Major new step towards treating MS

This article discusses the study results released yesterday by doctors at Cambridge University of the drug, alemtuzumab.

In the 3-year trial, patients who were given the new drug were 74% less likely to relapse and had a 71% lower risk of being disabled within three years. But most remarkably, those on the new treatment showed fewer signs of disability at the end of the trial than they began with.

The drug is a synthetic antibody that was developed at Cambridge 30 years ago as a treatment (called Campath) for leukaemia. While it is now licensed as a treatment for chronic leukaemia, scientists suspected it might also benefit MS patients because it dampens down the immune system.

Also interesting findings showing that patients who take beta interferon have slowly shrinking brains while patients who have alemtuzumab have enlarging brains as the lost tissue is restored. Somehow the drug is promoting brain repair.