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Oral fumaric acid esters trial results

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:24 am
by dignan
Here's the Pubmed entry for the recently completed BG12 study...I think...



Oral fumaric acid esters for the treatment of active multiple sclerosis: an open-label, baseline-controlled pilot study.

Eur J Neurol. 2006 Jun;13(6):604-10.
Schimrigk S, Brune N, Hellwig K, Lukas C, Bellenberg B, Rieks M, Hoffmann V, Pohlau D, Przuntek H.
Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr Universitat Bochum, Germany.

An exploratory, prospective, open-label study of fumaric acid esters (FAE, Fumaderm(R)) was conducted in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The study consisted of the following four phases: 6-week baseline, 18-week treatment (target dose of 720 mg/day), 4-week washout, and a second 48-week treatment phase (target dose of 360 mg/day). Ten patients with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 2.0-6.0 and at least one gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) lesion on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans participated in the study. Safety was assessed by adverse events (AEs), blood chemistry/hematology, electrocardiogram, and urinalysis. The primary efficacy outcomes were number and volume of Gd+ lesions. Other clinical outcomes included EDSS score, ambulation index (AI), and nine-hole peg test (9-HPT). Effects of FAE on intracellular cytokine profiles, T-cell apoptosis, and soluble adhesion molecules were also assessed.

Three patients withdrew during the first 3 weeks of the study because of side effects, non-compliance, and follow-up loss. The most common AEs were gastrointestinal symptoms and flushing; all AEs were reported as mild and reversible. FAE produced significant reductions from baseline in number (P < 0.05) and volume (P < 0.01) of Gd+ lesions after 18 weeks of treatment; this effect persisted during the second treatment phase at half the target dose after the 4-week washout period. EDSS scores, AI, and 9-HPT remained stable or slightly improved from baseline in all patients. Measures of T-cell function demonstrated alterations in cytokines and circulating tumor necrosis factor. The results of this exploratory study suggest that further studies of FAE in patients with MS are warranted.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/quer ... med_docsum

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:02 am
by CureOrBust
from here http://www.thisisms.com/article270.html, it would seem that the BG-12 was a double blind study, with results out in 30 may, while this one was open label, and specifically on "oral fumeric acid esters" (I dont know what else is in BG-12).
Biogen Idec BG-12 wrote:This Phase II multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study enrolled 257 patients at sites in 10 countries in Europe. Patients were randomized to receive placebo or BG-12 at 120 mg, 360 mg, or 720 mg per day for six months. The patient group treated with 720 mg of BG-12 per day had a 69% reduction in the mean number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions versus placebo as measured monthly from weeks 12 to 24 of the study. The 720 mg dose group also had a 48% reduction in newly enlarging T2-hyperintense lesions. BG-12 therapy was also associated with a trend towards reduction in relapse rate. The patient group treated with 720 mg of BG-12 per day had a 32% reduction in relapse rate compared to placebo, however, the study was not designed to achieve statistical significance for this endpoint.

The results of the 120 mg and 360 mg BG-12-treated groups were not statistically significant versus placebo. Patients were followed for an additional six months as part of a dose-blinded safety extension study.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:56 am
by dignan
Yeah, looks similar, but different. In either case, it's all down to Biogen now as they own BG12 and they bought Fumapharm, which makes Fumaderm, the substance used in the trial results I posted.