New MS drug treatment shows promise....

[fudge stripe cookays]

EAST HANOVER, N.J. - Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., the U.S. unit of Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG, said Thursday that at least three out of four patients given an experimental multiple sclerosis treatment were free of relapses for more than two years.

The company released data from a mid-stage clinical study showing that 77 percent of MS patients given the treatment FTY720 over two years remained free of relapses.

Multiple sclerosis, which affects more than 2.5 million people worldwide, is an incurable disease which causes the body's immune system to destroy the insulation of nerve fibers.

More here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060928/ap_on_he_me/novartis_multiple_sclerosis

I hope this is better than the last magic bullet that ended up being pulled!

[LA lady]

1. At least it's oral!

I am on Avonex, some times the shots are a nuisance.

Lots of folks are going back on Tysabri.

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. That's what I said!

I look like I've been beaten within an inch of my life sometimes with the site reaction I have with Betaseron. One girl at work was even tacky enough to mention it. "DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE BRUISES ALL OVER THE BACKS OF YOUR ARMS??!"

"Yes, Theresa I do. Why don't you yell it a little louder. I don't think they heard you in Moscow."

"ARE YOU OK??!"

"YES!! I HAVE MS! The shots are really fun, and they make me look like this!! Could you mind your own beeswax, please??!!"

It sure would be nice to take a pill for a change.

[independentpiney]

3. Man, I hope this one works out.

I can't do the intravenous ones because of other medical reasons. My nuero wanted to put me on one, can't recall the name, but it required daily (non i-v) shots. When i looked at the possible side effects, headaches and depression-(already have them, thanks) and injection site skin necrosis, i decided the cure looked worse than the ill.

[LA lady]

4. I swear by my Interferon

As I said, I am on Avonex and have done VERY WELL. No relapses and few symptoms anymore. I walk a little drunk and am fatigued but a year ago I was in a wheelchair and couldn't see or hear.

The first few shots I had some flu-like reactions but now I take Advil Liqui-Gels and breeze through.

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. Wow. You ARE doing well.

I'm glad you've bounced back. I know that the drugs help fend this stuff off, but I hadn't heard of anybody being in super bad shape like you were and then stabilizing to the point where you are.

I swear by my Betaseron, but it would be nice to only have one shot a week, or no shots at all!

[Warpy]

5. I'm always thrilled to see things like this

because anything that works for MS is likely to spill over an be a treatment for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Quite a few earlier treatments begun for MS like chemotherapy drugs are now the gold standard for the autoimmune diseases.

I have friends with MS, so I am delighted for them. I just know everything they find for MS turns out to have other uses, as well.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Actually Tysabri Was Put Back Out On The Market

The data that was used to draw the first conclusions about dangerous side effects was found to be severely flawed for lack of intrinsic and genetic causation. Once those were factored, the Tysabri users were found to be no more at risk then the general population.
The Professor

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Actually Tysabri Was Put Back Out On The Market

The data that was used to draw the first conclusions about dangerous side effects was found to be severely flawed for lack of intrinsic and genetic causation. Once those were factored, the Tysabri users were found to be no more at risk then the general population.
The Professor