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I think it was all about money. Amgen didn't think further development of GDNF at that time would be profitable enough, so they pulled teh plug on it/ (actually the pumps). MedGenesis seems like a very different type of company (if we are to beleive the article) but I fear Amgen has worked out the lease agreement so that they would be able to step back in at some point, if the trials are going well Anyone who met some of the original trial participants (as I had the opportunity to) knew that GDNF worked and it was our best chance. Amgen's halt of the phase II trial and subsequent refusal to lease the growth factor to another company until now robbed all of us of more than four precious years of progress. At least now there are a number of differnet sponsors working on different delivery systems for GDNF Linda -------- Original Message ---------- From: Rick McGirr <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: GDNF making a comeback Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:28:10 -0400 Interesting news. I hope MedGenesis has the heart to carry through where the previous firm didn't. I think it's a shame that this promising technology had to languish while we tittered on about bank bailouts and such. Rick Mc -----Original Message----- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask] Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2010 10:56 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: GDNF making a comeback Article from the Times Colonist, Victoria, Canada, 7/24/10 "Local biotech firm believes it's on the cusp of a brain breakthrough" is about MedGenesis, the Canadain biotech that managed to get the license from Amgen, after 4 years to further develop GDNF. They are using a convection enhanced delivery system, that allows the delivery of treatment via microscopic catheters, inserted through a patient's skull, into highly specific areas of brain tissue. . The company seems to be commited for GDNF to succeed,.As un-Amgen like as we could ever hope for. Excerpts:"According to MedGenesis CFO Michael Lincoln, the company is estimating the cost of getting GDNF through the trials and to market could be anywhere between $65 million and $100 million."Financing is always a key issue, and it was to our bad luck that the bottom fell out of the world economy at the time we needed to finance operations," said Mohr (CEO), who noted the company has managed through it because he had significant personal resources to draw on and a number of well-heeled contacts who bought into their plans. Mohr also pointed out his executive team stuck with the program. He took no salary for three years and his team worked for cut rates. Mohr said the fact his team remains intact is testament to the belief in what they are doing. "Our entire executive team is still at the table, nobody left," he said. "There is something there." "Mohr is hopeful they can begin Phase 2 clinical trials next year, a process expected to take about two years, including data analysis and dealing with Health Canada and the federal Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. "We're going to manufacture the product and go back into the clinic next year and we're very hopeful a pathway to success can be found," he said. Read full article http://www.timescolonist.com/health/Local+biotech+firm+believes+cusp+brain+b reakthrough/3317850/story.html#ixzz0udpxbHyO --------- Forwarded Message ---------- From: "Stan" <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [pipelinerscore] GDNF "breakthrough" claimed Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:44:55 -0000 http://www.timescolonist.com/health/Local+biotech+firm+believes+cusp+brain+b reakthrough/3317850/story.html ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pipelinerscore/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pipelinerscore/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [log in to unmask] <*> Your use of Yahoo! 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