Natalizumab (Tysabri, Tyruko) is approved as disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for active RRMS with a rapidly evolving severe MS.

You can read the complete article on my blog: https://ms-perspektive.com/072-natalizumab

Today we are talking about natalizumab, which is known under the trade names Tysabri and Tyruko. The immunotherapy is used for active, severe courses of relapsing forms of MS.

Natalizumab is a migration-inhibiting drug that prevents the migration of T and B cells into the central nervous system.

Please remember that I can only provide an overview here. Your neurologist and your MS nurse should give you detailed advice on choosing the right therapy for you. This is because they know your overall state of health and you should also talk about your goals, wishes, fears and preferences so that these can be taken into account.

Table of Contents

• General Information
• How is natalizumab (Tysabri, Tyruko) classified in immunotherapies?
• What is natalizumab (Tysabri, Tyruko) approved for?
• What is the situation for special patient groups?
• Who should avoid natalizumab?
• How does natalizumab works?
• How is it taken?
• How effective is natalizumab (Tysabri, Tyruko)?
• Risks and side effects of natalizumab (Tysabri, Tyruko)
• Vaccinations
• Sources
• Final note

Sources

I used the following sources to create the content:

• Lecture on Natalizumab by Prof. Dr. Thomas Berger as part of the Multiple Sclerosis Management Master’s program
• Quality manual of the German KKNMS on natalizumab (Tysabri, Tyruko)
• MS-Selfie Infocards by Prof. Dr. Gavin Giovannoni 
• German Multiple Sclerosis and Fertility Registry (DMSKW) 
• Information from the German interview with Prof. Dr. Barbara Kornek on pediatric MS 
• German DECIMS information on natalizumab

Final note

Please remember, there is no one great medication that helps everyone, but it must always be weighed up what suits a particular person best. Other illnesses, personal goals and preferences must also be taken into account. Your neurologist and MS nurse are the right persons to talk to and can make individual recommendations. This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation. What helps one person may not help another.

I hope that, together with your neurologist and MS nurse, you will quickly find the right immunotherapy for you. And that you can lead a fulfilled, happy and self-determined life with MS, supported by a healthy lifestyle and a dose of fortune.

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You may also want to listen to the episodes on the other DMTs:

• #061: Dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera) and diroximel fumarate (Vumerity)
• #065: Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone, Brabio)
• #068: Interferon-beta (Avonex, Betaferon, Extavia, Plegridy, Rebif)
• #070: Teriflunomide (Aubagio)

See you soon and try to make the best out of your life, Nele

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