Health News - Drug company recruits patients

Published: 16 December, 2010
by TOM FOOT

New treatment for the cause of MS under trial

A DRUG that could for the first time treat the cause of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is being trialled at the Royal Free Hospital and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN).

Experts say the treatment could transform the lives of thousands across the country and are looking for MS patients who have suffered relapses in the past 10 years.

The drug – called ATX-MS-1467 – has not been approved for clinical trials by the Government’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, but can be tested in research studies such as this one.

Marie Braisher, clinical lead at the NHNN, said: “ATX-MS-1467 is a new drug under development as a potential new treatment for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis [RMS]. We are currently seeking 18 to 55-year-old male and female patients with RMS.”

Multiple sclerosis is one of the most common diseases affecting the nervous system mainly in young adults. Many drugs treat the symptoms of MS but this drug aims to target the underlying causes.

It was designed to stop the body attacking the protective “sheath” surrounding nerve cells, allowing the immune system to continue fighting infections and viruses as normal.

More than 10,000 people in London suffer with the chronic condition which can leave people disabled. 

Biotech company Apitope has developed the drug and is currently recruiting 40 patients.

To qualify, patients must meet certain criteria including a diagnosis of relapsing multiple sclerosis in the past 10 years.

They must also have experienced one relapse episode in the past 12 months or two within the past 24 months and not be on disease modifying treatment.

For more information contact Marie Braisher at m.braisher@ion.ucl.ac.uk