Breakthrough in the search for new treatments for MS

If it's on your mind and it has to do with multiple sclerosis in any way, post it here.
User avatar
HarryZ
Family Elder
Posts: 2572
Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 2:00 pm
Location: London, ON, Canada
Contact:

Post by HarryZ »

Some of the comments on here are amazing. I really don't understand how people hold the neuros and "big pharma" together in some sort of conspiracy to make money.
What sort of conspiracy? That's just how the world of MS medicine works. It's been that way for decades. People have made a lot of money out of this process.
First off, neurologists (or any medical doctor for that matter) do not find cures for diseases. They simply apply the best treatment that is available at a given time.
Yep. Whether it works or not. And some of these docs get paid a nice chunk of money by the drug companies to prescribe their medications
As far as development of treatments for MS, this difficult to do when you have no idea what causes it. It is going to take a lot of trial and error, but you have to start somewhere. With each failure, there is knowledge that is gained which pushes forward the science. I guess "big pharma" could have not bothered developing treatments until a cure was found. But what about the people that these drugs have helped?
I won't disagree in general what you are saying here but don't you find it strange that the same line of research (autoimmune system altering drugs) costing billions of dollars are all that the research development people have developed and supported for decades? Big pharma is in this for one reason and one reason only...and that is to make as much money as they can from the MS drugs that they develop. Their marketing and sales costs far outstrip their research output. But that's what they are in business for....not to find a cure for MS or even worry about what causes it.
So here we are, complaining about how neurologists and big pharma have taken advantage of PWMS and we shouldn't believe anything that has been discovered over the last decade of research.
What has been discovered in the last decade as far as MS medications are concerned? Monoclonal antibody treatments which shake up the immune system even more than the CRABs ever did...along with the nastier side effects. But I have to admit the new drugs have contributed big time in one way....they have allowed the companies to who make the CRABs to raise the cost of their drugs dramatically since the new ones cost even more. You would think that a product that has been out for almost 20 years now would start to drop a bit in price!!
For example, HSCT treatment is in phase III trials and is the only treatment that has a highly effective success rate (80%) of halting MS progression that is scientifically reproducible.
And those HSCT trials are double blinded?
Or the amazing advances that have been discovered in regulatory T-cells that provide overwhelming evidence that MS (as well as all other autoimmune diseases) is driven by a defect in the protective role of the immune system against self reactive immune cells.
I guess it's so overwhelming it still can't prove that MS is an autoimmune disease!!
By the way, both of these discoveries could not have been accomplished without EAE and mouse studies.
Oh yeah...I forgot about the poor EAE mouse. Hasn't been one treatment that has worked on MS mouse that has worked in humans!!
So my big question is why has the HSCT treatment not had the same amount of hype as CSVI? It seems to hold a lot of promise yet is completely ignored by most people on this site. Maybe its because it proves that what they have been spewing all along is wrong and they don't want to admit it.
Probably because the number of patients that have had HSCT treatment isn't anywhere near the number of people that have had CCSVI. Sure HSCT may hold promise but what does that have to do with the readers' views on CCSVI or any other possible MS treatment? Absolutely nothing in my opinion.

Harry
User avatar
patientx
Family Elder
Posts: 1072
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:00 pm

Post by patientx »

CVfactor wrote:Some of the comments on here are amazing. I really don't understand how people hold the neuros and "big pharma" together in some sort of conspiracy to make money.

First off, neurologists (or any medical doctor for that matter) do not find cures for diseases. They simply apply the best treatment that is available at a given time.

As far as development of treatments for MS, this difficult to do when you have no idea what causes it. It is going to take a lot of trial and error, but you have to start somewhere. With each failure, there is knowledge that is gained which pushes forward the science. I guess "big pharma" could have not bothered developing treatments until a cure was found. But what about the people that these drugs have helped?

So here we are, complaining about how neurologists and big pharma have
taken advantage of PWMS and we shouldn't believe anything that has been discovered over the last decade of research.

For example, HSCT treatment is in phase III trials and is the only treatment that has a highly effective success rate (80%) of halting MS progression that is scientifically reproducible.

Or the amazing advances that have been discovered in regulatory T-cells that provide overwhelming evidence that MS (as well as all other autoimmune diseases) is driven by a defect in the protective role of the immune system against self reactive immune cells.

By the way, both of these discoveries could not have been accomplished without EAE and mouse studies.

So my big question is why has the HSCT treatment not had the same amount of hype as CSVI? It seems to hold a lot of promise yet is completely ignored by most people on this site. Maybe its because it proves that what they have been spewing all along is wrong and they don't want to admit it.
Very good points, CV.
User avatar
CVfactor
Family Elder
Posts: 247
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:00 pm

Post by CVfactor »

Harry,

You remind me of people I sometimes run into who believe that we never landed a man on the moon.

