Elan and Biogen Idec said last night that US regulators have agreed to a priority review of Tysabri, the multiple sclerosis drug the companies pulled from the market earlier this year due to safety concerns.
The US Food and Drug Administration's priority designation means the agency is expected to make a decision on the drug in about six months.
Elan and Biogen said last month that they had finished evaluating the safety of Tysabri, which has been linked to a sometimes fatal brain infection. Two MS patients died from the infection and a third case was identified.
Elan shares were up 33 cent to €9.18 in Dublin this afternoon.
