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Saturday, 22 July 2006 09:58

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Blend of drugs cuts MS attacks by 90%

Multiple Sclerosis sufferers are to be offered the hope of a normal life after doctors pioneered a wonder drug treatment.

A five-year study, due to be published in next months Journal of Neurology, found that patients with the aggressive form of MS had a reduced relapse rate of 90% under the regime. The drastic reduction means that patients who would have faced bedridden lives will now be able to work and raise families uninterrupted.

The treatment, which was tested at the Walton Centre for Neurology in Liverpool, involves a limited course of the cancer drug Mitoxantrone, followed by the disease-moderating drug Copaxone. Results were so successful that a full study is now being initiated at 10 centres across the UK, for which volunteers are being sought.

Dr Mike Boggild, the consultant neurologist who led the research, said the two drugs appeared to have a powerful combined effect.

He said: "This regime has proved remarkably effective in patients with early MS and a poor prognosis.

"Though there are certain risks, associated particularly with the use of Mitoxantrone, we have been able to limit these by using this agent for just a short induction period.

"Balanced against the high risk of early disability for these patients, the outcomes appear to justify this approach”.