GLG News by Neurologists who Treat Alzheimer's Disease (US)

Out of 4 post-relaunch PML cases announced, the first one has died. This is big news, as the announcement of a death may really make some people think about the drug under much more stark conditions.

On December 11, a 4th person was identified with PML since the drug relaunch. No clinical details have been provided, although this person received 26 months of treatment and resides in Europe. A total of 7 cases have been identified with inclusion of the 3 in the clinical trials.

FTY720 may be among the first and the most promising oral therapies to arrive on the scene for MS . On December 12, Novartis reported the initial results of the 1-year TRANSFORMS study in relapsing MS. Compared with Avonex, FTY720 reduced relapses by an additional 40-50%. The annual relapse rate...

Out of a crowded field of new MS therapeutics in phase III study, alemtuzumab has clearly distinguished itself from the rest. Although not a cure, the efficacy is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Most MS therapeutics are pitted against placebo, with a 30-60% reduction in relapse rate compared to taking...

Enhancement of brain functions can be a key to success in many areas of social interactions. This is not a simple issue of pharmacology alone. Certainly, one must consider that such drugs might be used both for enhancing the abilities of what we must consider positive forces (both defenders of our way...

The next generation of MS therapeutics is beginning to emerge, and it appears to be a crowded field of contenders. To be determined over the next several years is how the standard agents will fit with the newer agents, what level of efficacy and/or convenience is needed to balance safety and risk, and...

The CONNECTION study is important in that Dimebon has a mode of action different from all other current treatments. If the results of the phase II study are corroborated, Dimebon may be an important, additional treatment modality.

Abuse resistant long acting narcotics offer benefit as they are less desirable to those who might wish a quick high via snorting, injecting crushed time-release narcotic. Unfortunately, given the higher cost than long acting generics and increased pressure on physicians to prescribe generics, expect...

I do not believe that any conclusions can be drawn from these data unless they can be confirmed by a larger, more wide ranging population sampling.

Vimpat was developed to have applicability to other disease processes including neuropathic pain. The limited indication approved for Vimpat suggests the data for other potential uses was not very robust (that had been my observation based on the neuropathic pain studies). Although UCB may be developing...