For some reason i came across this news article:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...179121491.html

After diggin arond the references, it seems that the medication they use is Etanercept and according to another source (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021951233#post1) they are charing $5000 for a single shot. Is it a scam?

No it is not a scam...it has always been expensive.

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

But does it has any value as a treatment for TBI?

Etanercept is used to treat autoimmune disease inflammation symptoms. I wonder if it impacts the S-100b protein that causes an autoimmune reaction when it gets past the blood brain barrier after a TBI.

The TBI study group were far more seriously injured than concussions.

You have seen the commercials for it - Enbrel .

Drugs.com - Enbrel info.

Many of the NIH studies are showing that further study is needed, however it does look positive, with perispinous injections of etanercept; and I found one reference to the addition of minocycline with the etanercept.

And I did find this maybe referencing the S-100b protein and etanercept.

I did not find any comments about S-100b protein in the etanercept articles. There are a number of weaknesses in the reports. They are open label meaning they expose the subjects that have taken the etanercept injection. They note quick improvements but I could not find any data for how long the improvements last. It also requires an injection into the

The contra-indications of TB and any immuno-compromised conditions make it a bit scary. The cost makes it unlikely for all but the worst injuries. If the Enbrel can be administered by a caregiver after an $800 training in Nicaragua, the minimum cost is $200 per week that may be extended to $200 per month at the very best. Every 2 weeks is more likely a optomistic outcome. Injections into the fatty tissue between C-5 and C-6 every week creates a risk. I would expect administration by a doctor or other licensed professional would easily increase this cost to $1000, considering malpractice issues. The protocol requires 12 weeks as a test phase although 4 weeks can be a minimum test phase in some cases.

The objective with very early stage Alzheimer's Disease is to get an improvement equal to 1 to 3 years prior to treatment date. Those of us who have seen the very early stages of AD recognize this as a recognizable but minor improvement.

This sounds more like an attempt to find new markets for a very expensive drug than a protocol that will gain approval by many payers.

I agree, it was late for me, I was rushed and tired, and didnt spend alot of time reading that one in depth enough.

Couldn't really find any indepth references to the S100-B protein and Enbrel.

These 2 present information calling for randomized studies, which we would all agree are needed: (They are referencing the same studies.)

TNF Inhibition

NIH Reference

If you research further into the references from NIH there is some reports that refer to the peri-spinal injections, and the administration - I believe that that topic is left to be covered by the administering facility, which in the US would be the Radiology Dept. who would most likely be administering them by Radiologic guided means. (Acknowledging the litigiousness nature of our culture)

IMO, there are many things about Enbrel, and many of those newer drugs for the auto-immune diseases are scarey . I don't know but a very few folks who are taking them, and so far they are comfortable with them, and I am happy they feel like they are receiving some improvements of their conditions; but after I have read the Warnings boxes of some of them, and with my ongoing condition, I would Balk at using them just because they do give me pause.

And with that said, I do not see how they could possibly have randomized studies without providing full disclosures on the Warnings of the totalilty of the side effects and not have study member flee from the room........

I wish them the best with their studies, I don't expect progress to be rapid in the case of these medications hitting the market soon though, for the US - but I have been wrong in the past.