Zinbryta has been withdrawn from the global market following concern that the multiple sclerosis drug may be among encephalitis causes.

Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease which affects the central nervous system. The disease disrupts the neurological connections made throughout the body and can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on what part of the nervous system is affected. Potential symptoms include numbness, weakness, muscle spasms, difficulty moving, vision problems, fatigue, and mood problems.

Zinbryta (daclizumab) is an immune therapy that was approved in May 2016 for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The drug is typically prescribed to patients who didn’t respond to two or more other multiple sclerosis medications, but it may be one of many encephalitis causes. 

Since the drug’s approval, Zinbryta has had many post-market side effects added to its label. In August 2016, only months after it was approved, Zinbryta’s label was expanded to include the risk of liver injury, infections, immune-mediated disorders, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Since the drug’s release, the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System has received 1,200 reports of safety issues, 626 of which were serious cases and 25 of which involved a death.

However, Zinbryta only was recently pulled from the global market by Biogen and AbbVie. The drug manufacturers’ voluntary withdrawal follows a report from the European Medicine Agency which suggests that Zinbryta may be among encephalitis causes.

Encephalitis is a condition involving inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis causes flu-like symptoms including a fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, nausea, light sensitivity, and more. In more severe cases, encephalitis causes confused thinking, seizures, and problems with senses and movement. The condition is severe, and the symptoms encephalitis causes can lead to permanent disability or death.

Common encephalitis causes include immune-mediated disorders and infections. Immune-mediated disorders are a known side effect of Zinbryta and are included on the drug’s label. Although the reason Zinbryta is among encephalitis causes is not known, it may be related to the drug’s immune-mediated disorders side effect.

There have only been a few cases of encephalitis related to Zinbryta in the United States. However, there have been a significant number of cases reported in Europe. Although it is unclear if the cases are directly related to Zinbryta, both the FDA and the European Medicine Agency are investigating the possibility that Zinbryta may be among encephalitis causes. In the meantime, the drug was voluntarily recalled by Biogen and AbbVie.

Patients currently taking Zinbryta have been instructed to not stop taking the medication unless instructed by their physician. Liver function problems potentially associated with Zinbryta can occur up to six months after the final dose, so consumers should consult their physician and continue blood monitoring.

If you or a loved one experienced encephalitis or liver problems after being prescribed Zinbryta, you may be eligible to participate in a free Zinbryta encephalitis lawsuit investigation. Legal experts are currently investigating whether patients have a legal claim against Zinbryta manufacturers for not including a warning about encephalitis on the drug’s label. A Zinbryta encephalitis lawsuit could potentially recover compensation for medical expenses, permanent disability, pain and suffering, wrongful death, and more.