Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles

Almirall Announces Filing Sativex(R) - For Treatment Of Spasticity In Multiple Sclerosis - Regulatory Submission
Almirall announces today that the file for a regulatory submission for Sativex® for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis has been submitted in UK and Spain under the European decentralised procedure. The UK regulatory authority, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), is acting as Reference Member State and has validated the application.

Data Demonstrates Long-Term Reduction In Seizure Frequency With Novel Once Daily Anti-Epileptic Zebinix(R)
Data presented yesterday, in Budapest, demonstrated that add-on treatment with the novel, once-daily anti-epileptic Zebinix®* (eslicarbazepine acetate; ESL) resulted in a marked and sustained decrease in seizure frequency over the long-term. Results from the one-year extension of a pivotal Eslicarbazepine Acetate phase III study were presented at the International Congress for Epilepsy in Budapest, Hungary. Patients not controlled with existing anti-epileptic drugs who were given eslicarbazepine acetate as an add-on treatment experienced a mean reduction in seizure frequency of more than 61% (95%CI: -68.2%, -55.5%). Nearly 65% of patients were classified as responders, meaning that they had achieved at least a 50% reduction in seizure frequency with Zebinix® treatment1.
News of the day
MPS Clarifies Indemnity Arrangements For GPs During A Pandemic Flu Outbreak
Medical Protection Society (MPS) GP members, who are expected to work outside of their normal duties during a pandemic flu, should feel confident that they can turn to the MPS for assistance, in the event they are subject to a clinical negligence claim or other medicolegal matter such as a complaint.
Mental Health

Figuring Out Who Will Benefit Most From A New Therapy For Multiple Sclerosis

In a recent phase II clinical trial, the drug alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) was found to be a highly effective treatment for individuals with early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. However, a substantial proportion of the patients treated (30%) went on to develop another autoimmune disease, mostly thyroid autoimmunity. Now, Joanne Jones and colleagues, at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, have determined that individuals with higher levels of the soluble factor IL-21 in their blood prior to alemtuzumab treatment were those that went on to develop an autoimmune disease. Further analysis identified a mechanism by which IL-21 contributes to the development of autoimmunity and determined that in some patients the higher levels of IL-21 were genetically predetermined. The authors therefore suggest that measuring levels of IL-21 in the blood of individuals with early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis might identify those that would be at greatest risk of developing autoimmunity if treated with alemtuzumab. Terri Laufer and Gregory Wu, at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, further discuss the importance of this in an accompanying commentary, noting that determining one reason why some patients succumb to autoimmune disease after alemtuzumab treatment, while others do not, is likely to increase enthusiasm for this new therapeutic. TITLE: IL-21 drives secondary autoimmunity in patients with multiple sclerosis, following therapeutic lymphocyte depletion with alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) AUTHOR CONTACT: Joanne L. Jones University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke"s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom. View the PDF of this article at: https://www.the-jci.org/article.php?id=37878 ACCOMPANYING COMMENTARY TITLE: Treating MS: getting to know the two birds in the bush AUTHOR CONTACT: Terri M. Laufer University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. View the PDF of this article at: https://www.the-jci.org/article.php?id=39963 Karen Honey Journal of Clinical Investigation


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009