Longitudinal Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic, Immunological, and Biochemical

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has been related to the utilization of Tysabri as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The etiologic agent is the human polyomavirus JC. PML can result from lytic infection of glial cells via a mutant JC virus in multiple sclerosis patients being actively treated with Tysabri. The mutated JC virus is a neurotrophic virus that infects only humans. "The regulatory region sequence of the JC virus is hypervariable and contains determinants for neurotropism and neurovirulence." (Jensen and Major, 2001). In patients initially infected for the most part in childhood the virus tends to remain quiescent in kidneys, bone marrow and lymphoid tissue. The true incidence of JC virus seroprevalance is currently being assessed via two Biogen Idec clinical trials (STRATIFY 1 101JC401 and STRATIFY 2 101JC402). Application has been made to the FDA regarding a label change for Tysabri which will incorporate the use of the JC antibody assay. Upon FDA approval of the label change, the JC assay will serve as a primary risk stratification tool in the clinical use of Tysabri. Secondary and tertiary risk stratification markers would greatly aid in the clinical management of patients who are JC antibody positive.

Inclusion criteria

• Ability to understand the purpose and risks of the study and provide signed and dated informed consent and authorization to use protected health information (PHI) in accordance with national and local subject privacy regulations.
• Aged 18 to 80 years old, inclusive, at the time of informed consent.
• Must be a patient with a relapsing form of Multiple Sclerosis enrolled in the TOUCH Prescribing Program who is not expected to discontinue Tysabri® therapy prior to completion of the requirements of this study.
• Must have participated in IIT I (Foley, IIT 1 001-001-TY) in March, April, or May of 2010.
• Must have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan, performed prior to the initiation of treatment with natalizumab, on file.
• Must weigh between 38 and 180 kg, inclusive.
• Up to 40 patients will be asked to also participate in Part B, the PK/PD subset,
• Approximately fifty patients will be asked to also participate in the sub-study Part C. These patients will have been in the bottom 20th percentile for iATP in Foley IIT 1 001-001-TY.

Exclusion criteria

• If subject answers 'Yes" to any question on the PML questionnaire that is not resolved prior to infusion as per standard operating procedure for natalizumab infusion.
• If subject consumes alcohol within 24 hours of blood specimen collection.