WHY NOT PUT IT OUT NOW ON THOSE WHO WIILL RISK IT ?

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SA Time: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 12:30:33 AM
Drug that could stop MS discovered

May 9 2011 at 09:24pm
By Fiona Macrae
Copy of st lab

.

Breakthrough: Scientists are hopeful that they ve found a way of stopping multiple sclerosis in its tracks

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London - A drug that could stop multiple sclerosis in its tracks has been discovered by scientists.

In a major breakthrough in the battle against the devastating disease, researchers have pinpointed the chemical “driving force” behind MS.

Without it, the disease does not develop. And when it is mopped up, symptoms are greatly eased, even in brains already ravaged by the illness.

The results come from experiments on mice but the researchers say they are “quietly optimistic” that taking the same tack will help people with MS. The first trials on patients are pencilled in for later this year.

The debilitating condition affects 2.5 million people around the world, and can cause blindness and paralysis. Current drugs are not suitable for all and there is no cure.

The excitement centres on two studies published recently which show an immune system chemical called GM-CSF to be the “vital piece in the jigsaw” of MS.

In the healthy body, it is part of our defence against disease, attacking viruses and other invaders. But in MS, it triggers a series of reactions that culminate in “scavenger cells” destroying myelin - the fatty protective sheath around nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord - which disrupts the transmission of messages from the brain.

When Swiss researcher Burkhard Becher gave an antibody that counters GM-CSF to mice with an MS-like condition, it greatly improved their health.

Professor Becher, of the University of Zurich, said: “It is relatively easy to stop mice from getting the disease, so we waited until they had the disease and were pretty sick. This is similar to the clinical situation - patients don’t go to the doctor because they think they might get MS, they go when they have MS.”

The drug was also given to mice whose disease was similar to the most common form of MS, in which relapses are followed by periods of remission. Here, mopping up the GM-CSF prevented any further relapses, the journal Nature Immunology reports.

Becher said: “We are extremely hopeful but whether this form of therapy will actually help MS patients remains to be seen. Quiet optimism is the way to go.

“I am not sure this is going to work in patients but, based on the mouse data, I believe GM-CSF is a good thing to target.”

A German firm, which has no connections to the professor, is already trying to use antibodies against the chemical to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It plans to start tests on MS patients at the end of this year.

It usually takes at least seven years from when a drug is first tried out on patients until it hits the market.

A second study, from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, also points the finger at GM-CSF.

Although the chemical was known to play a role in MS, its pivotal contribution was not understood until now.

“This is a very interesting development,” said Dr Doug Brown, of the MS Society in the UK. “It is early days and there is still a lot of work to be done before we fully understand what it means for people with MS, but it is satisfying to see that trials are already planned and we look forward to seeing how these progress.”

Mopping up excess GM-CSF may also help treat other conditions, including diabetes, it is hoped. – Daily Mail

AVONEX
Avonex Custom Report Avonex Overview
Avonex Adverse Events Reported to the FDA Over Time

How are Avonex adverse event reports trending over time?
DrugCite.com

This graph shows volume of adverse events submitted to the FDA by quarter for Avonex, as well as related generic and/or brandname drugs containing the same primary active ingredients. Adverse events are counted if Avonex is flagged as the suspect drug causing the adverse event.
Adverse Event Categories for Avonex

What are commonly reported adverse events by category for Avonex?
Neurological
9402
Infections - Pathogen Unspecified
9288
Demyelinating
8112
Injuries
7742
Musculoskeletal And Connective Tiss...
4652
Bone And Joint Injuries
4263
Administration Site Reactions
3822
Gastrointestinal Signs
3579
Muscle
3023
Joint
2996
Respiratory
2791
Coronary Artery
2674
Mental Impairment
2548
Epidermal And Dermal Conditions
2530
Movement Disorders
2349
Anxiety Disorders
2216
Central Nervous System Vascular
2177
Procedural And Device Related Injur...
2161
Depressed Mood Disorders
2155
Bacterial Infectious
2138
Headaches
2127

This graph shows the top 20 categories of adverse events submitted to the FDA for Avonex, as well as related generic and/or brandname drugs containing the same primary active ingredients, from Q1 2004 to Q4 2010. Adverse events are counted if Avonex is flagged as a suspect drug causing the adverse event.
Most Common Avonex Adverse Events Reported to FDA

