Patsy's Blog Tells Of Her Experiences Of Multiple Sclerosis, UK
A teenager living with multiple sclerosis (MS) will share her experiences with the world after being asked to write an online blog for her local newspaper. Patsy Peebles, 15, will regularly update the Newcastle Evening Chronicle's Purely Patsy blog site with information on how MS affects her schooling, social life, thoughts and feelings in a bid to give hope and support to others in a similar situation.20 Dec 2007

Brave Patsy meets her new Big Brother
ChronicleLive - Newcastle upon Tyne,England,UK
She later became the only person under 18 to try out the trial MS drug Campath. Patsy lives with her parents, Bill and Joanna, sister Anna, 13, ...
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Lilly gets worldwide rights to BioMS' multiple sclerosis drug

PharmaBiz
Thursday, December 20, 2007 11:00 IST
Indianapolis
Eli Lilly and Company said it inked a licensing and development agreement with BioMS Medical Corporation, granting Lilly exclusive worldwide rights to BioMS' lead multiple sclerosis (MS) compound, MBP8298.
The compound is currently being evaluated in two pivotal phase III clinical trials in secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and one phase II clinical trial in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).
BioMS Medical will receive an upfront payment of $87 million, as well as potential development and sales milestones up to $410 million and escalating royalties on sales commensurate with the current stage of development of the product if MBP8298 is successfully commercialised. BioMS Medical will continue to oversee the current clinical trials. Other terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly and BioMS Medical will collaborate on the development of MBP8298 and will also share in certain development costs with Lilly being responsible for future R&D, manufacturing and marketing activities.
"Lilly is pleased to add yet another promising late-stage compound to our portfolio," said Dr. William W. Chin, M.D., vice president, discovery research and clinical investigation, Lilly. "Multiple sclerosis is a disease with significant unmet patient needs. MBP8298 has shown potential in slowing the progression of secondary progressive MS, and thus may provide an effective therapeutic option for patients with this debilitating disease. We are also hopeful that MBP8298 may prove beneficial in treating patients with relapsing remitting MS. We intend to fully leverage our expertise in neuroscience to continue the development of this novel molecule."
The transaction is expected to become effective in the first quarter of 2008, contingent upon clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Anti-Trust Improvements Act, if required. At closing, Lilly would expect a charge to earnings for acquired in-process research and development. The exact amount of the charge has not yet been determined, but is estimated to be $0.05 per share. Lilly's 2008 pro forma adjusted earnings per share guidance remain unchanged at $3.85 to $4.00. On a reported basis, including the charge for this transaction with BioMS Medical, Lilly now expects its 2008 earnings per share to be in the range of $3.80 to $3.95.
"We are very pleased to collaborate with Lilly on the worldwide development of MBP8298," said Kevin Giese, president and CEO, BioMS Medical. "Lilly's well established leadership in the neurology arena and considerable resources, expertise and proven ability to launch first-in-class drugs will help MBP8298 to realize its full development and commercial potential."
MBP8298 is a synthetic peptide that consists of 17 amino acids having a sequence identical to that of a portion of human myelin basic protein (MBP). MBP8298 is being developed for the potential treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease caused by immune attack against normal components of the central nervous system.
The apparent mechanism of action of MBP8298 is the induction or restoration of immunological tolerance with respect to ongoing immune attack as a result of high doses of peptide delivered periodically by the intravenous route. The potential benefit of MBP8298 for any individual patient is therefore expected to be related to the role this peptide plays in that patient's immune system. The degree of immunomodulation achieved will depend on the relationship among the peptide, HLA molecules and T cells.
The results of phase II and long-term follow-up treatment of MS patients with MBP8298, published in 2006 in the European Journal of Neurology (EJN), showed that MBP8298 safely delayed median time to disease progression for five years (versus placebo) in progressive MS patients with HLA types DR2 and/or DR4. Thus, MBP8298 has the potential to be used as a tailored therapy for patients genetically determined to express the appropriate HLA molecules.
MBP8298 is for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and is being evaluated in two pivotal phase III clinical trials for secondary progressive MS patients, MAESTRO-01 in Canada and Europe and MAESTRO-03 in the United States. It additionally is being evaluated for relapsing remitting MS patients in a Phase II trial in Europe entitled MINDSET-01.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to affect as many as 2.5 million people worldwide, including approximately 75,000 in Canada, 400,000 in the United States and more than 500,000 in Europe. It is a disease that affects more women than men, with onset typically occurring between 20 and 50 years of age. MS is caused by damage to myelin, the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres in the central nervous system, which interferes with messages from the brain to the body. Symptoms of MS may include vision problems, loss of balance, numbness, difficulty walking and paralysis. Approximately 40 percent of all MS patients have the secondary progressive form of the disease.
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations.
BioMS Medical is a biotechnology company engaged in the development and commercialisation of novel therapeutic technologies.
http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=42113

