolic acid) is a powerful immunosuppressant marketed by Roche and Novartis respectively, which is primarily used to prevent rejection in organ transplantation. Last year, the FDA announced that it was investigating the link between the drug and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy after 16 patients taking the mycophenolic acid developed the disease.

Rituxan (rituximab) is used for the treatment of B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, B-cell leukemias and auto immune disorders. The drug is co-marketed by Biogen Idecn and Genentech in the United States. In December 2006, the Food and Drug Administration issued a public health warning after receiving reports of the two patients who developed PML and died while being treated with Rituxan for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Other Medications that May be Linked to PML are:

• Enbrel (etanercept)
• Remicade (infliximab)
• Humira (adalimumab)
• Chemotherapy
• Cortiosteroids

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy caused by Polyomavirus JC or JC Virus

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is caused by the reactivation of a common virus in the central nervous system of immune-compromised individuals. Polyomavirus JC (often called JC virus) is carried by a majority of people and is harmless except among those with compromised immune systems. The rare disease occurs, rarely, in organ transplant patients; people undergoing chronic corticosteroid or immunosuppressive drug therapy; and individuals with cancer, such as Hodgkin’s disease, lymphoma, and sarcoidosis.

For more information on progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy please visit www.pmlpatients.com, www.youhaverights.com/diseases/pml/, www.RaptivaPML.com or http://www.youhaverights.com/dangerous-drugs/raptiva.

About Mark & Associates, P.C. 


Mark & Associates, P.C. is a leading personal injury and products liability law firm with offices in Boston, Massachusetts and Long Island, New York. The firm aggressively represents victims of defective pharmaceuticals and medical devices, dangerous consumer products, bad faith insurance denials, toxic exposure, and serious auto and common carrier accidents. For more information on Mark & Associates, P.C., visit http://www.youhaverights.com.



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 pml
 leukoencephalopathy
 progressive multifocal
 raptiva
 tysabri


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