Seattle, WA (PRWEB) March 29, 2010 -- Kineta, Inc. announced today receipt of a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Awarded under the NIAID’s expanded Phase 1 program, the $600,000, two-year grant will help finance IND-enabling studies of ShK-186, Kineta’s first-in-class therapeutic for type 1 diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. The award includes a subcontract to George Chandy, M.D., Ph.D. of the University of California at Irvine for mechanistic studies

Read more: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/s...#ixzz0jZ9vRz5F
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This is the drug that I have been studying since a month after being diagnosed with MS. It is the only drug that has made any sense to me. It is FINALLY going to human trials later this year! And the good news is I have a neuro appt next Monday, I have been hounding her to keep updated on this therapy.

It is the potassium channel blockade that makes blocks certain T cells from activating. It has been proven to work in MS along with RA, and a few other autoimmune diseases. And at last check it was available in a pill form. I will be emailing Dr Chandy again today to see if I may qualify for this study. Problem is, it is in California and I am in Virginia, so I may have to talk my neuro into getting on the band wagin with this one.

And even if I am not in on this study, I am SOOOOOOO excited that this has finally made it to human trials!!

Isn't Amphry (Fampridine renamed) a potassium blocker also? If you get in, tell us about it!!

More poison????

LOL more poison indeed. Actually, Ty is a potassium blocker also. BUT, the new poison hasn't caused anyone to get PML yet.

Pretty sure the rep for Fampridine said potassium escapes the damaged area and Famp does "something" about it? I dont remember. Which makes you wonder..does Famp do more then increase endurance possibly heal? Thanks for the heads up legz. Find out. I see my neuro mid April and Ty isnt doing any miracles for me.

Eddie, from what i understand, when the particular T cells activate, there is a reaction where calcium activates the potassium channel causing the cell to kind of wake up and get moving. What they have discovered is that if you block the calcium or the potassium the cell cannot activate both elements have to be present for the cell to respond.

I remember reading some studies being done to block the calcium channel which worked great for shutting down the cells...but of course meant less calcium for your bones and teeth, and of course osteoporosis and other problems.

The reason I like this particular study is because it is the same group of people who discovered that the same type of cells that eat myelin are the same type of cells that cause RA, Diabetes, and I think it was Krohn's disease. (Been 2 yrs since I found the first documentary, which I cannot find now.) It is really fascinating stuff, and I cannot wait for more information to be available that is easier to read.

Hi Leggs,
If you want it, I hope you get in the clinical trial. They sometimes have many locations that have Clinical Coordinators and doctors to treat and test during a new drug trial.

Good luck to you.

Hi leggzz!

If this stops the progression and heals damage all ready done -- sign me up!!!! I'd be willing to ingest some "poison" if it guaranteed a cure!! Good luck to you and PLEASE keep us posted!

Well, because I am not considered RRMS and because my MS is "unstable", I am not well suited for this study. Which stinks, but it is still an amazing drug and really wish them the best of luck in getting it approved. I looked it up on wikipedia last night when I was looking for the animal testing results, and they are amazing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stichodactyla_toxin

Interesting. Think increasing or decreasing potassium in diet would effect our MS?