Biogen Idec announced Thursday that Tyler Campbell, son of former Houston Oiler and Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell, and Chris Wright, a former Dallas Maverick point guard, will act as patient advocates for the company’s multiple sclerosis campaign, MSInspiration.com. The contest asks MS sufferers to submit their own inspirational story – as Campbell and Wright have – for a chance to have it appear on the website. The winners will also be given the opportunity to attend an unnamed sporting event with either paid spokesperson.
Tyler Campbell was a running back for San Diego State with the plan to follow in his father’s footsteps to the NFL when he says he began to notice “tingling and weakness,” which led to his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. “I hope to motivate someone else to keep pushing forward and never quit,” he says in a video on MSInspiration.com.
Wright currently plays professional basketball in Italy for Libertas Pesaro. He played point guard for the Dallas Mavericks in 2013 and was the first NBA player to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Both Campbell and Wright are currently treating their disease with the drugmaker’s MS infusion treatment, Tysabri, a brand which is featured prominently on the campaign’s website.
Biogen purchased Tysabri from Elan Pharmaceuticals in February 2013 for $3.25 billion. In the third quarter of 2014, the company reported worldwide Tysabri sales of $501 million, an increase of 25% from the same period last year. The drugmaker currently markets four other MS products: Avonex, Fampyra, Plegridy and Tecfidera.
Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated that it was unclear how Campbell and Wright were treating their multiple sclerosis.
