“So as not to disappoint you (please see the following presentation by Professor David Baker); we are still trying to develop drugs for MS’ers. In this case we are targeting spasticity as the current drugs we have for spasticity are far from ideal and cause too many side effects; for example sedation, wearing-off spasms and the rag-doll effect (weakness).”
CoI: Multiple
“For drugs that treat progression, we can think of lots and lots of them.”Like what drugs exactly? Where are these drugs? That is such a misleading statement for Prof David Baker to make. Progressive MS is one of the greatest mysteries of our time.Less empty rhetoric and more tangible results please. The only good cure for MS is taking a flight over to Switzerland. An appointment at Dignitas, glass of barbiturates, problem solved.
Re “For drugs that treat progression, we can think of lots and lots of them.”: Professor Baker is correct, we have a long list of putative neuroprotective therapies the problem is that our current methods for testing them is poor. The trials are all based on the the EDSS and take too long. This is why I have been trying to get acceptance of my trial design that requires measuring a biomarker in the spinal fluid; neurofilament (see previous post). The other reason is that most of the drugs we have identified are off patent and therefore Pharma won't invest in them. We therefore have to rely on other development routes. One of these is the MS Society. Please don't give up hope; Professor Baker is one of the leaders in the field when it comes to screening new neuroprotective therapies in his progressive model of EAE.
What will it take to get acceptance of your trial design? I agree about EDSS – it is a bit of a blunt instrument, with no finesse (I mean in general terms, not necessarily for research purposes [tho' the same may hold true])
Re "Professor Baker is one of the leaders in the field when it comes to screening new neuroprotective therapies in his progressive model of EAE."Yeah, well, he needs to screen faster because I'm not getting any better bro.Take a look at your survey in the top left hand corner of this blog. The results speak for themselves. Those with MS are ready to give up on life. It makes no sense that government won't allow assisted dying when there is no alternative for people in our situation. Why does the medical community want us to suffer when there is a humane solution at hand? It's an act of cruelty not having the right to die when many of us suffer so badly because of this disease.Stop thinking about your own ethics and please help legislate for the right to die in Britain. It's not as if by keeping us alive it's making us any better. Progressive MS is beyond hope. It's too late for us. Give us a peaceful conclusion to what is a difficult life. You know it makes sense man.