whatever happened to NT-3

[Guest guest]

Dear ers,

This is an update for those who have followed the groundbreaking NT-3

research on CMT since the study began (see post #24224 in our archives

October 26, 2003) and/or this story

http://www.cmtworld.org/epublisher/publish/article_0060.php

Regeneron (in the U.S.) was the trial supplier and made the packaging

(very expensive), but Aventis (a French Corp) was making the NT-3 and

owns the patent (also expensive and not a big enough PROVED or NEEDED

market at the time). NT-3 is one in a line of Nerve Growth Factors - see

description under picture at

http://www.biocarta.com/pathfiles/m_ngfPathway.asp

This summer, 2004, Aventis was bought in a corporate merger by Sanofi.

(Sanofi is the 3rd largest pharmaceutical company in the world)

http://en.sanofi-aventis.com/Index.asp or

http://www.hoovers.com/sanofi-aventis/--ID__59931--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml

Sanofi is currently making Avian flu shots for the US Dept. of Health

and a menginitis vaccine. NT-3 is still being made for 'laboratory use

only' and is now being experiemented on in Parkinson's and Alzheimers

disease. Take a look at this link (note prices too!)

http://www.researchd.com/cytokines/rdi453.htm

I personally believe if the $ is there for further CMT research of NT-3,

we will see it again soon. Look to the bigger organizations like MDA and

the Neuropathy Association - they have the $ to continue the NT-3

studies and other interests in muscle atrophies and peripheral

neuropathies.

Gretchen