Huntington's Disease is in a similar category to Kennedy's Disease (SBMA). The hope is that a treatment or cure for a similar condition might lead towards something to help those of us living with Kennedy's Disease.
First patients dosed with 'gene silencing' drug for Huntington's disease
October 19, 2015
The first few patients have
received doses of an experimental RNA-targeting drug for Huntington's
disease, it was announced today.
The
trial aims to test the safety of an experimental drug known as
ISIS-HTTRx, discovered and developed by Isis Pharmaceuticals.
Administered by injection into spinal fluid to improve its delivery to
the brain, the drug is the first tested in patients that targets the
known cause of the disease: a toxic protein called mutant huntingtin
which slowly damages and kills neurons, leading to the progressive and
ultimately fatal decline in mental and physical abilities that is the
devastating hallmark of Huntington's disease.The huntingtin gene and its lethal protein product have been the focus of intense research across the world since their discovery in 1993. 'Gene silencing' drugs, also known as 'antisense' drugs, are designed to reduce production of a chosen protein by attaching to the mRNA 'message molecule' that's made whenever a gene is activated. ISIS-HTTRx targets the huntingtin message molecule, telling the cell to dispose of it, thereby reducing production of the mutant huntingtin protein.
There are no treatments to prevent, slow or cure Huntington's. RNA-targeting antisense drugs, like ISIS-HTTRx, that lower huntingtin production are widely considered the most promising therapeutic strategy currently under investigation. Isis's Huntington's disease therapeutics underwent over a decade of refinement and preclinical testing before human trials could begin. The first Phase 1/2a trial is focused principally on safety, using slowly increasing doses of ISIS-HTTRx with careful monitoring of patient wellbeing, scans and laboratory parameters. In addition, the researchers will be looking for chemical signs that the drug is having the desired effect - by measuring the level of mutant huntingtin protein in the cerebrospinal fluid using a newly developed assay. ...
To read the rest of the article, follow this link: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-10-patients-dosed-gene-silencing-drug.html
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please feel free to comment. By taking a moment to share your thoughts you add much to these articles. The articles then become more than just something I said or believe. In addition, by adding a comment, you might just be helping the next reader by sharing your opinion, experience, or a helpful tip. You can comment below or by sending me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.