 |
 |
(info from Los Angeles Daily News, 22 Aug 97) Two big-time drug developers are joining in pursuit of a drug to help PWP. Thousand Oaks, CA- based Amgen Inc. has been testing a promising product called Glial Cell-Line Based Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF), which promotes regeneration of neural tissue that may be lost in PD. Baltimore, MD- based Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. is testing another growth factor called GPI-(I forget the number). GDNF has restored function in MPTP monkeys, but since it can't cross the blood-brain barrier must be administered via costly stereotactic surgery, now in trials on human subjects. GPI's drug will cross the BBB and, if it works, may be taken orally. Amgen agreed to invest about $60 million up front, plus $13.5 million to continued research, plus up to $392 million more in progress awards if the research pans out, for rights to GPI's products, which if successful should help all kinds of neurodegenerative diseases as well as PD. One cynical view of all this is that Amgen's human trials of GDNF may be doing less well than expected. Cheers, Joe -- J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694 3527 Cody Road Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-5013