Advertisement
Full Article Text
PATIENTS suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS), the incurable wasting
disease, have experienced dramatic improvements in their condition after
taking part in trials of a drug derived from goat serum.
Some have reported being able to cast aside their walking sticks and
walk for miles, or of regaining their vision or finding they can again
use their limbs after years when any movement was agony. Of the 130
patients on the trial, 85% reported big improvements with no side
effects.
Among them is Billy Edmiston, of Southsea, who was diagnosed with MS in
1988. “At the time of my first injections 15 months ago I was using
walking sticks and sometimes a wheelchair. I started this treatment with
no expectations but it has been astonishing,” he said.
“I am 500% better than I was. I can walk for several miles without
sticks. I’m much stronger and generally healthier. And you have to
remember that we have always been told that there may be remissions, but
that the progress of the disease is unstoppable.”
The success of the trials has started to gain international recognition
with Alan Osmond, one of America’s leading campaigners about the
disease, travelling from the US to take the drug.
Osmond, the eldest member of the Osmonds singing group, who was
diagnosed with the disease 17 years ago, said: “When I heard about the
treatment here I decided I would have to come and see for myself.”
MS is the most common chronic disease of the central nervous system in
young adults, affecting millions of people worldwide. Most cases are
diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40 and famous sufferers include the
cellist Jacqueline du Pré, the actor Richard Pryor, director Bryan
Forbes and Tory whip David Maclean.
An often progressive disease of the central nervous system, MS occurs in
the brain, the optic nerves and the spinal cord. Though slow in its
onset, in time it may produce tremors, partial loss of sight and
paralysis.
The new treatment is being pioneered by a team of scientists and doctors
led by Professor Angus Dalgleish, an oncologist based at St George’s
hospital, Tooting, south London, who believes it will at worst provide a
highly effective subjective treatment for MS sufferers, but may lead to
a long-term improvement.
The treatment, given as a weekly injection, is derived from purified
serum from immunised goats that produce antibodies. Three separate
clinical trials are now being conducted.
Normally it would have taken about eight years and about £80m to get a
new product to this stage. In this case it has been achieved in three
years, having cost so far about £5m.
Dr David Maizels, a family doctor from Chiselhurst in Kent who had been
treating patients in the “informed consent” trials for the past three
years, said he had never seen anything like it.
“I want to emphasise that this is not a placebo effect. The improvements
are sustained and there are almost no side effects. At times the results
are amazing,” he said.
The trials, the first of which should be completed and analysed by the
spring, will confirm whether there will be new hope for MS sufferers
worldwide.
“Being positive is the key thing,” said Osmond. “It’s not the disease
that beats you, but the lack of hope.”
Original Article can be found here (subscription required)
Note: One of our user's submitted the following info from this website:
"Caprivax. Whilst searching for new anti inflammatory agents we found surprising activity in the serum from certain inoculated goats. The nature of the anti inflammatory component of the serum was thought to be potentially useful in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and a pilot study suggested this may be the case. A formalised trial has now been submitted for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis under Dr David Barnes at the Atkinson Morley's Hospital at Wimbledon."
and the Financial Times had this to say:
"The drug has strong anti-inflammatory properties which might make it effective against MS. Tests on patients have so far produced promising results, with a noticeable improvement in symptoms with no adverse side-effects.
However, the benefits could be the result of the placebo effect. During the current trial, involving 80 patients, half will be given a weekly injection of Caprivax and half will receive a placebo. They will be assessed regularly for changes in muscle stiffness, mobility and vision."
Looks legitimate, folks... stay tuned.
