The generic name for Lemtrada is alemtuzumab. This drug was approved in the US in 2001 under the name Campath-1 and was used in even higher doses than Lemtrada for CLL (a form of leukemia). Campath was pulled off the market in 2012 not for toxicity issues, but so the manufacturer could reformulate the drug as Lemtrada and target it at MS patients. It is a lower dose than Campath, but because it will be a newly marketed drug, it will be 3 times the cost of Campath. Sooo...several other people have taken Lemtrada, but under the name Campath and at about twice the dose than Lemtrada. This is not to say it is not a safe or effective treatment option for MS. Just wanted to alert people to the fact that this is NOT a new drug and has been used in several people with leukemia since 2001.

Thank you @A MyMSTeam Member! That was what my husband and I had uncovered in our reading and it really put my mind at ease. Knowing that so many others had already taken it was comforting. I know that so many drug are used in different doses for a variety of diseases.... I'm always amazing at the mind of a medical researcher and that they discover and uncover all of these life changing treatment! I'm excited... nervous of course but really looking forward to having the treatments done and getting on with my life! :)

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A MyMSTea...

On a clinical trial for lemtrada. Best choice ever. Feel free to ask any questions. Alex

Kristy I am not one of Lagank's patients. I am actually in Canada, just outside of Vancouver. Not sure why my profile says WI... Lemtrada is a very new treatment for MS... reports have shown that is 73% more effective that Rebif or Copaxone and that is has, in some cases, shown to regenerate brain matter and cause legions to actually disappear! This is some of the more recent reports that my husband and I read last night. It's not a new drug but it's VERY new to MS treatment though so I was wondering if anyone else had been on it. Guess I'm the guinea pig!

No, what's it for?