LONDON (AP) - The European Medicines Agency is investigating a multiple sclerosis drug made by Novartis after at least 11 patients taking the drug died.
The drug, Gilenya, was licensed last year in the European Union to treat patients with a severe type of multiple sclerosis.
The deaths raise concerns Gilenya could trigger heart problems after patients take their first dose, according to a statement issued Friday by the European Medicines Agency. The agency said it isn't clear whether the deaths were caused by the drug or not.
More than 30,000 patients have taken Gilenya worldwide. The European Medicines Agency advised doctors to increase their monitoring of patients after the first dose of the medicine.
It hopes to finish its review of the drug by March.