Research Trial for Multiple Sclerosis at Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic
Thursday, 20 November 2003

Clinical trial compares investigational drug vs. standard treatment

Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale seeks men and women between the ages 18 and 50 with early, relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS) to participate in a clinical research study to compare the safety and effectiveness of low and high dose CAMPATH, an investigational drug, and high-dose Rebif, an approved drug used to treat MS.

"This clinical trial will evaluate those who have relapsing-remitting disease which affects approximately 85% of all people with MS," says Dean Wingerchuk, M.D., neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale and principal investigator of the study locally. "We are always trying to find treatments and therapies that may slow or stop the progression of MS until a cure is found for the disease," Dr. Wingerchuk notes.

Qualified participants may include newly diagnosed patients with relapsing-remitting MS who are not pregnant and are not currently taking Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, Rebif or Novatrone. Qualified participants will be randomly assigned to one of three study arms. These arms include a high and low dose of CAMPATH, as well as the drug Rebif.

Approximately 400,000 Americans have MS, with two-thirds of them being women. MS is a chronic, potentially debilitating disease that affects the central nervous system.

"MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system responds as if part of the body is a foreign substance," says Dr. Wingerchuk. "The body directs antibodies and white blood cells against the myelin sheath surrounding nerves in the brain and spinal cord. This causes inflammation and injury to the sheath and nerves resulting in multiple areas of scarring. The damage slows or blocks muscle coordination, visual sensation and other nerve signals."

Currently available MS therapies are partially effective at reducing inflammation and MS attacks. CAMPATH also reduces inflammation but in a different way. Preliminary studies show that it appears promising and this study will determine how effective it is at preventing longer-term neurological damage.

To participate in this research study or to obtain more information, please contact Janine Buckner at 480-301-8788 or visit www.mayoclinic.org/scottsdale/.

For more information, or to contact Mayo Clinic, see their website at: www.mayoclinic.org