21 December 2011 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating whether Novartis' (VTX:NOVN) multiple sclerosis (MS) medicine Gilenya (fingolimod) caused the death of a patient who took the drug.

The agency said yesterday it still believes that Gilenya significantly improves the condition of MS patients as long as the drug is used as directed.

The FDA has received a report of a MS patient who died within 24 hours of taking the first dose of Gilenya.

(USD1 = EUR0.766)