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The GDNF trial participants are not encouraging or promoting widespread distribution of GDNF to other parkinson's patients at this point. They are asking for "compassionate use" approval from the FDA to continue their treatments because they have experienced significant benefits. But it is still an experiemental treatment. Other researchers are studying alternate delivery methods for GDNF, but those could be years away. The patients believe that "the possible unknown risks of antibody development do not outweigh the clearly observed, known benefits of GDNF therapy: markedly reduced Parkinson's symptoms and improvements in quality of life." The patients are aware of possible risks, but are willing to sign legal waivers. There were no health problems noted among the trial participants of the earlier Phase 1 trials that took place in Kentucky and Bristol, UK, and those patients have been on GDNF for a longer period of time. Surely, there are risks involved even with FDA approved drugs or surgical techniques , such as DBS surgery. But as the disease worsens the risks become more acceptable because the alternatives are worse for many patients. Many of the trial doctors have spoken out in support of the patients requests and have stated publicly that there was not sufficient evidence of negative side effects to halt the trial or to stop the patients' treatments. They also questioned Amgen's study design and analysis of the trial results. It is a complicated issue. For further information about the patients' appeal, their doctors' statements, newspaper articles and replies to Amgen's concerns, and a history of GDNF research please see: http://www.gdnf4parkinsons.org and http://pdpipeline.org/amgen_gdnf_halt.htm Linda ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn