This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

I have posted before on Rituximab which is being trialled in PP, SP and RR MS. The FDA has just approved Rituximab for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rituximab targets the B cells which are now thought to be involved in MS. If the trials for MS do prove promising then I imagine approval might be speedier as it has been approved for eight years for cancer and now for RA.

http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?j477773853&w=464753

Ian

PS on my recent thread on the abx regime, one poster referred to me as 'promoting' Rituximab. I have no financial interest in any drugs company. I, like Dignan, keep my eyes open for drugs in the pipeline. Rituximab caught my eye as press reports said that some patients had seen benefits. One of the neuros I am in contact with thinks it is very promising. I look forward to seeing some of the trial results - but it could turn out to be another over-hyped therapy.

Ian

I hope this drug works. It will fill the coffers of the pharmaceuticals so I expect it will be fast-tracked. It's scary that cancer drugs are possible solutions for MS'ers.

What upsets me most is that where is the incentive to find a cure when there is so much money in long-term therapy?

J.

Some PPMSers on another board are involved in the Rituxan PPMS study, and report that it has halted their progression. Only anecdotal, but encouraging.

marcstck,

Thanks for this post. Trials for PPMS are at Phase III. The neuro who told me that Rituximab was very promising is very well informed so I take some assurance from his comments. There are bound to be some bumps along the way and it probably won't work for everyone, but PP and SP patients are very badly served at the moment. Stopping progression of any form of MS must be the priority - people can build on stability and then, sometime in the future, the scientists can work out how to repair damage done. Fingers crossed for this treatment.

Ian

Hi Bromley, if you are still there.

Unfortunately, you seem to have misinterpreted me. No-one suggested that you had a financial interest in Rituxan........that would be dumb.

By referring to Rituxan as a treatment you have promoted, I meant that you seem to be supporting or favouring this treatment, something which caught my attention because of my own research.

As I said previously, I have no problem with your strongly investigative approach to treatments. People like you can help to sharpen our thinking about the use and/or 'promotion' of a particular treatment or regimen.

However, what I was suggesting in my post under the thread, 'Fact or Fiction' was that for your views to have greater traction, perhaps you might think about going in as hard and tough on other treatments/products etc as you did in that instance on abx.

Take care,
Phil.