What are the most commonly reported Avonex adverse events to FDA?
Influenza Like Illness
4387
Fall
4118
Multiple Sclerosis Relapse
3886
Multiple Sclerosis
3839
Condition Aggravated
2361
Fatigue
2243
Asthenia
2025
Pain
1943
Depression
1942
Pneumonia
1883
Gait Disturbance
1762
Headache
1621
Pyrexia
1599
Death
1531
Urinary Tract Infection
1482
Myocardial Infarction
1421
Pain In Extremity
1315
Hypertension
1297
Convulsion
1295
Hypoaesthesia
1293
Balance Disorder
1217
Memory Impairment
1216
Cerebrovascular Accident
1215
Back Pain
1115
Vomiting
1089
Muscle Spasms
1082
Abasia
1039
Injection Site Pain
1006
Tremor
989
Dehydration
946
Weight Decreased
931
Nausea
926
Dyspnoea
918
Muscular Weakness
898
Dizziness
862
Anxiety
826
Insomnia
817
Arthralgia
800
Chills
780
Injection Site Haemorrhage
774
Mobility Decreased
770
Chest Pain
764
Stress
759
Breast Cancer
733
Intervertebral Disc Protrusion
722
Loss Of Consciousness
717
Breast Cancer Female
710
Thrombosis
689
Oedema Peripheral
666
Diarrhoea
624
Road Traffic Accident
621

This graph shows the top 50 adverse events submitted to the FDA for Avonex, as well as related generic and/or brandname drugs containing the same primary active ingredients, from Q1 2004 to Q4 2010. Adverse events are counted if Avonex is flagged as a suspect drug causing the adverse event.

You must read and share

Big Pharma Behaving Badly (And Making Me Want to Vomit)
SHAME



Pharmaceutical industry giant Merck Serono this week paid $44.3
million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the company paid kickbacks
to MS neurologists for prescribing its blockbuster MS drug, Rebif
(click here). The scam allegedly included hundreds of doctors, and
seems to have been centered on the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis
Clinics (CMSC), a nonprofit corporation that is supposed to help
educate patients. Among its other activities, the CMSC administers the
quarterly NARCOMS surveys, designed to build an ever growing database
on MS and its effects on patients, which are diligently filled out by
thousands of multiple sclerosis patients, including, until now, yours
truly.

The lawsuit was brought by a former Merck Serono employee turned
whistleblower, who was fired by the company after expressing disbelief
that such underhanded and blatant misdeeds were going on with the
company’s full knowledge and participation. The entire lawsuit
document is available online (click here), and to save you the
trouble, the good stuff starts on page 6.

We're not talking nickels and dimes here, but huge chunks of cash, on
the order of $25,000 a pop. The CMSC allegedly funneled over $500,000
to various doctors, effectively operating as a money-laundering outfit
for Merck Serono, and the fact that the company settled for $44
million indicates this disgusting scam went far deeper than what is
apparent in the legal document. Unfortunately, by settling the
lawsuit, Merck Serono has effectively prevented all of the gory
details from coming to light, as would've been the case if the suit
had been brought to trial, and thus become public record. The
settlement covers fraud charges regarding Medicare and Medicaid, but
what of the patients that may have been steered into injecting
themselves with a drug that might not have been their best choice by
scoundrels in white lab coats more intent on stuffing their pockets
than following the Hippocratic oath? Where is their justice?

Coming at a time when trust between neurologists and their patients
has become frayed due to the CCSVI controversy, the revelations
provided by the lawsuit and subsequent settlement are especially
revolting. It is simply outrageous that a drug company can get away
with paying physicians kickbacks for prescribing drugs with what
amounts to a slap on the wrist. The terms of the settlement, $44.3
million might sound like a sizable sum, but considering that sales of
Rebif exceed $1 billion a year, the penalty is miniscule.
Additionally, this is most likely only a quick peek under a very big
rock, and it is just a glimpse at goings-on that would shock and
dismay the legions of desperate patients who are the real victims of
these disgusting, dishonest, and deceitful practices.



The fact that this case was settled, and not brought to court, ensures
that the names of most of the players will not be revealed. I'm
tempted to reveal those named in the lawsuit here, but as a settlement
was reached, and no verdict of guilt ever handed down, they remain
simply accused, not convicted. My personal ethics therefore prevent me
from slandering those who might not be guilty as charged, however
unlikely that may be. That's not to say that you shouldn't click the
link (here it is again), read the lawsuit, and find those names for
yourself. In fact, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so.

Every single doctor and medical professional who received any of these
tainted funds, or participated in distributing them, should be named,
shamed, stripped of their licenses, and thrown in jail. They're a
disgrace, each a pustule on the ass of humanity, and deserve nothing
more than humiliation and degradation. Unfortunately, thanks to the
niceties of a system that too often protects those in positions of
power at the expense of the regular folks who rely on them, the
scoundrels involved will remain anonymous, free to enjoy the fruits of
their despicable actions. Despite our high-minded ideals of justice
for all, far too often there is justice for none.

