Bayer is researching IGIV as a treatment for MS. Note that a few studies have already been done showing that this is an effective treatment, but the dosage (and efficacy) is to be determined in this trial. Note that, like Antegren, this is a monthly IV-- hope for an end to frequent pinpricks is in sight...

"Bayer HealthCare LLC, Biological Products Division (Bayer BP), has closed enrollment in the first industry-sponsored trial to evaluate immune globulin intravenous (IGIV) for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Under an Investigational New Drug application (IND) submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the multi-national clinical trial will assess the efficacy and safety of Gamunex®, Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human), 10% Caprylate/Chromatography Purified, in RRMS.

Other data in this field, including published studies, point to IGIV as potentially effective in the treatment of RRMS. Most recently, a retrospective analysis of 300 patient medical records conducted in Germany and Austria do*****ented use of IGIV in the treatment of RRMS. The analysis showed IGIV significantly reduced the annual relapse rate by 69 percent compared with the two years prior without IGIV treatment. In addition, a meta-analysis of four randomized, placebo-controlled trials of IGIV in patients with RRMS conducted in Europe and published in the journal Neurological Sciences in 2003 showed positive results for primary endpoints, including relapse rate, new MRI lesions, and disease progression. The author concluded IGIV is an alternative second-line treatment to approved therapies in relapsing-remitting MS, but the ideal dosage of IGIV still needs to be determined..."

Click "read more" for the full article...

www.gamunex.com www.plasbumin.com www.prolastin.com www.talecrisusa.com www.talecrisdirect.com"

Some news on Campath, a chemotherapy treatment for multiple sclerosis that has shown good success in earlier trials and has now finished enrollment for Phase II. Note that after Antegren, Campath is the next next multiple sclerosis treatment to be up for release.

"ILEX(tm) Oncology Inc. announced today that it has met its enrollment target of 240 patients in its global, multi-center Phase II trial of CAMPATH(R) (alemtuzumab) in previously untreated relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The Company announced in January that it was expanding the size of the trial from 150 patients to 240 patients based on growing interest among investigators and patients, as well as repeated recommendations of the independent data safety monitoring board to continue the study...

In a CAMPATH pilot study reported at the 2003 American Academy of Neurology annual meeting by Professor Alastair Compston, chairman of neurology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke''s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 17 previously untreated patients with early, active relapsing-remitting MS without progression or severe disability experienced a near-complete reduction in annualized relapse rate, and in no patient did disability increase."

Click "read more" for the full release...

Just an indication on a possible future therapy...

"Protein Design Labs, a Fremont-based biotech company, reported positive results on Monday from a clinical study of a drug to treat asthma.

The Phase II study of daclizumab, already in use to prevent organ rejection in transplants, helped patients whose chronic asthma is not well controlled by high doses of standard inhaled coricosteroid therapy...

PDL is conducting a Phase II clinical trial of the drug in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and expects to report results from the trial by June 2004. Preparatory work continues for a PDL-conducted clinical trial of daclizumab in multiple sclerosis."

Click "read more" for the full story...

"A placebo controlled, double-blind randomised trial of [Caprivax (goat serum)] is being carried out by Dr David Barnes at the Atkinson Morley Wing of St George''s Hospital in Tooting, London SW17.

Anyone wishing to be considered must have secondary progressive MS. They must be able to walk but to have noticed a significant decline over the last year. This must be confirmed by their neurologist who should be asked to write a letter of referral to Dr Barnes. Direct applications cannot be accepted."

"Elan Corporation, plc and Biogen Idec today announced that the Phase III maintenance trial of ANTEGREN® (natalizumab) in Crohn''s disease met the primary endpoint of maintenance of response...These natalizumab data also reinforce the importance of studying its novel mechanism of action in the treatment of other severe and chronic inflammatory diseases. We expect to share the data from this study at a major medical meeting in the first half of this year...Concurrently, two Phase III studies in multiple sclerosis (MS) are underway. AFFIRM (natalizumab safety and efficacy in relapsing-remitting MS) will evaluate the ability of natalizumab to slow the rate of disability in MS and reduce the rate of clinical relapses; SENTINEL (safety and efficacy of natalizumab in combination with AVONEX® (Interferon beta-1a) in patients with relapsing-remitting MS) will determine if the combination of natalizumab and AVONEX is more effective than treatment with AVONEX alone in slowing rate of disability and reducing rate of clinical relapses.

"We are confident in the potential of natalizumab as a therapeutic option for patients with chronic immunologic diseases," said Burt Adelman, MD, executive vice president, Development, Biogen Idec. "We look forward to working with the regulatory agencies to determine the next steps."

Please click "read more" for the full story...

Note: Another press release notes: ""We are extremely encouraged by these findings," Elan said in a statement.

The market has high hopes for Antegren, which is being tested on both Crohn''s Disease and multiple sclerosis.

A synthetic form of sea snail venom can ease pain in cancer and AIDS victims who get no relief from morphine or other conventional painkillers, a study found.

Laboratory research has found evidence that the venom that the snails inject to immobilize their prey might have beneficial effects on some heart problems, strokes, central nervous system disorders and other ills.

PBA affects a diverse population of patients with neurologic disorders, including those with Alzheimer''s, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig''s disease or ALS, Parkinson''s, and those with neuronal damage following stroke or traumatic brain injury. While the underlying causes of PBA vary from patient to patient, those with the condition experience uncontrolled emotional outbursts and inappropriate responses to various situations. In the simplest terms, PBA can cause a stroke survivor to laugh at a funeral or cry at the circus."

"It''s amazing how many MS patients can''t walk, can''t move, and you treat their spasticity and they''re fine," said Dr. Kathleen Hawker, assistant professor of neurology at UT Southwestern and lead author of the study. "What''s nice about these drugs is that they also work for nerve pain, which in turn improves the patient''s mood, so we can use one drug for three things instead of prescribing pain killers and antidepressants in addition to the spasticity therapies."

Genzyme Corporation announced today that physicians have treated the first participants in a Phase 1 clinical trial to test the safety of Genz-29155, a small molecule developed by Genzyme for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

...

Tularik Inc. today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 efficacy and safety study with T487 for the treatment of patients with psoriasis. T487 is an orally-administered therapy that has a novel mechanism of action and is expected to reduce inflammation in conditions such as psoriasis.