Pharmacological properties, toxicology and scientific rationale for the use of natalizumab (Tysabri) in inflammatory diseases.

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Stuve O, Bennett JL

Pharmacological properties, toxicology and scientific rationale for the use of natalizumab (Tysabri) in inflammatory diseases.

CNS Drug Rev. 2007 Spring;13(1):79-95.

PubMed ID

17461891 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Natalizumab (Tysabri) was the first adhesion molecule antagonist to make it into clinical trial for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other inflammatory disorders. Natalizumab is a humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody (MAb) that binds to the alpha (alpha)(4) chain of the alpha(4) beta (beta)(1) (very late activating antigen 4; VLA-4) and alpha(4)beta(7) integrins. The scientific rationale for natalizumab therapy is the reduction of leukocyte extravasation into peripheral tissues. Natalizumab, like other VLA-4 antagonists, may also interfere with the activation of T lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs and their reactivation in the central nervous system (CNS). Shortly after its approval for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS), three patients who were treated with natalizumab in the setting of clinical trials developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), an opportunistic infection of the brain with the polyoma virus JC. It remains to be elucidated why the use of this VLA-4 antagonist is associated with an increased incidence of PML. Natalizumab was recently reapproved for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS. In this review, we outline the scientific rationale for using natalizumab in MS and other inflammatory disorders. In addition, an overview of pharmacological properties, clinical efficacy, safety, and toxicology of natalizumab is provided.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Natalizumab	Integrin alpha-4	Protein	Humans	Yes	Antibody	Details