As for those involved in this medical and legal debacle, and the many
other similar cons we will likely never hear about, may their eyes
fall out. Bastards.

Good read, good news

Zany Science
Scientists find way to stop multiple sclerosis
Press Trust Of India
London, April 25, 2011
First Published: 16:26 IST(25/4/2011)
Last Updated: 16:33 IST(25/4/2011)
Share more...
6 Comments
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In a major breakthrough in the battle against multiple sclerosis (MS), scientists claim to have identified a chemical that triggers the devastating disease and also found a way to stop it in its tracks.

Researchers at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, found that an immune system chemical,
called GM-CSF, is the "driving force" behind the debilitating condition that affects over 2.5 million people worldwide.

MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, or the central nervous system. The condition, which can cause blindness and paralysis, has no cure at present and drugs are not suitable for all.

multiple sclerosisBut the Swiss researchers claimed that an antibody, which they tested on mice with a MS-like condition, was found to be very effective in countering GM-CSF and improved their health, the Daily Mail reported.

Although the experiments were on mice, the researchers said they were "quietly optimistic" that a similar approach would help people with MS. The first trials on patients are planned for later this year.

In the healthy body, the researchers said, GM-CSF is part of the defence against disease, attacking viruses and other invaders. But in MS, it triggers a series of reactions that culminate in "scavenger cells" destroying myelin -- the fatty protective sheath around nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord -- which disrupts the transmission of messages from the brain.

Professor Burk-hard Becher, who led the study, said: "It is relatively easy to stop mice from getting the disease, so we waited until they had the disease and were pretty sick.

"This is similar to the clinical situation -- patients don't go to the doctor because they think they might get MS, they go when they have MS."

The drug was also given to mice whose disease was similar to the most common form of MS, in which relapses are followed by periods of remission. Mopping up the GM-CSF prevented any further relapses, the researchers reported in the journal Nature Immunology.

Prof Becher said: "We are extremely hopeful but whether this form of therapy will actually help MS patients remains to be seen. Quiet optimism is the way to go.

"I am not sure this is going to work in patients but, based on the mouse data, I believe GM-CSF is a good thing to target." Another study on MS, from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, also pointed the finger at GM-CSF.

Although the chemical was known to play a role in MS, its pivotal contribution was not understood until now. Dr Doug Brown, of the MS Society, said: "This is a very interesting development in research for a condition where there are limited treatment options and no cure.

Here we go, watch and make up your mind.

Good Reason to Keep A Natural Medicine illegal, Right (Marijuana)
www.youtube.com
HELP ME END MARIJUANA PROHIBITION BY RATING SHARING THESE VIDEOS LEGALIZE CANNABIS MEDICAL MARIHUANA WEED 420 HIGH OBAMA RON PAUL PIPE BONG JOINT KUSH DRUG WAR SEEDS News VAPORIZER BOWL HASHISH BLUNTS HASH GANJA HEMP legal cops POT PRIVACY CIVIL RIGHTS LAW ACTIVIST HERB smoke HIGHTIMES COLLAPSE MEXI

Gerry Armour
Don't you Dare

Don't you dare assume because I look well
That I feel well. Looks can be
very deceiving. Many days I look
great but I feel terrible.

Don't you dare ask me how I feel unless you
really want to know. You may hear
a lot more than you are prepared
to listen to.

Don't you dare to tell me you know how I feel.
No-one knows how anyone else feels.
Two people with the same disease may
feel totally different.

Don’t you dare tell me
“ It could be worse.”
Yes, it could be
But I don’t need to be reminded.

Don’t you dare to decide what I am capable of doing.
Allow ME to decide what activities I can do.
There may be times I make the wrong
Decision, and if I do I’ll know it soon
enough.

Don’t you dare to be upset that I
cannot ease my problems.It won’t do any
good for any of us to be
miserable.

Don’t you dare to assume that because I
did a certain activity yesterday
that I can do it again today.
MS is ever changing.

Do realise that I am angry and
frustrated with this disease –
NOT WITH YOU.

Gerry Armour

Don't Smoke

Smoking Makes Multiple Sclerosis Worse
ms.about.com
Smoking has been shown to increase risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), but until recently, the impact of smoking on MS disability and progression was unknown. Research now shows that smoking speeds progression from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis to secondary-progressive MS.