Disease modifying drugs
Sat 14.30 - 15.30 (H1)
Biography: Prof. David Bates
Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry
David Bates trained in medicine at
Downing College, Cambridge and the
Middlesex Hospital, London and in
Neurology in the University of Newcastle
upon Tyne and at the Mayo clinic,
Minnesota US.
He is professor of clinical neurology at
the university of Newcastle upon Tyne,
Editor of the International MS Journal
and Chairman of the MS Forum. He has
been involved in clinical trials of MS for
more than 20 years and his department
is currently involved in six trials and
pursuing demographic studies in the
North East of England and laboratory
studies into axonal injury and damage.
Abstract: Therapy in MS: The Future
So, we have beta interferon and Glatiramer Acetate, we are getting natalizumab (Tysabri) but what happens next? Are there better agents, techniques and therapies in trial? And what about those for whom therapy is still not effective?
This talk will assess, realistically, what can and should be achieved with those medicines currently, and shortly, available. It will consider when to use which agent and try to develop a protocol which the expert patient may use to make informed decisions and pose logical questions to his or her medial adviser. It will consider new therapies still in trial and those yet to begin and attempt to provide timelines for when such treatments might be expected to be available and what benefit they could provide.
The more difficult areas of progression, both primary and secondary, will be reviewed and attempts made to define potential there. And a consensus should be developed to decide what is important to those who have and live with MS and those who treat it as to what risks we should take, what pitfalls we must avoid and what really should be our goal.
