PD vaccine moving into trials in Austria
 

What do you all think about this vaccine? Here's the link:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...-89504677.html

vaccine trial in the US...
 

Here's the link for the trial here, in about 18 months:

http://www.radioiowa.com/2010/03/27/...-being-tested/

I like the fact that there are two vaccine protocols being pursued
 

The one in the States, being guided by Gendleman at Univ of Neb and the one in Europe, which you link to, which is being aimed selectively at alpha synuclein.

I also like the fact that both strategies seem based on the premise that PD is a neuro/immune inflammatory condition, because I happen to strongly believe that they are absolutely correct.

Cal

Vaccine/immune therapy for PD is definitely a new approach and I am happy to see that finally inflammation and immune responses are the targets for therapy. I am not familiar with the Austrian group's work but from their press release seems pretty good. Nebraska group has solid data and publications to show that nitrated alpha-syn and T cell responses are involved in PD and I will watch their progression from experimental animals to humans with great interest. As always, mice to human extrapolation is easier on paper than in life.....

another thing to watch out is developing a vaccine or immune responses to alpha-syn. Alpha-syn is a normal component of human body, not a viral or pathogen product. So designing of antigens from alpha-syn can be a challenge. Looks like both these groups have found ways to address this issue. IF this approach works, it will halt the progression of PD not the initiation! Its a good start!

What I am most excited about is that these immune therapies are aimed at decreasing or abolishing inflammatory responses. Once inflammation and associated neural cell death is under control, there is a reason to beleive that stem cell therapy or growth factor-based therapy will be successful. Without inflammation, transplanted cells can grow and may even help in the regeneration of one's own neuronal cells. It would be so nice to have all the neurons back to functioning.

Needless to say I am quite excited about this novel approach of neuroprotection in PD! Its in line with my ideas and hypothesis!!!

Girija

I am really hopeful.
 

Thanks, Girija. I am so extremely hopeful over this potential new approach; this is the only theory I have heard in a long while that actually seems to make sense.

I have had such a bad week with my medications and just feeling so lowsy. It's frustrating in that they work well, but the delivery system is so grossly inadequate.

I'm not sure why more of us are not excited over this? This really is a watershed for us as patients. It has been over 40 years since the introduction of our "gold standard" levodopa. If I am not mistaken, this is the first time ever, researchers have come so close to treating the pathogenesis involved, not merely masking symptoms or simply making them more tolerable.

From an Affiris press release (Austrian pharma):

Due to a completely innovative effect approach this vaccine could for the first time offer a chance of treating the causes of Parkinson's disease.

Girija, is this true do you know? or is it publicity hype?

I don't know, but I just started crying when I read that maybe it's because I largely felt crappy this week and reading this just gave me the boost I needed and restored my hope.

Laura

hopeful, optimistic........
 

Laura,
I share your feelings, you express your thoughts and emotions so well. Yes, I am very hopeful of this approach. I cannot tell you how happy and excited I am about this for both personal and professional reasons, though it may take another 5 years before we can get any benefit from it. here are the reasons for my excitement.
Yes, I do believe that inflammation being the target is one of the best ways to slow down PD. I dont see any hype about stating that. Like I said earlier, its the combination of stem cell/pd is where I am most interested in.

On the professional front, these vaccine stories...... well, here is the story:

I was diagnosed with PD in 2004 and just like you, I read everything that is under the sun about PD and felt that science can find a way to hlep me. Based on my readings, in 2005 (yes its 2005 april, I just checked my records), I had proposed T cell mediated inflammation being responsible for the failure of stem cell transplants in monkeys with PD and applied for grants to pursue that line of research.
My peers, fellow scientists/clinicians whoever reviewed two of my grants felt it was too far fetched. speculative and biased towards immunology...... and therefore didnt fund those grants. It was five years ago.....cannot help but think what if I had those two grants funded, would the vaccine be in phase i or 2 by now???

I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to see a potential cure right in font of my eyes and not being able to get funding for research and obstacles to new ideas even among the scientists. So my approach now is to send for research proposals on topics I think will yield some sort of therapy in my life time, and just spread my ideas even if they are "too speculative and work needs to be done to show the feasibility"

I wish I had funds to test some other ideas I have rather than wait for another 5 years for others to come up with those same ideas!: Laura, my next pitch for money is for targeted drug delivery to brain.... We have a novel biomolecule that can help in crossing the BBB. once again looking for money!! I am an eternal optimist, never give up, keep trying to get funded for my crazy ideas. Some day, some one will....

wow, wrote a lot, I guess I got carried away.........

Girija..



QUOTE=Conductor71;638657]Thanks, Girija. I am so extremely hopeful over this potential new approach; this is the only theory I have heard in a long while that actually seems to make sense.

I have had such a bad week with my medications and just feeling so lowsy. It's frustrating in that they work well, but the delivery system is so grossly inadequate.

I'm not sure why more of us are not excited over this? This really is a watershed for us as patients. It has been over 40 years since the introduction of our "gold standard" levodopa. If I am not mistaken, this is the first time ever, researchers have come so close to treating the pathogenesis involved, not merely masking symptoms or simply making them more tolerable.

From an Affiris press release (Austrian pharma):
[I]
't know, but I just started crying when I read that maybe it's because I largely felt crappy this week and reading this just gave me the boost I needed and restored my hope.

Laura[/QUOTE]