Research news
Way Ahead 2009;13(1):4
- Alemtuzumab reduces rate of disability
- Oral fumarate (BG00012) reduces brain lesions
- Natalizumab improves physical disability
- Improved AHP offer announced
- New directory of top health and social care researchers in the UK
Alemtuzumab reduces rate of disability
Results of a phase II trial comparing two doses of the monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab against interferon beta 1a in people with early relapsing remitting MS indicate that treatment with alemtuzumab reduces the risk of sustained accumulation of disability by 71% and the risk of relapse by 74% as compared with beta interferon 1a. 334 people with early relapsing remitting MS were randomized to receive either subcutaneous interferon beta1a at a dose of 44ug three times per week; or an annual course of alemtuzumab infusions at a dose of either 12mg or 24mg for 36 months. A number of very serious side effects were reported including one fatality due to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a blood clotting disorder.
Recruitment to two further phase III trials assessing the efficacy and safety of alemtuzumab is now underway.
Coles AJ, et al.
Alemtuzumab vs. Interferon Beta 1a in early multiple sclerosis.
N Engl J Med 2008; 359:1786-1801.
Oral fumarate (BG00012) reduces brain lesions
Efficacy and safety of oral fumarate in patients with relapsing remitting MS were assessed in a 24 week dose finding trial with the total number of new gadolinium-enhancing (GdE) lesions from week 12 to 24 as the primary outcome measure. 257 patients were randomly assigned to receive 120mg once daily, 120mg three times daily, 240mg three times daily of BG00012, or placebo for 24 weeks. The highest dose of BG00012 resulted in a 69% reduction in the number of GdE lesions compared with placebo and significant reductions in other MRI outcomes. The two lower doses had no effect on any of the MRI outcomes. Common adverse effects of the drug included flushing and gastrointestinal symptoms but it was otherwise generally well tolerated.
Kappos L, Gold R, Miler DH et al.
Efficacy and safety of oral fumarate in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase IIb study.
Lancet 2008; 372: 1463-1472.
Natalizumab improves physical disability
A post-hoc analysis of data that emerged out of the AFFIRM trial, has indicated that treatment with natalizumab (Tysabri) significantly improved physical disability over two years when compared to placebo. The difference was most marked in patients with an EDSS above or equal to 2.0 and highly active disease at baseline. These findings represent the first evidence of sustained improved function as a result of treatment with a licensed disease modifying therapy.
Source: Biogen idec
Improved AHP offer announced
On 21 October 2008, Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health, announced an improved Allied Health Professional (AHP) service offer to patients and the public. The report[1] sets out the key themes defined in the NHS Next Stage Review[2] and highlights the opportunities for AHPs to transform the health and social care system.
The offer focuses on the following three areas:
- mandate data collection to support service redesign and enable AHP practitioners to improve their services for patients;
- promote the benefits of self-referral to physiotherapy services and encourage local extension of self-referral to other AHP services, to make them more accessible;
- improve quality and empower patients by developing an integrated set of quality metrics related to services provided by AHPs, and by piloting personal health budgets, integrated care pilots and information prescriptions.
- Department of Health.
Framing the contribution of allied health professionals: delivering high-quality healthcare.
London: DH; 2008.
Download the full report from the Department of Health website - Darzi A.
High quality care for all: NHS Next Stage Review Final Report.
London: DH; 2008.
New directory of top health and social care researchers in the UK
The MS Trust welcomes the inclusion of Professor Alan Thompson, Director of the Institute of Neurology at University College London and Consultant Neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, in a new directory of top health and social care researchers in the UK.
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator Directory has been published to support researchers who are leading the way in person focused health research.
Professor Thompson's inclusion is particularly welcomed because of his involvement in research into the development of neuro-rehabilitation for people with MS. It is hoped that his position in the directory will help build the profile of this vital area of MS management.
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Way Ahead articles are reproduced as published. They are not updated to take account of subsequent developments. Use appropriate caution in acting on the information in any article.
