October 22, 2008

expert comment on research into a possible new drug to treat MS, as published in the New England Journal of Medicine

The drug, developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, has been shown to be effective at slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis when compared to a well-established existing treatment.

Prof Paul Matthews, Professor of Clinical Neurosciences, Imperial College London, said:

“This long-anticipated report provides a clear demonstration that the progression of disability in MS can be stopped rapidly with effective immunosuppression. Alemtuzumab appears to reduce new inflammatory activity and relapses to a substantially greater extent than current therapies.

The trial was particularly compelling as it showed significant benefits when compared directly against interferon-beta.

Alemtuzumab was associated with severe adverse events in a small proportion of the patients, suggesting that it would be unsuitable for any patient except those with very aggressive forms of the disease, but this study highlights the potential value of developing other, safer therapeutic molecules directed against the same target.

This study also illustrates how academic-industry partnerships can bring innovation: alemtuzumab (then called CAMPATH1H) was developed in a Cambridge immunology laboratory, championed by the senior UK lead neurologist and his team, and then translated to this proof of concept trial through an industry partnership.”