Archive: August, 2009

• Hot off the ECTRIMS Press: Peptimmune Completes Ph 1b Study of PI-2301

  Peptimmune Completes Phase Ib Study of PI-2301 in Multiple Sclerosis Patients, and Presentation at ECTRIMS 2009 CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ — Peptimmune, Inc., a privately held [...]

  • Caroline says: Peptimmune, a biotech company in Cambridge, MA will present the results from its Phase 1b study of PI-2301 in patients with secondary progressive MS. The studies thus far have been small and this drug is very far away from hitting pharmacy shelves near you, but the results look hopeful so far.
     
  
  

  • Human Protein May Hold Clues to New MS Treatment

    Research into Multiple Sclerosis Raises Hopes of New Treatment Scientists at the University of Bristol in the West of England have discovered that a protein present in [...]

    • Caroline says: UK scientists have found that the human protein galanin, which protects the body's nerve systems, could be a potential MS treatment. I looked up galanin on Wikipedia and did not have anywhere near the scientific prowess required to understand the function of galanin (certainly not enough to try and explain it), but I have posted a link to the Wikipedia definition in the article above if anyone who is smarter than me would like to see it and learn more.
       
    
    

    • MS Patients Who Smoke Show More Brain Atrophy/Lesions Than MS Nonsmokers

      ScienceDaily (Aug. 18, 2009) — Persons with multiple sclerosis who smoked for a little as six months during their lifetime had more destruction of brain tissue and [...]

      • Caroline says: Well, this seals the deal. This is my third post on cigarette smoking and MS in the last few months and I think this post is the most conclusive of all that smoking cigarettes DEFINITELY worsens MS. I have transformed from a casual smoker to a non-smoker because of data like this (and also, I suppose, because lung cancer in addition to MS would REALLY suck). But, in all honesty, it's HARD to quit smoking! I think MS patients deserve to have their vices and enjoy them...do they still make candy cigarettes?
         
      
      

      • New formulation beta 1b Wins FDA Approval

        Novartis AG won U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to sell its Extavia multiple sclerosis treatment, its brand of Bayer AG’s Betaseron. Extavia, a form of interferon [...]

        • Caroline says: The second injectable beta interferon 1b has been FDA approved. Novartis' Extavia is approved for early MS and RRMS (same as Betaseron). Novartis is looking to expand/create their MS franchise (fingolimod will be filed later this year) with Extavia.
           
        • Related Links:
        • http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=atoWL4lE1HUY…
        
        

        • Researchers Successfully Reverse MS In Animals

          Article Date: 12 Aug 2009 – 1:00 PDT A new experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) completely reverses the devastating autoimmune disorder in mice, and might work [...]

          • Caroline says: This is a nice idea, and it would be great if it worked in practice in humans as well...the article says in order to work it needs to be done in the early stages of MS.
             
          
          

          • Elan and Biogen are in a Fight

            Elan starts legal action in drug row with Biogen By Andrew Jack Published: August 6 2009 22:34 | Last updated: August 6 2009 22:34 Elan has launched [...]

            • Caroline says: It's all about the Benjamins in this breach-of-contract nonsense between Elan and Biogen over Tysabri...sheesh.
               
            
            

            • Facet Biotech Announces Daclizumab MS Program to Advance

              Aug 03, 2009 16:30 ET REDWOOD CITY, CA–(Marketwire – August 3, 2009) – Facet Biotech Corporation today announced its decision, along with its partner Biogen Idec, to [...]

              • Caroline says: Daclizumab will begin Phase 3 trials in early-mid 2010. This drug is a humanized monoclonal antibody and is currently marketed as Zenapax for acute organ rejection in renal transplants.