Ataluren at low dose - Obviously a success!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Ofelia Marin on
-
I think this is a very good question. Mendell mentioned that in his gentamicin trial an immune response might have been present:
http://quest.mda.org/news/gentamicin-shows-mixed-results-dmd
I am convinced that PTC will be looking into it. Why don't we ask this question during the CC on Thursday? You can email Sharon ans she can ask.
Jeff Sobel said:The economics of Duchenne has always been difficult due to the small population. Ataluren only got as far as it has because it potentially impacts many other diseases, most of which are more profitable. Drugs that only help Duchenne (like utrophin upregulators) will always face financial hurdles. Unfortunately, as science makes advances, the financial constraints have and will become more apparent and frustrating. I have been following all of this for over 12 years (son is now 14 and still walking). PTC, and it's joint venturers and investors, will not risk the success of this drug for Duchenne. My take on the low versus high dose is that the high dose might be producing an immune response to the dystrophin. No one knows how much dystrophin will be needed to improve function; and no one knows if we can restore a sufficient amount of dystrophin without triggering an immune response. If Ataluren is to be properly evaluated, we will need to know what % of dystrophin was produced in various muscles, and whether there is evidence of the body attacking the newly produced dystrophin. I am surprised we have no major statements regarding whether or not there was immune response to dystrophin at higher doses (if there was none, they should state that fact). If there is an immune response, these dystrophin replacement strategies will be set back even further. I have always thought utrophin is the only hope for boys alive today. But, as can be seen, upregulation is not easy from either a scientific or a financial viewpoint.
Unfortunately, nothing will happen overnight. Just look at the timlines for drugs for the most lucrative of diseases. I share your frustrations and have lived through them. More frustrating than the failure to get dystrophin in the muscle is the failure to pinpoint key downstream pathologies that might be targeted by existing drugs. As of today, we still depend on deflazacort and supplements.
-
Permalink Reply by Bernardo A. Iriberri on
-
I agree that it would be a good idea to include this question during the conference call, although I really think that an immune reaction to dystrophin would have manifested itself in a much more forceful way, causing the trials to be stopped immediately. I don't think that an immune reaction would limit itself to just preventing more dystrophin from being produced, while still allowing some dystrophin to be expressed in the first place. Either the immune system detects the new substance as foreign, in which case it rejects it outright, or it just allows it in. Also, regarding the comment by Cheri on boys who already had some dystrophin when admitted into the trial, I wonder how this could have been allowed. I would have thought that in order for a boy to be diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (and therefore, to be admitted in the Ataluren trials), the histological exams should have shown zero dystrohin in the muscle cells, otherwise we would be in front of a Becker MD.
-
-
Most boys have revertant fibers, very low levels of dystrophin. From what I read, this was one of the reasons scientists hoped that there will not be an immune response to dystrophin (b/c of the revertant fibers).
For example in the AVI trial they have this in the inlcusion criteria:
"Has a muscle biopsy analysis showing < 5% revertant fibres present at baseline."
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00844597?term=duchenne+mu...
During the last AVI presentation they showed a bargraph and picture of one patient who responded well in the 2 mg/kg dose group. One can see the revertant fibers. I'll attach the slides here. Take a look if interested.
Bernardo A. Iriberri said:I agree that it would be a good idea to include this question during the conference call, although I really think that an immune reaction to dystrophin would have manifested itself in a much more forceful way, causing the trials to be stopped immediately. I don't think that an immune reaction would limit itself to just preventing more dystrophin from being produced, while still allowing some dystrophin to be expressed in the first place. Either the immune system detects the new substance as foreign, in which case it rejects it outright, or it just allows it in. Also, regarding the comment by Cheri on boys who already had some dystrophin when admitted into the trial, I wonder how this could have been allowed. I would have thought that in order for a boy to be diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (and therefore, to be admitted in the Ataluren trials), the histological exams should have shown zero dystrohin in the muscle cells, otherwise we would be in front of a Becker MD. - Attachments:
-
-
AVIMay2010.ppt, 3 MB
-
-
-
Thank you Ofelia. I guess that the division between DMD and BMD is becoming more and more blurred as reasearch progresses.
-
Permalink Reply by ferre on
-
hello
just finishing tohear the conference call.i amnot fluentin english so it is not very easy to follow But if i clearly undestand
i am very disapointed they don't go on giving low dose to our kids now, !!
they don't have the biopsy result , that's incredible
if they make a new trial ,will they be placebo even fot the kids who have followed the phase 2 B .
do i undestand well
best
françoise
Bernardo A. Iriberri said:Thank you Ofelia. I guess that the division between DMD and BMD is becoming more and more blurred as reasearch progresses.
