BREAKING: Study Shows Genentech and Biogen Drug Rituxan Works on Multiple Sclerosis

CNBC ^ | Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:19pm EST | Mike Huckman

[Blogger]

bump

[HonestConservative]

You bet your arse it is, balls.

When Teddy and Obambi are in charge, don’t look for such advances in alzheimers and parkinsons.

thank you!

[Daus]

Just two injections a year

Rituxin would be an infusion not just an injection.

Immunotherapy is turning out the be the answer for just about everything. I had a chronic condition that was pretty much eliminated after one infusion of a similar drug. The only down side... cost. I'm guessing this product will be north of $10K per infusion.

[Petronski]

I think I know him. Great prayers out to both Freepers we have in mind!

[traviskicks]

I’m sure the Trial Lawyers will put these companies out of business as soon as they find some federally funded study that shows that using these drugs increases your chances of developing a scratch resistant strain of athlete’s foot.

I can tell you that I know of docs who stockpiled Vioxx when they found out it was going to be withdrawn because for certain subcategories of patients it worked the best when nothing else did, including family members. Now you can't try it even if you have no other options and choose to risk whatever small percent of risk was found.

[HonestConservative]

I don’t know if the drug will be able to be used off label for MS.

If not, it will take a label change and approval by FDA, after filing by the company, and this could take a while.

I would love it, because I have RA in my upper back and it would be fab to kill 2 birds with one stone.

[balls]

Thanks for the correction.

[bajabaja]

If a while is years, then I am headed to Mexico or Canada for it.

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

This drug has also shown excellent results in clin trials for a couple of types of Myositis. My insurance company just denied coverage for me, working with Genentech now to see if they will cover infusions.

CC&E

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

Ping!

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

Ping!

[CAluvdubya]

I wish there was a way to appeal the insurance company's decision.

I hope Genentech comes through for you!

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Would like to know if Immunotherapy might help Meniere’s disease sufferers. Meniere’s appears to be some type of autoimmune disease. But not certain. Surely would be good since Meniere’s destroys a person’s hearing....not to mention the constant incessant and increasing tinnitus (ringing in the ear).

[CAluvdubya]

H/C, my sister has had the Rituxan twice, six months apart. So far, she has gotten about 4 months of no flare ups what so ever of her R/A in between the six months. She is thrilled!

I hope you get the chance to try it.

[Daus]

http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/autoimmune/aied.html

Etanercept (Enbrel) is also emerging as a promising agent for treatment of AIED (Rahmen et al, 2001; Wang et al, 2003). Enbrel is an anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) drug. TNF is an inflammatory cytokine (see above). Enbrel is given as an injection twice/week. Unfortunately, at this writing (5/2002), etanercept is presently unavailable due to manufacturing difficulties.

A related agent, (infliximab) Remicade, was not found useful for AIED, but this study was based on only a handful of cases(Pyykko et al, 2002). There are newer agents that are in the drug pipeline that will need to be tested for their efficacy. The most interesting is Humira, which is another anti-TNF drug, which was recently approved by the FDA (12/2002). Wang et al recently reported that etanercept given acutely in sterile experimental labyrinthitis resulted in much better hearing results in an animal model.

Humira (an Abbott Labs product) is probably the best bet here. I actualy use Remicade, which works great, but once you go on it you can't go off (a drug company's re-occuring revenue dream). Humira is injected rather than infused like Remicade.

[HonestConservative]

Don’t bother, you’ll be getting an armful of horse piss.

Don’t rush, it may be sooner, due to its safety record, but the FDA always wants its pound of flesh, so just be patient a little longer.

In the meantime, Tysabri is great stuff.

[HonestConservative]

It took determination on my part to be on Tysabri, which is fabulous, so when Rituxan becomes available, I’m going to get it, if it is in any way possible.

Was she in a study?

No pseudo flares?

[balls]

On re-reading the article, it refers to “two shots” of the drug. That led me to think it was an injection rather than infusion.

[Daus]

Yeah, I think the writer was lazy. :)

From a RA site... 1000 mg is a healthy sized infusion.

How Is Rituxan Administered?
Rituxan is given to the patient as two 1000 mg IV infusions separated by two weeks. It is given in combination with methotrexate. 30 minutes prior to each infusion, it has been recommended that the steroid methylprednisolone 200 mg IV be given.

[bajabaja]

Thanks, Honest Conservative, for the reply and advice.