LAST EDITED ON Jun-17-13 AT 08:33 AM (EDT)
 
Phase 1 trial safely resets patients’ immune systems, reduces attack on myelin protein

It's happening in Europe (Switzerland); official approval for Phase II (efficacy trials) has already been given there, and the scientists are in the process of fundraising. The gist of it is that they draw out a bunch of white blood cells from the patient and process them such that, once they're reintroduced intravenously, the immune system starts recognizing myelin as harmless and stops attacking it.

For those who aren't familiar with it, MS is an autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system attacks the protective layer (myelin) around some rather important nerves in the spinal cord, brain, and eyes. I don't think anyone's figured out just why this starts happening in the first place, but if this holds up in Phase II and Phase III, it's huge. The article linked above mentions that a similar process (using nanoparticles instead of white blood cells) was developed and researched at Northwestern (nanoparticles could be significantly cheaper than reprocessed white blood cells for this), and that these types of treatments could be used to treat other autoimmune disorders (e.g. lupus) and allergies (such as shockingly lethal peanut allergies).

Of course, it'll be some time before these treatments become approved for clinical use anywhere, but ... well, if the Phase II trials get funded, I hear Switzerland's a nice place to visit.

"Mathematics brought rigor to economics. Unfortunately, it also brought mortis."
- Kenneth Boulding

Well done Switzerland!

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"Yeah, I'm definitely going to hell/But I'll have all the best stories to tell" -- Frank Turner, The Ballad of Me and My Friends

>It's happening in Europe (Switzerland); official approval for Phase II
>(efficacy trials) has already been given there, and the scientists are
>in the process of fundraising.

And writing the first drafts of their Nobel addresses, one would guess, in case it works. As you note, this could be of enormous importance not only to MS patients, but to people dealing with the whole constellation of disorders that have the same mysterious mechanism of action. Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis - lots of stuff that, frankly, I'll take my MS diagnosis over having.

OK! I feel a little better after my little thermodynamics rant elsewhere. I mean, the universe is still a pointless trap specifically designed for long-term futility, but in the short term, we might as well keep pushing that rock uphill, am I right? :)

--G.
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Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

My maternal grandmother died of MS at a very young age. Mom still has stories about nursing her through it.

I, myself, have severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

I'm all for good treatment for autoimmune disorders. It's damn well worth a Nobel or three.

>I mean, the universe is still a pointless trap specifically designed for long-term futility, but in the short term, we might as well keep pushing that rock uphill, am I right? :)

Fuck YEAH, brother! You ain't dead yet, dude. Keep your head up.

Demyelination has had a rather severe impact on my family, as it was a direct contributor to my stepfather's death. I'm pulling for you, chief.

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< THIS SPACE FOR RENT >

This is great news. Ever since I found out about MS in the first place, I've wondered why it was so under-researched... Of course, I found out about it because the local chapter of the National MS Society was holing a fund-raising bike ride that I've participated in every year since (originally just for the biking, but now for both biking and disease awareness).

<shameless plug>

The MS Society helps fund research like this, but also gives direct help to those who suffer from MS. If you'd like to help support the MS Society, I'm riding this again this year 150 miles from Boston to P-town at the end of June and am still a bit short of my fundraising goal. This year, I'm offering a special incentive: donation of 10$ or more will receive a shirtless picture of me, my bike and the P-town Tower, donations of 25$ or more will receive a picture of me wearing a shirt (much more preferable, I assure you) and my bike in front of the tower. Higher donations will get more pictures at more landmarks, including (but not limited to) the windmill at Mass Maritime Academy, the South Shore Music Circus, and the ocean! How can you beat that?!

Anyway, http://chaingang.zikzak.us has more details on the MS Society, the ride and how to donate. every little bit helps!

</shameless plug>
-Z

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Remember kids: guns make you stupid, duct tape makes you smart.