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http://sddt.com/files/librarywire/96wireheadlines/08_96/DN96_08_13/DN9 6_08_13_ch.html Amgen Announces Human Clinical Trials for Parkinson's Drug Aug. 13, 1996 THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) - Amgen Inc. announced it is starting human clinical trials for a drug that may reverse the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The drug is called GDNF. It is a substance found naturally in the brain, where scientists say it appears to be involved in normal development. But when it was injected in high levels, GDNF gave monkeys significant relief from the disease's symptoms. The human clinical trials of GDNF, or glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, were announced Monday by the biotechnology firm. Drugs usually take from five to 10 years to get regulatory approval and reach the market, said Amgen spokesman David Kaye. About one million people suffer from Parkinson's disease, Kaye said. The neurological illness is characterized by rigidity, tremors and difficulty in initiating movement. Parkinson's is caused by a deficiency of dopamine, which brain cells use to communicate, in key areas of the brain. GDNF makes brain cells pump out more dopamine, researchers say. It may also help by letting brain cells better regulate their release and retrieval of dopamine, so that the short supply doesn't go to waste, according to scientists. The bulk of Amgen's sales comes from two wildly successful products - Epogen, which promotes red blood cell production for patients with kidney failure, and Neupogen, which promotes white blood cell growth and is used by chemotherapy patients to ward off infections. To ensure continued growth, the company is developing a palette of other drugs. GDNF is the fifth drug Amgen launched into human clinical trials this year. "You can't rest on your laurels in this business," said John Wong, senior biotechnology analyst at Van Kasper & Co., an investment banking firm in Los Angeles. "They need other breakthrough products." Amgen's four other new drugs that started human clinical trials this year are Leptin, which fights obesity; KGF, which treats the inflammation of the mucus membrane from chemotherapy and radiation; TNFBP, which treats rheumatoid arthritis; and a drug that purifies the blood of cancer cells. _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ Central Supply & Services _/ _/ (Internet Training and Research) _/ _/ PO Box 57247, Jackson Stn., _/ _/ Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8P 4X1 _/ _/ John S. Walker _/ _/ Email [log in to unmask] _/ _/ _/ _/ "To Teach is to touch a life forever" _/ _/ On the Web one touch can reach so far! _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/