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Monoclonal antibody daclizumab (Zenapax) cuts MRI lesions in MS



Treatment with the monoclonal antibody daclizumab (Zenapax) resulted in significant decreases in contrast-enhancing lesions on MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a small, open-label study found.

After 54 weeks of treatment, the number of new contrast-enhancing lesions decreased from a pretreatment median of 2.042 to 0.250, which represented an 87.6% reduction (P<0.001), according to Bibiana Bielekova, MD, of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues.

The total volume of these lesions also fell, from 0.328 mm2 to 0.034 mm2, which was an inhibition of 89.7% (P<0.001), the researchers reported in the November 22 issue of Neurology.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1502

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Interesting study but...

1. This was an open label study involving only 16 patients. Anybody else using only 16 patients in a trial is usually dismissed.

2. We know that lesion count on MRIs has little if any correlation with MS symptoms.

3. There wasn't any mention if the patients actually felt any better.

3. Biogen is involved!

4. Dr. Bielekova received patent royalty payments from NIH for patents related to the use of daclizumab and other CD25-blocking agents for the treatment of MS.

Why do I think this drug by Biogen has more to do with only bu$ine$$ as opposed to the health of MS patients.

Sure hope I'm wrong and this drug turns out to be beneficial for MS patients!

Harry

I read the study first, and did not see your post Harry, but I too was looking for "improvement reports", eg EDSS. Which they do mention. HOWEVER when i was reading it, I was supprised by the section below, where they provide values and confidence stats on each of these measures, but then chose to give their "opinion" on the last.
I was really suprised as it sounded like they were dancing around the issue.

But then it became clear by the statements on conflicts of interest.
I think tests on anti wrinkle creams are usually more independent than this... But if some of its true, its still something to watch, I just wont be hanging onto too much.

Cure,

Your comments are exactly why I view these drug study reports with such caution and especially when a company like Biogen is behind it. They are notorious for not being trusted for their data in the medical field when it comes to MS. People have to realize that the Biogen's of the world are not interested in the health of the nation but only in developing and selling long term use drugs for very high prices. They are a business and the bottom line is what drives them.

If anybody else were to do an open label drug study on only 16 patients, Biogen would be the first to trash such a report stating the results for such a trial would be meaningless for a disease like MS which is so unpredictable.

And add the fact that these docs have a big financial interest in something like daclizumab...well, draw your own conclusions.

Harry