Tweet
Saw this article on Medscape. This is really great news, although the trial start is still about two years out. 70% effectiveness at five years is pretty crazy good.
FULL ARTICLE: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...c=33693PZ#vp_1
Dr Racke was excited about a study, currently in the planning stages, that will be a follow-up to the recently reported HALT-MS trial. Parallel cohorts of about 100 patients each will be enrolled, in North America and Europe, with relapsing MS and failure on high-efficacy drugs. Patients will be randomly assigned to HSCT (using the BEAM myeloablative regimen) or best available comparator (probably a monoclonal antibody). Nonresponders will be allowed to cross over.
The study will be done in collaboration with the Bone Marrow Clinical Trials Network, which has made this study "their number two priority," according to Dr Racke, who expects the study to kick off in about 2 years.
He predicted that HSCT will be as effective, at least in the right patient group, as the best current treatments. "We are seeing breakthrough disease in only about 30% of patients at 5 years," he noted.
The study will be done in collaboration with the Bone Marrow Clinical Trials Network, which has made this study "their number two priority," according to Dr Racke, who expects the study to kick off in about 2 years.
He predicted that HSCT will be as effective, at least in the right patient group, as the best current treatments. "We are seeing breakthrough disease in only about 30% of patients at 5 years," he noted.