Dec 28 (Reuters) - TG Therapeutics Inc (TGTX.O) said on Wednesday that the U.S. health regulator had approved its monoclonal antibody for treating patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, sending its shares up nearly 9% in afternoon trade. TG Therapeutics said it was expecting to launch the drug, branded as Briumvi, in the first quarter of 2023, but did not give details on its pricing. Jefferies analyst Chris Howerton said ahead of the approval that he was expecting the drug to be priced in the range of $30,000 per patient per year. Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease in which the immune system attacks the brain cells causing motor disabilities. Unlike other MS drugs that target T cells, Briumvi belongs to a class of drugs that tackles B cells' role in driving the inflammation that is central to neurological disease.

---