Videos on current and emerging therapies in MS

[shoshin]

In case anyone is interested, I came across a reference to this...

From the UK MS Society, "in the seven parts of this video, Dr [Alasdair] Coles gives an overview on four current or emerging therapies for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). These are Tysabri, Cladribine, Fingolimod and Alemtuzumab."

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/support_and_services/audio_and_video/video/awareness_talks/current_and_emerging_therapies/current_and_emer.html

I watched the one on Fingolimod (FTY720), for which I am in a trial and was disheartened to hear the doctor say that although Fingolimod showed a significant reduction in relapse rates over Beta inteferon, there was no difference in disability levels between the two patient groups after a year.

sho

[Lulu54]

hi Sho,
this was a great find for you to share.  I first went through the MS society site, but found it is also accessible straight through youtube-  here's the link.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbjU_NNGUio&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=CBBA36B6D5A37B95&index=0



BTW, this doctor is available to answer questions this week on the UK ms site - here's the chance to ask an expert. I hope some of you can take advantage of his being they expert for the week.

Lu

[shoshin]

Yes, you're right that they can't really measure disability over a short period of time, which is why it's so hard to do trials on PPMS.

And just today I saw this more recent info that does suggest an effect on disability:

Study Shows Novartis Oral MS Therapy Reduces Relapses and Disability
http://www.unitedspinal.org/msscene/2009/09/30/novartis/

So, who knows?

It also says the Novartis is planning to file for approval late this year.

sho

[patientx]

Thanks for posting this.  It was informative.  The link got cut off, so here it is broken up:

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/support_and_services/audio_and
_video/video/awareness_talks/current_and_emerging_therapies/current
_and_emer.html

I wouldn't be too disheartened about the results of Fingolimod concerning disability.  A year really isn't much tme to judge differences in disability progression.  Also, there's the possibility that the comparator group just did better than average in terms of progression.