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Jacob... GDNF research and testing is being done by Amgen Labs. I called Amgen's head office (which happens ot be near my home) the moment I heard about human trials being started with this drug. Here's what I got (and it's very little.. AND I seriously doubt your neuro knows even this much). There are 50 persons in various unspecified locations around the USA, having PD, who're being tested with GDNF. These test locations will not be made public because Amgen is afraid (and probably rightly so) that they will be SWAMPED by calls from desperate Parkies eager to get ahold of that drug. The drug cannont pass the brain barrier so it gets to the brain via a surgical procedure much like, if not exactly like a pallidotomy. In fact, I'm GUESSING (and this is ONLY a guess, based upon my conversation with the Amgen MD with whom I spoke that one time), that those 50 who are the test subjects have had pallidotomies in the past, and Amgen is using the original pallidotomy site as an entryway into the brain for GDNF <---- JUST A GUESS, PEOPLE, NOT GOSPEL!!) For what it's worth, the Amgen head office's phone number is (805) 447-1000. Keep in mind that while they ARE very gracious (and they truly were... it was nice dealing with them) <but OH-so-frustrating not to get ANSWERS!!!> that they are also VERY closed mouth about this drug and any procedues related to it. Finally, Jacob... I think this is the one, safe place where you CAN vent.. complain, whine, SCREEEEEEEEEAM, or otherwise let it all out about how miserable you feel due to the PD, and what it's done to your life. If any individual or any group can understand, empathize, and know EXACTLY what your body may be going thru, as well as your mind, it's THIS one! So, m'friend... don't apologize for being eager to be rid of the PD, or to desire wanting a "normal life," or for being open ot us about that, 'cause ya know, m'dear... there's not a single one of us that isn't wishing for the very same thing! And the sooner the better!! <smile> Barb Mallut, [log in to unmask] ---------- From: PARKINSN: Parkinson's Disease - Information Exchange Network on behalf of Jacob Drollinger Sent: Saturday, August 31, 1996 9:41 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: information? My neurologist keeps dancing around the issue of GDNF. As I have stated before, I believe, due to the static nature of my illness, I really think that this treatment may be the miracle I have been waiting for- for the past eight years. Yet, she feels she must keep any information regarding this from me. Am I being paranoid? I know that perhaps she doesn't want to get my hopes up, but if I have anything to hope for it is this. I wan't so much to go back to the way I was before, you have no idea. I was just eighteen years old when I was poisoned, and I had just begun to live. I am not saying that anyone else's P.D. is less important than mine, because we all have to suffer through the same things. But most P.Ders have lived a great deal longer than I had before the onset. And maybe it is insensitive, but you know what, I think I have that right now. I am being a crybaby, but no one seems to want to help me. Jacob