Drug Makers Look to Mitigate Lemtrada's Life-Threatening Side Effects

Lemtrada Stroke Lawsuit News

A small case study conducted recently points to a drug that may help alleviate the auto-immune disease caused by anti-RRMS drug Lemtrada

Monday, August 26, 2019 - In keeping up with the ever-growing number of adverse side effects that are caused by taking the anti-multiple sclerosis drug Lemtrada, experts have acknowledged and placed autoimmune complications high up on that list. One of the deadly side effects of Lemtrada is that it targets B-cells that comprise the immune system weakening it. There is good news to report on the autoimmune front, however, as the highly-respected publication, Multiple Sclerosis News Today reports that a small case study suggests that autoimmune complications can be controlled with anti-CD20 therapies. These therapies may be given as a last resort for some patients. MSNT reports "Anti-CD20 therapies, including rituximab or Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), are a potential treatment for Lemtrada-associated autoimmune complications in patients who fail to respond to other conventional immunotherapies, according to a case report about two women in Australia."

One of the case studies that demonstrate the effective treatment of Lemtrada auto-immune issues was a 34-year old woman that had developed hemophilia leading to severe hip pain from taking Lemtrada. Within a year of taking "rituximab, an antibody - marketed under the name Rituxan in the U.S." the patient was declared to be in complete remission. The second patient studied was a 20-year old woman that developed autoimmune hypothyroidism from Lemtrada. After two rounds of Genentech's Ocrevus she became asymptomatic for the signs of active autoimmune encephalitis.

Lemtrada is a monoclonal antibody manufactured by Sanofi Genzyme and is effective in blocking the CD52 protein and protecting the neuron sheathing from firing off unpredictably. Unfortunately, Lemtrada's excellent results come at the price of other adverse side effects include the potential to cause sudden death from a heart attack and paralysis from having a stroke. Sanofi warns of the other common side effects being: "rash, headache, pyrexia, nasopharyngitis, nausea, urinary tract infection, fatigue, insomnia, upper respiratory tract infection, herpes viral infection, urticaria, pruritus, thyroid gland disorders, fungal infection, arthralgia, pain in extremity, back pain, diarrhea, and others."

Sanofi, maker of Lemtrada is being held accountable for failing to warn patients of the risks of having a stroke or arterial dissection leading to a potential heart attack from taking the drug for years after it came to market. Patients with relapse recurring multiple sclerosis RRMS are consulting with Lemtrada attorneys to see if they qualify to file a claim to be compensated for the damage Lemtrada has caused. It is estimated that around 20,000 patients were injured by failing to be forewarned of the drug's potential side effects for up to four years after the drug was first sold to the public. Today, the warning about Lemtrada's side effects are so severe that only the most desperate RRMS sufferers are allowed to try the drug and only when all other drug have failed to alleviate their recurring multiple sclerosis symptoms.

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