EMA urges recall of MS drug Zinbryta

EMA recommended immediate suspension and recall of multiple sclerosis drug Zinbryta daclizumab from Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) and partner AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) following 12 worldwide reports of inflammatory brain disorders, including encephalitis and meningoencephalitis. Three cases were fatal.

Last Friday, EMA began an "urgent review" of the drug triggered by reports of eight such European cases. At the time, Biogen and AbbVie said they would withdraw Zinbryta globally from the market and halt all clinical trials (see BioCentury Extra, March 2)...