MS patients suffer side-effects after NHS England switches to cheaper drug

Scores of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have suffered debilitating side-effects after being put on to a cheaper new drug as part of an NHS drive to save money.

About 170 MS patients at Charing Cross hospital in London have had complications, including a relapse of their illness, after being switched from Tysabri to a different drug called Tyruko, made by the pharmaceutical company Sandoz.

In a handful of cases, the people affected developed such serious symptoms that they had to be taken to hospital for treatment. Patients have told doctors about side-effects including an inability to use their legs, other mobility problems, fatigue, pain and sudden weight gain.

It is unclear how widespread the adverse reactions to Tyruko are. NHS England said the problem has only been seen at the London hospital. However, one of the patients there claimed to know of people with MS being treated at 15 other hospitals in England who have experienced similar setbacks to their health after being moved on to Tyruko after sometimes years taking Tysabri.

Problems have arisen since NHS England began moving patients across the country with very active relapsing remitting MS from Tysabri on to Tyruko, a “biosimilar” drug, last April. A biosimilar is a version of a drug that has fallen out of patent, allowing other pharmaceutical firms to legally make a medicine that is as safe and effective as the original but on average 72% cheaper.

The side-effects from Tyruko are causing so much concern within the health service that NHS England is in discussion with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) about what to do.

A spokesperson for Sandoz said: “Patient safety is our first priority. We are seeking to understand the situation at Imperial healthcare NHS trust, which appears to contrast with the experience of patients at other UK hospitals. We believe it’s premature to draw conclusions at this point. We continue to work with the NHS and regulatory authorities to resolve this.”

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Source: The Guardian, 24 May 2025