And on that note, how can I be sure that the moon isn't made out of cheese? Where is the proof? I have never tasted the moon so I am going to believe it is made of cheddar until someone gives me a piece and proves otherwise. But then again how can I be sure if this piece of the moon is real?
User avatar
HarryZ
Family Elder
Posts: 2572
Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 2:00 pm
Location: London, ON, Canada
Contact:

Post by HarryZ »

CVfactor wrote:Harry,

You remind me of people I sometimes run into who believe that we never landed a man on the moon.

And on that note, how can I be sure that the moon isn't made out of cheese? Where is the proof? I have never tasted the moon so I am going to believe it is made of cheddar until someone gives me a piece and proves otherwise. But then again how can I be sure if this piece of the moon is real?
And you remind me of the people that Bertrand Russell refers to in his famous quote:

"The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible."
User avatar
NHE
Volunteer Moderator
Posts: 6221
Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2004 3:00 pm
Contact:

Re: Government denies secret moon cheese mining operation

Post by NHE »

CVfactor wrote:And on that note, how can I be sure that the moon isn't made out of cheese? Where is the proof? I have never tasted the moon so I am going to believe it is made of cheddar until someone gives me a piece and proves otherwise. But then again how can I be sure if this piece of the moon is real?
What's this about cheddar? Everyone knows it's Wensleydale :!:


Image


Sorry, I just couldn't resist...

NHE
Last edited by NHE on Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
CVfactor
Family Elder
Posts: 247
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:00 pm

Re: Government denies secret moon cheese mining operation

Post by CVfactor »

NHE wrote:What's this about cheddar? Everyone knows it's Wensleydale :!:
This is exactly what the neuros and big pharma want you to think!
User avatar
Chris55
Family Elder
Posts: 302
Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 2:00 pm

Post by Chris55 »

Hey Moom..understand ur comment re not sharing ur plans 4 trying something new. my daughter tried a new non-traditional route 5 years ago (natural supplements). results have been amazing! (her ms specialist took her off of all ms meds & she has never returned to them.) as her mom..i was SO EXCITED! couldnt wait to post on my fav MS site..thisisms. Well! i was attacked on every side..accused of being a charlaton...of having a vested monetary interest in the company providing supplements, etc etc etc. it was amazing how vile and evil the comments were! all i was trying 2 do was share some wonderful news for all of u who suffer so much on this site. as a mother, i also suffer..i would give my life for my beautiful daughter to not have this evil disease! she recently had her first child..she is not only surviving but thriving!

I wish u the very best in ur nu endeavor. DONT EVER STOP SEARCHING & DONT EVER GIVE UP! My prayers 2 u and all on this site! (I apologize for all the abbreviations but i text alot..LOL)
User avatar
Moom9335
Family Member
Posts: 79
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2009 3:00 pm
Location: Michigan
Contact:

breakthrough

Post by Moom9335 »

Chris55,
thanks. We are on the same page. Good luck to your daughter.
User avatar
HarryZ
Family Elder
Posts: 2572
Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 2:00 pm
Location: London, ON, Canada
Contact:

Post by HarryZ »

It was amazing how vile and evil the comments were! all i was trying 2 do was share some wonderful news for all of u who suffer so much on this site.
Chris,

I've participated in a number of MS forums over the years and have seen quite a bit when it comes to how people can respond in various threads. In general I have found that the MS patients (with their relatives) who have used the alternative medicines for treating their MS, are far more tolerant to other people's opinions. Those who align themselves stringently with the established scientific MS community are more likely to be the ones who have little or no tolerance to those who try something different and unproven and are apt to "attack" you.

Of course, there are always exceptions to this but this has been my experience.

Harry
User avatar
Chris55
Family Elder
Posts: 302
Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 2:00 pm

Post by Chris55 »

HarryZ..u could b right. i have always felt that people feel like "if i have a serious ailment, i must need expensive, serious medication--from a medical doctor". and i absolutely understand that reasoning. i have always been a strong advocate of the medical community. politics aside. they truly perform miracles! its when they truly "dont know" that i have no problem educatung myself. i did that with MS and a medical problem i had/have that the medical community had no help for. I was ultimately successful n finding something that worked for me..and continues 2 work 40 years later. In searching MS, i quickly realized they really DO NOT know what causes it! they made a choice..autoimmune..and focused the research in that area. so far, unsuccessfully. I believe in trying ANYTHING as long as it does no harm and does not require one to mortgage his/her home or soul! what is there to lose in trying..i know, hope is difficult 2 maintain n the face of failure but i have always been a fighter and dont know how 2 give up..lol! thanks 4 ur comments..really appreciated!
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “General Discussion”