Robin's Multiple Sclerosis Info (and other fun stuff)

A compilation of MS articles mixed in with a few fun things found along the way.

Sunday, December 31, 2006

MBP8298 HOLDS PROMISE FOR PROGRESSIVE MS

MBP8298 HOLDS PROMISE FOR PROGRESSIVE MS

Following the sixth meeting of the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board,(which provides objective, independent safety monitoring of clinical trials)BioMS has received a recommendation to continue its pivotal phase II/IIIclinical trial for MBP8298 for the treatment of secondary progressive MS. This was the sixth of several regularly scheduled reviews by the Data SafetyMonitoring Board. The pivotal phase II/III study is now ongoing at trial sitesacross Canada and Europe. Results of the Phase II and long-term follow-up treatment of progressive MSpatients with MBP8298, which were published in the European Journal ofNeurology, show that MBP8298 safely delayed disease progression for five yearsin progressive MS patients with HLA-DR2 or HLA-DR4 immune response genes. Treatment and follow-up in patients in this DR2 and DR4 responder group - whocomprise up to 75% of MS patients - had a median time to disease progression of78 months as compared to 18 months for patients who received placebo."Our data suggest that we can safely delay progression of MS in an identifiedresponder group of patients for extended periods of time," said Ingrid Catz,co-inventor of the drug and co-author of the Phase II study. "Recognizing thehigh variability of the disease in MS patients, the clinical and mechanisticevidence gathered to date supports the rationale of targeting patients with theHLA-DR2 or HLA-DR4 immune response gene. The identification of this respondergroup will improve efficiency toward the achievement of objectives in futureclinical trials with MBP8298, while the potential for clinical responses inpatients with other HLA haplotypes is further explored."MBP8298 is a synthetic Myelin Basic Protein peptide (MBP) comprised of 17 aminoacids. Administered as an intravenous injection, five minutes or less induration, every six months, the drug is expected to induce immunologicaltolerance specific to the injected antigen."MBP8298 appears to have a mechanism of action somewhat like glatiramer acetate(Copaxone)," explains MSF Medical Advisor Ben Thrower, M.D. "Copaxone wasdesigned to look like myelin basic protein and works by shifting the immunesystem to a less inflammatory state. MBP8298 appears to work in a similarfashion."While these results are positive, they must be confirmed in the ongoing PhaseIII trial. To learn more, visit http://www.biomsmedical.com.

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