-
-
Yes, not much news really. Only the data already presented mid April. At this point, I really do not buy the fact that they do not have any biopsy data. I am sure they do have at least partial results. Also, the question about immune response was not asked.
-
Permalink Reply by Julie Gilmore on
-
There are many issues beyond the immune response and the levels of dystrophin required to have a prophylactic effect, and I suspect that is why PTC is sitting on their results.
As a parent I would be more concerned if they were releasing all their data, as it would signify they are finishing their work on the project and leaving it open for anyone else to come and "pick up where they left off".
Whilst it is frustrating that these things take time, from some of the conversations I have had with other researchers, there are some important considerations that must be addressed. These issues go beyond dystrophin expression and the 6MWT and cover proteins and enzymes that are independent of those associated with DMD.
Personally I would rather wait and know the drug I am giving is safe, than rush this process and blame myself later if things went horribly wrong. But that's just me - everyone's journey is different.
Ofelia Marin said:Yes, not much news really. Only the data already presented mid April. At this point, I really do not buy the fact that they do not have any biopsy data. I am sure they do have at least partial results. Also, the question about immune response was not asked.
-
-
Julie, The safety profile is fine from what they communicated. It is a question of efficacy at this point. They did not mention any safety concerns and I do not feel that this wait is in any way related to safety. I think that presenting more data would only be beneficial for the entire scientific community including scientists/pharma working on other treatments. I do not see how presenting the results would have any negative implications. I felt that it is more a matter of how to present the results in a compelling way in order to convince the regulatory agencies about Ataluren’s benefit for DBMD. They did mention that most data will be presented to a conference in Italy this July (so not too far in the future).
I still think that the immune response question should have been asked. AVI and Prosensa were asked about immune response during most presentations and the answer (so far) was that they did not see any.
Julie Gilmore said:There are many issues beyond the immune response and the levels of dystrophin required to have a prophylactic effect, and I suspect that is why PTC is sitting on their results.
As a parent I would be more concerned if they were releasing all their data, as it would signify they are finishing their work on the project and leaving it open for anyone else to come and "pick up where they left off".
Whilst it is frustrating that these things take time, from some of the conversations I have had with other researchers, there are some important considerations that must be addressed. These issues go beyond dystrophin expression and the 6MWT and cover proteins and enzymes that are independent of those associated with DMD.
Personally I would rather wait and know the drug I am giving is safe, than rush this process and blame myself later if things went horribly wrong. But that's just me - everyone's journey is different.
Ofelia Marin said:Yes, not much news really. Only the data already presented mid April. At this point, I really do not buy the fact that they do not have any biopsy data. I am sure they do have at least partial results. Also, the question about immune response was not asked.
-
-
Ofelia, please don't think I'm being negative or justifying the delays. I am basing my reply on the questions being raised in the research world driven by how PTC124 functions at a molecular level. There are also a lot of people that are mindful that just because you don't see a clinical sign or symptom does not mean that other cellular processes are not being disrupted ..... diethylstilbesterol taught the research/pharma industry that - and there are still compensation claims being paid for that one.
It is great that PTC will release some data in July, it might answer some of the questions parents have, or indicate the future direction of PTC124 in DMD research.
-
-
I know Julie.This so very complex unfortunately for all of us. :(
Julie Gilmore said:Ofelia, please don't think I'm being negative or justifying the delays. I am basing my reply on the questions being raised in the research world driven by how PTC124 functions at a molecular level. There are also a lot of people that are mindful that just because you don't see a clinical sign or symptom does not mean that other cellular processes are not being disrupted ..... diethylstilbesterol taught the research/pharma industry that - and there are still compensation claims being paid for that one.
It is great that PTC will release some data in July, it might answer some of the questions parents have, or indicate the future direction of PTC124 in DMD research.
-
-
hello
i would like to contact parents whose kids were on the trial 2a, 2b ,non ambulantory and who did'nt live in USA and canada
my e mail address is ferre.fp@wanadoo.fr
best
-
Permalink Reply by Linda Owens on
-
I agree with all the comments posted here. Our grandson was on the lower dose and we definitely saw an improvement in his walking ability and his muscle strength. I'm sure all the families with children in this study were as devastated as we were when they stopped it so abruptly. We can only hope and pray the pathway chosen will be quick and positive for our boys.
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2022 Created by PPMD.
Powered by
Badges | Report an Issue | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
