Our sympathies go out to the family of an individual who recently died within 24 hours of receiving a first dose of the oral medication Gilenya® (fingolimod, Novartis). Novartis has confirmed this event and has reported it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Details of this unfortunate incident have not been released and are under investigation. Until more information is available about the circumstances of this individual’s death, it is impossible to know what role Gilenya may have played in it. According to company reports, more than 28,000 patients have received this new oral therapy to date. This event is being reported in various media outlets.
Individuals who have questions about Gilenya’s safety should contact the Novartis patient support line at 888-NOW-NOVA (888-669-6682) or the individual’s prescribing doctor.
