Drug 'slows MS progress' - interferon beta 1b ... about $15,000 for a year's supply of the drug

[Guest guest]

I thought the group might find this news item interesting,

Cris

Drug 'slows MS progress'Adam Cresswell, Health editorOctober 04, 2005

PATIENTS who have the first signs they might be developing the incurable nerve disease multiple sclerosis may be able to buy themselves more time, after a study showed a drug already used to treat MS could delay the full onset of the condition.The study, presented at a conference of world experts on MS in Greece over the weekend, found that patients suspected of having MS who were given frequent doses of the drug interferon beta 1b were half as likely to have been diagnosed with MS two years later, compared with patients given dummy injections. MS is caused by the body's immune system attacking the protective fatty sheaths surrounding nerves, disrupting transmission of nerve signals. It affects 16,000 Australians and typically strikes in the prime of life - 70 per cent of patients are aged between 20 and 40 at first onset. A report prepared by Access Economics last month for Multiple Sclerosis Australia found the disease cost the nation more than $2billion a year, including a calculation for the loss of healthy life. Direct costs such as pharmaceutical costs, carers, lost income and residential care accounted for more than $600million every year. Bill Carroll, a neurologist and chairman of MS Research Australia's research review board, said while it was known that the three types of interferon could slow the progress of MS, the results of the latest trial were important because they indicated a possible way to limit the extent of disability a patient had in the long term.

"The importance of this is that it's highly likely that the amount of (nerve) inflammation you have early in the disease process is likely to reflect the amount of disability that a patient acquires later on," he said. "Therefore if you can reduce the early inflammation, then you may reduce the later disability." However, under Australia's current drug subsidy arrangements, it is prohibitively expensive to treat a patient who is only suspected of having MS with interferon beta 1b. Although the drug is registered and available in Australia for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS - the most common type, which affects about 80 per cent of patients - it is not available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for treatment of patients who have yet to be firmly diagnosed. This is the group shown to benefit in the new study. Dr Carroll, who is also head of neurology at Perth's Sir Gairdner Hospital, said it would cost about $15,000 for a year's supply of the drug.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16806738%255E23289,00.html

Cris KerrAdministratorCase Health - Health Success StoriesURL: www.casehealth.com.au & www.casehealth.comWebsite Email: Online formatAustralia

About Case Health ... 'Case Health - Health Success Stories' is a non-income-earning community website providing a free health information-sharing service based on visitor's anecdotal stories of health success. The online database also contains a selection of successful research results. Any visitor can submit their own non-identifying health success story, or; search the database for other health success stories of WHAT WORKS then discuss this information with their doctor. Free searches by condition, symptom, or treatment. Don't have time to enter a story via the online submission form? Submit via the email contact form. We'll do the rest. We can also notify you of new stories. Case Health is a safe surfing site and does not ... sell anything, generate SPAM, spy, or conduct any other intrusions.

HONcode accredited website.

[Guest guest]

Hi Cris,

You might want to read this article I found on the MS Injections.

http://www.thecompounder.com/diseaseawaste.html

Here is my Website if you want anymore information -

www.crystalangel.org if you have any questions feel free to email me.

Thanks,

Crystal

>

> I thought the group might find this news item interesting,

> Cris

>

> Drug 'slows MS progress'

> Adam Cresswell, Health editor

> October 04, 2005

> PATIENTS who have the first signs they might be developing the

incurable nerve disease multiple sclerosis may be able to buy

themselves more time, after a study showed a drug already used to

treat MS could delay the full onset of the condition.

>

> The study, presented at a conference of world experts on MS in

Greece over the weekend, found that patients suspected of having MS

who were given frequent doses of the drug interferon beta 1b were

half as likely to have been diagnosed with MS two years later,

compared with patients given dummy injections.

>

> MS is caused by the body's immune system attacking the protective

fatty sheaths surrounding nerves, disrupting transmission of nerve

signals. It affects 16,000 Australians and typically strikes in the

prime of life - 70 per cent of patients are aged between 20 and 40 at

first onset.

>

> A report prepared by Access Economics last month for Multiple

Sclerosis Australia found the disease cost the nation more than

$2billion a year, including a calculation for the loss of healthy

life. Direct costs such as pharmaceutical costs, carers, lost income

and residential care accounted for more than $600million every year.

>

> Bill Carroll, a neurologist and chairman of MS Research Australia's

research review board, said while it was known that the three types

of interferon could slow the progress of MS, the results of the

latest trial were important because they indicated a possible way to

limit the extent of disability a patient had in the long term.

>

> " The importance of this is that it's highly likely that the amount

of (nerve) inflammation you have early in the disease process is

likely to reflect the amount of disability that a patient acquires

later on, " he said.

>

> " Therefore if you can reduce the early inflammation, then you may

reduce the later disability. "

>

> However, under Australia's current drug subsidy arrangements, it is

prohibitively expensive to treat a patient who is only suspected of

having MS with interferon beta 1b.

>

> Although the drug is registered and available in Australia for the

treatment of relapsing-remitting MS - the most common type, which

affects about 80 per cent of patients - it is not available under the

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for treatment of patients who have yet

to be firmly diagnosed. This is the group shown to benefit in the new

study.

>

> Dr Carroll, who is also head of neurology at Perth's Sir

Gairdner Hospital, said it would cost about $15,000 for a year's

supply of the drug.

>

>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16806738

%255E23289,00.html

>

> Cris Kerr

> Administrator

> Case Health - Health Success Stories

> URL: www.casehealth.com.au & www.casehealth.com

> Website Email: Online format

> Australia

>

> About Case Health ...

>

> 'Case Health - Health Success Stories' is a non-income-earning

community website providing a free health information-sharing service

based on visitor's anecdotal stories of health success. The online

database also contains a selection of successful research results.

>

> Any visitor can submit their own non-identifying health success

story, or; search the database for other health success stories of

WHAT WORKS then discuss this information with their doctor. Free

searches by condition, symptom, or treatment. Don't have time to

enter a story via the online submission form? Submit via the email

contact form. We'll do the rest. We can also notify you of new

stories. Case Health is a safe surfing site and does not ... sell

anything, generate SPAM, spy, or conduct any other intrusions.

>

> HONcode accredited website.

>