Ono’s experimental MS drug cuts brain lesions, study shows

[MSUK]

An experimental drug to treat multiple sclerosis developed by Ono Pharmaceutical Co. reduced the number of lesions in the brain, a study to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology showed.

Patients who took the ONO-4641 tablet were found to have as many as 92 percent fewer brain lesions, compared with a group that took a placebo, according to the study released today. Side effects from the once-a-day oral administration of the drug over a 26 week period appeared to be dose-related and included a slower heartbeat, blood pressure changes and liver enzyme elevation.

The findings from the preliminary study move the drug a step closer to expanding the range of treatments for the debilitating condition that affects more than 2 million people worldwide. If approved, patients will have another treatment taken orally, in addition to Novartis AG’s Gilenya, the world’s first pill for MS.

“In light of recent issues in the oral MS drug market, this is welcome news,” Timothy Vollmer, an author of the study from the University of Colorado in Denver and a fellow with the American Academy of Neurology, said in a statement.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1397

[HarryZ]

It would be interesting to know if any of the patients' symptoms improved during the trial. We are also learning that white matter lesions in MS aren't nearly as important as those found in the grey matter, especially in the early phases of the disease.

Harry

[cheerleader]

I suggest they call this new drug, "Oh, NO!!"

This experimental drug, ONO-4641, is an oral sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist, just like FTY720, or fingolimod/Gilenya. And JUST LIKE Gilenya....this drug messes with the heart.

Adverse events of ONO-4641 appeared to be dose related and included cardiovascular events, such as a slower heartbeat, blood pressure changes, and an AV block, which is the impairment of the conduction between the atria and ventricles of the heart. Other adverse events included liver enzyme elevations. In addition, grade four lymphopenia, which is an abnormally low level of lymphocytes in the blood, occurred in four percent of people receiving the 0.15 mg dose of ONO-4641 and in one percent of those receiving the 0.10 mg dose.

"In light of recent issues in the oral MS drug market, this is welcome news," said study author Timothy Vollmer, MD, of the University of Colorado in Denver and a Fellow with the American Academy of Neurology.

Why would Vollmer say this, when ONO-4641 does the same thing as Gilenya? Could it be because he's the head of the ONO-4641 study? One might make assumptions.

Here's the note I wrote up about how oral sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonists affect the heart, and why.

cheer

[numbness23]

just keep poisoning us...dont try to figure out whats going on...just keep the poison train coming...

[HarryZ]

I suggest they call this new drug, "Oh, NO!!"

But Cheer, it reduced white matter lesions by 92% over placebo....and if they can get the same results with Phase III trials, just think of the millions of dollars they can rake in. So what if there is a little collateral damage along the way

Harry