FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Acne medication may delay progress of multiple sclerosis
Canadian researchers investigate common medication
as alternative MS treatment
Calgary, October 25, 2007 – A common acne medication that has been
available for over 30 years has the potential to delay the progress of
multiple sclerosis and if proven effective, will offer an inexpensive
option for the treatment of early MS, says the MS Society of Canada.
Clinical researchers in Calgary and 13 other Canadian centres will be
taking an in-depth look at an oral therapy known as minocycline
after initial studies have shown promising
results. A new $4 million multi-centre
clinical trial involving 200 participants from across Canada
is being funded through the MS Society’s related MS Scientific Research
Foundation.
“The benefits of minocycline are straight forward: it’s relatively
cheap, has few side effects and can be taken in pill format,” says
Dr. Luanne Metz, principal investigator for the study and a professor
of clinical neurosciences at the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine. “The
aim of our research is to see if this common drug can reduce
the occurrence of further disease activity in people who have experienced
an initial
attack of MS symptoms and who are at high risk of progressing
to definite MS. Without treatment, two thirds of people facing this circumstance
are
expected to be diagnosed with MS within 6 months. We believe
minocycline can reduce this number. ”
In MS, myelin, which is the protective coating of the nerve fibres of
the brain and spinal cord, becomes inflamed. This inflammation can be
seen as characteristic lesions by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Previous
clinical tests of minocycline have shown an 84 per cent reduction of MS
lesion activity on MRI.
“There is obvious benefit in delaying the rate of disease progression
in MS, from improved quality of life to reduced healthcare expenses,” says
Dr. William McIlroy, national medical advisor for the MS Society of Canada. “The
breadth of the study, the reputation of the researchers involved and the
early clinical data supports the view that there is considerable promise
for minocycline. We would not be involved if this were not the case.”
Minocycline works by inhibiting the activities of an enzyme and immune
cells that are keys to initiating MS attacks. It has been used in acne
treatment for its anti-bacterial effects but studies have shown its anti-inflammatory
properties could be important factors in slowing down MS. These insights
were discovered through pioneering research funded by the MS Society of
Canada and led by Dr. V. Wee Yong at the University of Calgary (U of C).
Drs. Metz and Yong lead the MS program at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute
at U of C where many of the early studies on minocycline took place.
In comparing minocycline to current therapies, the cost savings would
be substantial. In generic form, minocycline is available for as low as
$800 per year. Current MS therapies can cost between $18,000 and $40,000
per year. Researchers note that minocycline would not necessarily replace
current therapies, but might delay the timeframe in which they would be
required.
The study will be randomized and double-blind by design. Investigators
will compare 100 mg of oral minocycline twice daily to placebo
over a period of two years.
Enrolment will begin in early 2008 and 14 MS clinics are involved including
institutions in Calgary, Vancouver, Burnaby, Edmonton, Red Deer,
Saskatoon, London, Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec
City, Sherbrooke and
Halifax.
About the MS Society of Canada
Founded in 1948, the MS Society has a membership of 28,000,
with seven regional divisions and nearly 120 chapters. The
MS Society provides services for people with MS, family members
and caregivers. The MS Society also offers a unique support
network for children and teenagers with MS and their parents.
The MS Society raises funds to support research and services
almost entirely through individual and corporate donations
and fundraising events across the country. The MS Society
is the single largest funder of MS research in Canada. For more
information, visit www.mssociety.ca.
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Contact:
Stewart Wong
National Manager, Media and Public Relations
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Phone: 416-967-3025
Cell: 416-575-3025
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