PATIENTS suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS), the incurable wasting disease, have experienced dramatic improvements in their condition after taking part in trials of a drug derived from goat serum.
Some have reported being able to cast aside their walking sticks and walk for miles, or of regaining their vision or finding they can again use their limbs after years when any movement was agony. Of the 130 patients on the trial, 85% reported big improvements with no side effects.
Among them is Billy Edmiston, of Southsea, who was diagnosed with MS in 1988. “At the time of my first injections 15 months ago I was using walking sticks and sometimes a wheelchair. I started this treatment with no expectations but it has been astonishing,” he said.
“I am 500% better than I was. I can walk for several miles without sticks. I’m much stronger and generally healthier. And you have to remember that we have always been told that there may be remissions, but that the progress of the disease is unstoppable.”
The success of the trials has started to gain international recognition with Alan Osmond, one of America’s leading campaigners about the disease, travelling from the US to take the drug.
Osmond, the eldest member of the Osmonds singing group, who was diagnosed with the disease 17 years ago, said: “When I heard about the treatment here I decided I would have to come and see for myself.”
MS is the most common chronic disease of the central nervous system in young adults, affecting millions of people worldwide. Most cases are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40 and famous sufferers include the cellist Jacqueline du Pré, the actor Richard Pryor, director Bryan Forbes and Tory whip David Maclean.
An often progressive disease of the central nervous system, MS occurs in the brain, the optic nerves and the spinal cord. Though slow in its onset, in time it may produce tremors, partial loss of sight and paralysis.
The new treatment is being pioneered by a team of scientists and doctors led by Professor Angus Dalgleish, an oncologist based at St George’s hospital, Tooting, south London, who believes it will at worst provide a highly effective subjective treatment for MS sufferers, but may lead to a long-term improvement.
The treatment, given as a weekly injection, is derived from purified serum from immunised goats that produce antibodies. Three separate clinical trials are now being conducted.
Normally it would have taken about eight years and about £80m to get a new product to this stage. In this case it has been achieved in three years, having cost so far about £5m.
Dr David Maizels, a family doctor from Chiselhurst in Kent who had been treating patients in the “informed consent” trials for the past three years, said he had never seen anything like it.
“I want to emphasise that this is not a placebo effect. The improvements are sustained and there are almost no side effects. At times the results are amazing,” he said.
The trials, the first of which should be completed and analysed by the spring, will confirm whether there will be new hope for MS sufferers worldwide.
“Being positive is the key thing,” said Osmond. “It’s not the disease that beats you, but the lack of hope.”
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Note: One of our user''''s submitted the following info from this website:
"Caprivax. Whilst searching for new anti inflammatory agents we found surprising activity in the serum from certain inoculated goats. The nature of the anti inflammatory component of the serum was thought to be potentially useful in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and a pilot study suggested this may be the case. A formalised trial has now been submitted for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis under Dr David Barnes at the Atkinson Morley''''s Hospital at Wimbledon."
and the Financial Times had this to say:
"The drug has strong anti-inflammatory properties which might make it effective against MS. Tests on patients have so far produced promising results, with a noticeable improvement in symptoms with no adverse side-effects. However, the benefits could be the result of the placebo effect. During the current trial, involving 80 patients, half will be given a weekly injection of Caprivax and half will receive a placebo. They will be assessed regularly for changes in muscle stiffness, mobility and vision."
Looks legitimate, folks... stay tuned.
Aimspro (Goat Serum) Update
Daval’s mission is to make "Aimspro'" available to all those who wish to take advantage of its therapeutic properties, as quickly as possible.
To attain this goal we need to achieve certain clinical, regulatory and commercial objectives which I am confident we are on course to do. The first is in our own hands and those of our eminent team of scientists. Increasing vocal patient demand will add weight to our regulatory submissions, and a projected partnership with a larger marketing organisation will assist in attaining the third objective.
As so many friends of Daval are aware, Aimspro is particularly suited to the treatment of neural disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, although we are becoming increasingly impressed with its applicability to other disorders of an inflammatory nature. The 150 patients who are already receiving Aimspro on an informed consent basis all attest to its efficacy. Daval is confident that those receiving it on the authorised trials currently taking place in this country will provide a similar endorsement in due course. We are keeping the appropriate government departments regularly apprised of the development of our remarkable medication in anticipation that they will help Daval to fast track its general availability.
We feel it would certainly be in their interest to do so as we are already achieving significant savings for the National Health Service by freely treating patients. When the product's true potential is fully realised these savings would amount to many, many millions of pounds. This would also be consistent with the Government’s frequently stated intention of strongly supporting the British bio-technology industry.
Daval has a growing number of supporters who are assisting its progress with their varied skills and the Board is most grateful for their continuing encouragement during this crucial development period.”
Brian Quick. July 2004
17/03/08 - Decision on Terminated Clinical Trial
The Board of Daval International Limited decided, in 2004, to terminate the first full-scale clinical trial of AIMSPRO at St George's Hospital, London. The Company had drawn on a broad range of Medical and Pharmaceutical opinion to form this important decision, which was necessitated by the sub-standard handling of trial medication at the hospital's pharmacy, with the possible risk to patient safety and data integrity. A complaint against the responsible hospital pharmacist was then lodged by Daval with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
The allegations of misconduct against the pharmacist were considered by the Investigating Committee on 4th March 2008 and it's judgement fully vindicates Daval's action in discontinuing this study, which was a two year placebo-controlled, double blind study of AIMSPRO as a potential palliative medication for Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.
The Committee reasoned that there were a number of factors and areas of responsibility which contributed to the failure of the clinical trial and that the pharmacist had failed to take control of his responsibilities by ensuring that appropriate standard operating procedures were in place.
Although this matter has taken some time to be resolved, Daval is pleased that the accusations which have been circulated by malicious and irresponsible parties since 2004, regarding the Company's motives in terminating the trial, have been satisfactorily quashed. As regards future human studies, Daval's interests are somewhat protected by the tighter Clinical Trial regulations in the United States, Europe and Australia that are now in force. It is re-stated that the company's over-riding priority, as it passes through the development phase of AIMSPRO, a complex biological medication, will be that of patient safety.
Daval adheres to the Code of Practice of the ABPI, of which it is a member.
Daval International Limited
More infos : http://www.davalinternational.com/
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