Had to share this with you guys (campath successes)

[AshNight]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp9r4...embedded#at=58

campath is in phase 3 clinical trials, my gramps called me about this from the UK, theyre workin on the trials in Cambridge. Visited a few UK forums and the MSers there had wonderful results with this. Clinical trials compared it to rebif and showed that it dramatically reduces relapses and disease progression as compared to rebif. Also it shows that it improves disability in many patients. Watch the video, and I hope this comes out sooooon. This only has an impact in early relapsing remitting stages though

[AshNight]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BdOKj5Tn8w

[Stella]

Hi Ash,

thanks for the information. After seeing that last video, I really hope it does come out soon. This is very exciting news. From what I gather, it will come out in the UK first before US? Are you in the US? Hope you are well.

Stella

[AshNight]

Hi Ash,

thanks for the information. After seeing that last video, I really hope it does come out soon. This is very exciting news. From what I gather, it will come out in the UK first before US? Are you in the US? Hope you are well.

Stella

Im in the US but have relatives in the UK. Right now in the UK campath is given off label to MS patients, much like how LDN is given off label to ms patients. Campath i believe is out in the UK during the summer and possibly early 2012 in the US

[Stella]

Im in the US but have relatives in the UK. Right now in the UK campath is given off label to MS patients, much like how LDN is given off label to ms patients. Campath i believe is out in the UK during the summer and possibly early 2012 in the US

Hi Ash,

What do you mean by off label? Does that mean generic? I read somewhere that it will be available in UK mid year which is probably summer this year. I will let you know tomorrow when I go to the specialist as I will ask for it. I know you said you were doing alternative medicine but is Campath the only DMD you are willing to try that is not alternative?

[AshNight]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhLbvVZovco

[AshNight]

Hi Ash,

What do you mean by off label? Does that mean generic? I read somewhere that it will be available in UK mid year which is probably summer this year. I will let you know tomorrow when I go to the specialist as I will ask for it. I know you said you were doing alternative medicine but is Campath the only DMD you are willing to try that is not alternative?

Hey Stella,
By off label I mean that the medicine isnt intended or prescribed for multiple sclerosis, but some doctors out of good will, will prescribe it for MS patients. When campath becomes available in the UK or in the US thats the only medication im willing to try, the interferons dont really do much imo.

[AshNight]

Currently campath is used to treat cancer patients

[ActiveMSers]

Here's the latest news on campath for multiple sclerosis. As soon as Phase III trials are done (read about my almost participation) it is being fast-tracked by the FDA. There are some risks, but that's the case with every MS drug. No doubt alemtuzumab/campath looks potent. - Dave


Clin Immunol. 2011 Apr 15. [Epub ahead of print]

Immune mechanisms of new therapeutic strategies in multiple sclerosis-A focus on alemtuzumab.

Klotz L, Meuth SG, Wiendl H.

Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD52, a broadly expressed cell surface molecule on immune cells. Application results in a rapid and long-lasting removal of lymphocyte populations from the circulation.

Alemtuzumab-treatment of MS patients with relapsing-remitting forms of the disease significantly reduced the risk of relapse and accumulation of disability compared to interferon β-1a treatment in a phase II trial. Interestingly, further analysis together with parallel experimental studies suggested that alemtuzumab not only reduces disease activity due to its immune cell-depleting effect, but also confers neuroprotective effects, presumably by inducing production of neurotrophic factors in autoreactive T cells. However, alemtuzumab-treated MS patients experienced increased rates of novel autoimmunity and a slight increase in infections, demonstrating that alemtuzumab-mediated skewing of the immune cell compartment has a broad influence on immune functions. This review discusses the current concepts about the underlying mechanisms causing these altered immune responses in alemtuzumab-treated MS patients.


Alemtuzumab Continues to Decrease Progression of MS at 4 Years: Presented at AAN

By Louise Gagnon

TORONTO -- April 17, 2010 -- Patients treated with alemtuzumab for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) experienced a decrease in disease progression at 4-year follow-up, according to research presented here at a poster session at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN).

Patients in this extension study had participated in a previous study, CAMMS223 trial, where alemtuzumab, administered intravenously, was compared to subcutaneous injection of interferon (IFN) beta-1a in a 3-year, phase 2 trial. Data from that trial demonstrated that alemtuzumab was more effective in suppressing relapses and warding off disability in patients with MS.

At year 4 of this extension trial, investigators observed that 77% of patients who had been treated with either 2 or 3 brief annual cycles of a 12- or 24-mg/day dose of intravenous alemtuzumab remained relapse-free, while only 49% of those who had been treated 3 times weekly with 44 mcg of subcutaneous IFN beta-1a were free of relapses, a difference that was statistically significant.

In addition, 91% of alemtuzumab patients were free of risk for sustained accumulation of disability compared with 68% of IFN beta-1a patients (P < .001). A total of 71% of alemtuzumab patients were deemed clinically disease-free versus 35% of patients on IFN beta-1a at year 4 (P < .001).

"In all measures, [the 2 doses of alemtuzumab] appeared to be equivalent," noted investigator Alasdair Coles, PhD, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, speaking here at a poster presentation on April 14.

"These are people who are early on in the course of their disease, when they are just losing their ability to perform in their profession, and we are restoring them to where they were," explained Dr. Coles. "We are able to reverse the progression of the disease."

The most common adverse event observed with alemtuzumab was either underactive or overactive thyroid gland, which Dr. Coles said could be detected early on, in advance of symptoms appearing. "It's an inconvenience to our patients, but we can start them on oral therapies to treat the thyroid gland," said Dr. Coles. "None of them, however, complained that they would rather have a normal thyroid and not have alemtuzumab."

Another adverse event that Dr. Coles described as "disconcerting" was the 2.8% of patients (6 out of 216) receiving alemtuzumab patients who developed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

"This bleeding problem [ITP] is treatable with steroids if we pick it up," said Dr. Coles, noting one patient died of a brain haemorrhage in the original study. "It's all about monitoring and picking it up." Patients would get a monthly blood test to check their platelet counts, explained Dr. Coles. "If the counts start to go down, we can initiate therapy in the form of steroids," said Dr. Coles.

Dr. Coles described alemtuzumab as a "highly effective, intensive treatment that needs a lot of monitoring."

Funding for this study was provided by Genzyme.


[Presentation title: Alemtuzumab Reduces Disease Progression in RRMS: Long-Term Results of the CAMMS223 Trial. Abstract P04.213]

[Marinadca]

Thanks for the articles Dave! The most interesting quote to me was this:

"Dr. Coles. "We are able to reverse the progression of the disease.""

I don't see a lot of things that are claiming to reverse anything - very interesting!

[AshNight]

Another campath success

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7684824.stm

[AshNight]

I went to Alabama with my banjo on mah knee . . .

[shucks]

Yeah, personal info would be great.

Thanks