Fwd: [A-MS] Digest Number 636-InteresTIng News

[Guest guest]

>From: About-MS

>Reply-To: About-MS

>To: About-MS

>Subject: [A-MS] Digest Number 636

>Date: 28 Oct 2001 14:37:20 -0000

>

>Laughter is God's medicine...so give and take in liberal doses!

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>There are 3 messages in this issue.

>

>Topics in this digest:

>

> 1. TV program

> From: zoee15

> 2. interesting news

> From: KKW

> 3. prescription

> From: Gloria

>

>

>________________________________________________________________________

>________________________________________________________________________

>

>Message: 1

> Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 22:13:19 -0400 (EDT)

> From: zoee15

>Subject: TV program

>

>How did the program go today? I couldn't find it.

>

>Ruth

>

>

>

>

>________________________________________________________________________

>________________________________________________________________________

>

>Message: 2

> Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 16:04:37 EDT

> From: KKW

>Subject: interesting news

>

>Immunokine (a-Immunokine-NNS03) is a drug developed by PhyloMed used for

>the treatment of progressive Multiple Sclerosis. PhyloMed has been in

>cooperation with Coral

>Pharmaceuticals in Freeport (Grand Bahama) conducting long term

>investigations in Multiple Sclerosis with Immunokine. The company has

>conducted these studies in MS patients (from U.S., Canada and Europe) for

>over 10 years.

>

>These patients self-administer Immunokine injections (100ug/ml)as many as 4

>times daily. There have been no reports of adverse

>reactions either at the site of injection or elsewhere. This is notable

>given these patients often present with several allergies probably due

>to immune system dysfunction. Generally it has been observed that, in the

>majority of cases, disease stabilization is achieved (90%) with 60%

>of patients reporting improvement in certain clinical symptoms with a

>reported improvement in their EDSS (Kurtzke, 1983). Objective testing

>supports these observations. While this investigation was not

>placebo-controlled it presented an opportunity to develop criteria which

>could be employed in clinical trials. It also represents an opportunity to

>monitor these patients over time for continued therapeutic benefits.

>

>Peripheral pain (in legs and arms) is the first symptom to respond. Relief

>from pain can be felt with in 10 - 20

>minutes following the injection of Immunokine. Some patients report that

>migraines are also resolved. This

>observation supports the experience of pain reduction in patients suffering

>from deep neuritic pain associated with Shingles. It is not

>implied that MS patients will not experience headaches but the severity may

>be reduced.

>

>Analysis of the patient reports indicated that the second symptom to

>respond was chronic fatigue. Many patients required several hours sleep

>in the afternoon. This improvement would, on average, be apparent 6 to 8

>weeks following the commencement of Immunokine therapy. Patients have

>described that following strenuous activity additional injections assist in

>recovery and prevent the onset of severe fatigue.

>

>The third symptom which responds is balance. This symptom can be so

>devastating that the patient is confined to a wheelchair or as the very

>least requires walking aids. With the restoration of a sense of balance the

>patient can regain their independence. The time required for

>improvement is proportional to the period of time the facility was lost and

>the duration of the disease. The level of improvement is very much

>dependent on the damage to nerve cells in the brain. On average, an

>improvement is expected within 8 - 12 months and continuing improvement

>is seen in patients who have regained the ability to walk, run and swim.

>Similar improvements are seen in patients with slurred speech, sensory

>difficulties (perception of hot and cold, sight problems). What is notable

>is that eyesight once lost may not be recovered or may require

>long periods of treatment prior to a return of function.

>

>What is important is that there are few side effects and these may not be

>described as deleterious and patients

>cannot overdose. It appears to be effective in patients with either

>relapsing/remitting or the progressive condition. Patients on drugs for

>other conditions or symptoms have experienced no complications even when

>combined with other biologics (Avonex). None of the side effects

>associated with the interferons have been observed in Immunokine treated

>patients and there are no tolerance problems. Patients respond on doses

>a low as 10mcg per day and current levels are at 300mcg per day. The

>preferred approach is to start patients on Immunokine as early as

>possible (analogous to those observations in patients in with ALS) where

>the lower doses (circa 90mcg per day) will be adequate. These

>therapeutic modalities will be investigated in the open trials and are

>important to the development of the slow release format.

>

>Immunokine is derived from a protein called alpha-cobratoxin.

>Alpha-cobratoxin recognizes the same receptors as nicotine but has the

>opposite effect. In a specific chemical process (patent pending, see below)

>unique to the Company, this protein is changed through a process

>called " oxidation " . At this point the protein is modified to that which is

>called a-Immunokine- NNS03 or commonly referred to as Immunokine.

>

>The process confers several desirable properties on to the drug. Firstly,

>it lacks measurable toxicity but is still capable of attaching

>to and affecting the nicotine receptors. This means patients cannot

>overdose. Secondly, it displays no adverse side effects as indicated by

>years of investigations in humans and animals.

>

>Thirdly, it is technically denatured so it is extremely stable and

>resistant to heat thus providing the drug with a

>long shelf life. The drug's stability, at room temperature, have been

>measured at over 4 years. This is extremely unusual for a

>biologic-class drug. Finally, the drug will be substantially cheaper than

>it's biologic competitors: Betaseron, Avonex, Roferon, Rebif and

>Copaxone.

>

>a-Immunokine-NNS03 can now be administered orally - a first for an MS drug.

>It was routinely delivered by injection in a manner similar to

>insulin but recent research and development has given rise to a new oral

>spray format (patent applied for). This will present MS patients with

>additional " quality of life " benefits by eliminating the requirement for

>routine injections.

>

>(Copied by Bill Timmerman from the company's information page on this

>drug)

>

>

>

>________________________________________________________________________

>________________________________________________________________________

>

>Message: 3

> Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 12:11:49 -0400

> From: Gloria

>Subject: prescription

>

>Thank you very much. You answered a lot of my questions. Since it

>is patent pending does that mean doctors do not prescribe it yet?

>

>

>

>

>________________________________________________________________________

>________________________________________________________________________

>

>

>

>