-Scientists developed the first blood test that reveals whether people with neurological problems, such as tingling or blurred vision, will soon develop multiple sclerosis. An experimental drug called Antegren was also shown to cut the number of relapses from the disease in half.

Genzyme Corporation announced today that physicians have treated the first participants in a Phase 1 clinical trial to test the safety of Genz-29155, a small molecule developed by Genzyme for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

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Tularik Inc. today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 efficacy and safety study with T487 for the treatment of patients with psoriasis. T487 is an orally-administered therapy that has a novel mechanism of action and is expected to reduce inflammation in conditions such as psoriasis.

The researchers at New York University hope it will improve both diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

The technique measures the amount of a key chemical that is found in lower quantity than usual in the brain cells of MS patients.

Mike O'Donovan, chief executive of the MS Society, said: "This is an encouraging addition to the growing range of magnetic resonance measuring techniques which are helping to develop and monitor new treatments for this dreadful disease."

GW Pharmaceuticals added 19p to 177 1/2p after broker Evolution Beeson Gregory repeated 'buy' advice, and told clients that recent falls had been overdone.

It expects regulatory approval early next year for Sativex, GW's treatment for multiple sclerosis, which it saw boosting shares by up to 50%.

(source)

Which is an interesting contrast to the last news we heard about Sativex from the company itself on November 28, 2003:

"GW Pharmaceuticals have warned investors that their new drug Sativex may yet have to wait until next autumn for approval from the government's medicines regulator. The news is a blow not only to GW but also to Multiple Sclerosis sufferers who have long been campaigning to be allowed to use a cannabis drug to relieve their symptoms. Trial data has shown that Sativex is an effective treatment for bladder problems and muscle stiffness but GW has also applied for approval for the drug to treat neuropathic pain. It is this issue where the drug's approval has stumbled. Neuropathic pain, pain caused by a diseased or damaged nervous system, is widely viewed as impossible to treat so such an indication would be a massive breakthrough for GW. Unfortunately the MHRA are likely to ask for more trials next year before they give such a groundbreaking approval.

A spokesman for GW said "The process is continuing as expected. There is a month to go and we are confident of getting approval. We have always said the timing was going to be in the hands of the regulator"."

(source)

When the Body Attacks Itself

Autoimmunity: Rates of immune disorders like Crohn’s and MS more than doubled in 40 years

"The immune system is a thing of beauty—subtle enough to distinguish dangerous invaders like viruses from benign interlopers such as food; clever enough to recognize when the body’s supposedly friendly cells turn cancerous and should be eliminated. But the immune system can also go seriously awry. When it begins mauling healthy tissues, the result can be any one of 80 autoimmune diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. “It’s the price we pay for having such a dynamic, finely balanced system,” says immunobiologist Jeffrey Bluestone, director of the Immune Tolerance Network at the University of California, San Francisco."

United Kingdom Government watchdog breaks new ground by giving cautious endorsement of some complementary medicines in treating multiple sclerosis

The role of complementary therapies such as fish oils, reflexology and t'ai chi in treating disease are recognised for the first time in official NHS guidance published today.

"The company also plans to use RTP to manufacture Antegren, a treatment of multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease that is in Phase III trials - the final approval stage. Trial batches are being run at RTP, and commercial production could begin in mid-2006, says Brockelman."

Amy Brockelman, the person quoted, is a spokeswoman for Biogen Idec

Understanding the signals to turn on specific genes in the brain with proteins might enable the modulation of an immune attack to the brain like that of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), according to a study presented here November 8th at the Society for Neuroscience 33rd Annual Meeting.

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