Lilly gets worldwide rights to BioMS' multiple sclerosis drug
PharmaBiz Wed, 19 Dec 2007 9:32 PM PST
Eli Lilly and Company said it inked a licensing and development agreement with BioMS Medical Corporation, granting Lilly exclusive worldwide rights to BioMS' lead multiple sclerosis (MS) compound, MBP8298.

Patsy's Blog Tells Of Her Experiences Of Multiple Sclerosis, UK
Medical News Today Thu, 20 Dec 2007 5:16 AM PST
A teenager living with multiple sclerosis (MS) will share her experiences with the world after being asked to write an online blog for her local newspaper. [click link for full article]

Bayer HealthCare Awards Grant to Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
Earthtimes - London,UK
"This charitable contribution will help us continue to motivate, educate and empower individuals with MS and their loved ones." MS is a chronic, progressive ...
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Biogen drug pipeline makes it a tempting target
International Herald Tribune - France
Another approach, also in final patient testing, uses the cancer drug Rituxan against primary, progressive multiple sclerosis, a condition in which the ...
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Addition of antibiotics to MS therapy could slow down progression of the disease
News-Medical-Net Wed, 19 Dec 2007 2:16 PM PST
Researchers from Louisiana State University in the U.S. are suggesting that the addition of antibiotics to standard drug therapy for multiple sclerosis, may slow down the progress of the disease.

Eli Lilly and BioMS Medical announce licensing and development agreement
News-Medical-Net Wed, 19 Dec 2007 1:31 AM PST
Eli Lilly and Company and BioMS Medical Corp. have announced that the two companies have entered into a licensing and development agreement granting Lilly exclusive worldwide rights to BioMS Medical's lead multiple sclerosis (MS) compound, MBP8298.

Conference Report

Highlights of the 132nd Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association

October 7-10, 2007; Washington, DC

Posted 12/07/2007

Rohit Bakshi, MD, FAAN
Author Information

The American Neurological Association held its 132nd Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, from October 7 to 10. Clinicians and scientists came together to share the latest research data in the field of neurology and neuroscience. Abstracts based on these presentations were published in a special supplement issue of the Annals of Neurology (registration required).

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating multifocal disorder affecting the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. The disease affects women more commonly than men and typically presents in early or middle adulthood. Currently available therapies are only partially effective, and patients may continue to experience relapses and progressive disability despite optimal therapies. In patients with MS, physical and occupational rehabilitation therapy is often helpful in promoting recovery after acute relapses and helping patients with chronic deficits to maximize their functional status.

Finkelstein and colleagues^[7] tested a computer-based, home-based rehabilitation strategy, known as the Home Automated Telemanagement (HAT) system, in 12 patients with MS. Through HAT, patients reported daily their progress and results of a 12-week prescribed self-delivered exercise/rehabilitation program. The patients' neurologic status and attitudes were assessed at baseline and after the 12-week HAT-facilitated program. Eighty-three percent of patients found HAT "not complicated at all" to use and felt they would most likely or definitely use HAT again. Neurologic status assessed by the Six-Minute Walk Test, Timed 25-Foot Walk, and Berg Balance scale showed statistically significant improvements over the 12 weeks. These data indicate that further study of home telerehabilitation is warranted for its ability to improve functional status in patients with MS.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/565551_1