News
Open Door - November 2008 page 4
- Alemtuzumab (Campath) trial results
- Tysabri labelling altered
- CUPID completes recruitment
- Paralympics success
Alemtuzumab (Campath) trial results
The MS Trust welcomes the publication in October of trial results for alemtuzumab (Campath).
The results suggest alemtuzumab will be a more powerful drug than anything currently available. Compared with beta interferon-1a (Rebif), alemtuzumab reduced the number of relapses by 74% and reduced the risk of sustained disability by 71%. However, there are risks and almost a quarter of participants required further treatment for side effects.
Alemtuzumab is still an experimental treatment for relapsing remitting MS and a licensed version available for prescription is at least three to five years away following the completion of the larger trials that are currently getting underway.
Tysabri labelling altered
The labelling of natalizumab (Tysabri) has been revised following two reports of the brain infection, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
Two previous cases were reported during clinical trials of natalizumab used in combination with beta interferon 1a (Avonex). This led to prescription guidelines that prevent its use with other immune suppressing drugs.
The two recent cases of PML, the first since the trials, involved people who had been using natalizumab as a stand-alone treatment for more than a year.
The new wording agreed with the FDA, the American drug regulator, notes that PML incidence "appears to be lower" with stand-alone treatment. However, "the number of cases is too few and the number of patients treated too small to reliably conclude that the true risk of PML is lower in patients treated with Tysabri alone."
Natalizumab has also been included in a new FDA list of prescription drugs under investigation for potential safety problems. This follows two cases of skin melanomas (cancer). In both instances the individuals had existing moles that became malignant after treatment. Whether this was due to natalizumab is not yet proven.
The FDA list echoes the Yellow Card scheme in the UK where users of drugs are requested to report adverse events to the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency).
CUPID completes recruitment
Research looking at whether cannabis based medicine can help protect nerves from further damage has finished recruiting participants. CUPID (Cannabinoid Use in Progressive Inflammatory brain Disease) involves 493 people with progressive MS across the UK. Results are expected in 2012.
The MS Trust is funding the MRI scans within the study.
Paralympics success
This summer's Paralympic games were a great success for Team GB and for athletes with MS.
Anne Dunham with her medals
In the equestrian para-dressage events, Anne Dunham won gold in the Individual Championship Test in her class and along with Simon Laurens was part of the four rider team that won the gold in the Team test. Both riders picked up a further silver each in their classes of the Individual Freestyle Test.
In the swimming pool, Stephanie Millward reached the final in three of her four events with her best result being fourth in the 100m Backstroke.
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Disclaimer
Open Door articles are reproduced as published. They are not updated to take account of subsequent developments. Use appropriate caution in acting on the information in any article.