Fwd: [Spotlight_ldn] Fw: a possible oral drug for MS

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In a message dated 09/29/2003 11:17:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time, larrygc@... writes:

Sent: Monday, September 29, 2003 10:04

Results have just been announced of a Phase II trial on ActiveBioTech's oral drug for MS. Laquinimod is the first potential drug intablet form for treating the disease.Results indicated that patients treated with 0.3 mg/day of laquinimodshowed a statistically significant reduction in MRI activity of 30%compared with patients who received a placebo. Patients who weretreated with 0.1 mg/day of laquinimod also showed a decline in diseaseactivity. However, it was not statistically significant from theplacebo group.In addition to its favorable safety profile, the major advantage oflaquinimod is that it is administered in tablet form. All currentlyavailable treatment options are administered by frequent injections. The study, which was comprised of over 200 patients at 20 clinics inSweden, the Netherlands, the UK, and Russia, was led by ProfessorPolman at the VU Medical Centre in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.An in-depth analysis is currently under way and a complete report ofthe findings will be presented on 6 November at the Royal Academy ofEngineering Sciences in Stockholm.So what does this mean to individuals with MS? "I would say theresults are mildly encouraging," says Ben Thrower, M.D. MedicalDirector at the MS Center at Shepherd in Atlanta. "If there were a 30percent reduction in both MRI and clinical activity, that would bemuch more exciting. However, we cannot make the assumption thatbecause a drug has a positive effect on MRI, that it will workclinically."

Anyone familiar with this? .3 mg/day, that's pretty good!

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Monday, September 29, 2003 10:04

Results have just been announced of a Phase II trial on ActiveBioTech's oral drug for MS. Laquinimod is the first potential drug intablet form for treating the disease.Results indicated that patients treated with 0.3 mg/day of laquinimodshowed a statistically significant reduction in MRI activity of 30%compared with patients who received a placebo. Patients who weretreated with 0.1 mg/day of laquinimod also showed a decline in diseaseactivity. However, it was not statistically significant from theplacebo group.In addition to its favorable safety profile, the major advantage oflaquinimod is that it is administered in tablet form. All currentlyavailable treatment options are administered by frequent injections. The study, which was comprised of over 200 patients at 20 clinics inSweden, the Netherlands, the UK, and Russia, was led by ProfessorPolman at the VU Medical Centre in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.An in-depth analysis is currently under way and a complete report ofthe findings will be presented on 6 November at the Royal Academy ofEngineering Sciences in Stockholm.So what does this mean to individuals with MS? "I would say theresults are mildly encouraging," says Ben Thrower, M.D. MedicalDirector at the MS Center at Shepherd in Atlanta. "If there were a 30percent reduction in both MRI and clinical activity, that would bemuch more exciting. However, we cannot make the assumption thatbecause a drug has a positive effect on MRI, that it will workclinically."