Oct. 20, 2011
FROM THE CEO'S DESK
RITUXIN STUDY LINKS & MEDIA COVERAGE
ALSO NEW AT Research1st.com
FROM THE CEO'S DESK
The results of a study published yesterday in PLoS ONE, showing that two in=
fusions of a monoclonal antibody called Rituximab may provide durable relie=
f from CFS for at least some patients, are extremely encouraging. We've pos=
ted a summary of the study (http://www.research1st.com/2011/10/19/rituximab=
-trial/) at Research1st. The most exciting news from the study is the possi=
bility of disease-modifying treatment. This study also provides support for=
other possible approaches to repair immune abnormalities that have been id=
entified in CFS patients. The application of a therapy approved for two typ=
es of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis validates the seriousness of the illn=
ess and demonstrates the large unmet need for effective treatment. Larger s=
tudies are needed, and the drug tested is not without its risks. We will us=
e these promising results to urge new investment from pharma, academic and =
government research institutions to meet this huge need. We congratulate th=
e team in Bergen, Norway, for pioneering this approach, for the exciting re=
sults they have produced and the hope they have generated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RITUXIN STUDY LINKS & MEDIA COVERAGE
"Benefit from B-Lymphocyte depletion using the anti-CD20 antibody Rituximab=
in chronic fatigue syndrome. A double-blind and placebo-controlled study,"=
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0026358=
by Oystein Fluge et al, in PloS ONE (Oct. 19, 2011)
"Rituximab trial shows promise," http://www.research1st.com/2011/10/19/ritu=
ximab-trial/ by Kim McCleary on Research1st.com (Oct. 19, 2011)
"Chronic fatigue syndrome eased by cancer drug," http://www.newscientist.co=
m/article/dn21065-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-eased-by-cancer-drug.html by And=
y Coghlan at New Scientist magazine (Oct. 19, 2011)
"Norweigan research breakthrough can solve CFS mystery," http://www.tv2.no/=
nyheter/innenriks/english-version-norwegian-research-breakthrough-can-solve=
-cfsmystery-3615631.html TV2 in Norway (English translation) (Oct. 19, 2011=
)
"Cancer drug can help the chronically exhausted," http://bit.ly/ohrG2G by N=
ina Weber at Spiegel Online (English Translation) (Oct. 20, 2011)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ALSO NEW AT Research1st.com
The CFIDS Association of America hosted a webinar on Oct. 14, 2011 to provi=
de information about the Phase III results of the multicenter study of XMRV=
known as the Blood XMRV Scientific Research Working Group (SRWG) study. St=
udy leaders described the large study in detail. For links to the recording=
, slides and lead author Graham Simmons' responses to 10 common criticisms =
of the study, read more at http://www.research1st.com/2011/10/14/xmrv-updat=
es/.
The burden of disease refers to the burden that ill health and risk factors=
place on society. Measures of this burden include prevalence, mortality, l=
ife expectancy, economic costs, hospitalization rates as well as specific m=
easures of quality of life and disability. Writer Andrew Kewley of Adelaide=
, Australia, explores how this measurement might help make the case for dee=
per investment in CFS research. Read more at http://www.research1st.com/201=
1/10/13/disease-burden/.
The IACFS/ME held its biennial research conference in Ottawa last month. Dr=
. Charles Lapp shares his report of conference highlights. Read more at htt=
p://www.research1st.com/2011/10/13/iacfsme-summary/.
Research news is regularly updated on our Research1st website. Listings and=
descriptions of recent journal highlights (http://www.research1st.com/prom=
ising-cfs-research-findings), current research initiatives (http://www.rese=
arch1st.com/current-cfs-research/) and media coverage (http://www.research1=
st.com/media-coverage-about-cfs-research/) complement blog posts that addre=
ss a variety of topics. Subscribe to email alerts (http://feedburner.google=
.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=3DResearch1st&loc=3Den_US) about new posts to the =
site.
*******************************
The CFIDS Association of America
working to make CFS widely understood, diagnosable, curable and preventable
---------------------------------------------
Send posts to CO-CURE@listserv.nodak.edu
Unsubscribe at http://www.co-cure.org/unsub.htm
Co-Cure Archives: http://listserv.nodak.edu/archives/co-cure.html
---------------------------------------------
Co-Cure's purpose is to provide information from across the spectrum of
opinion concerning medical, research and political aspects of ME/CFS and/or
FMS. We take no position on the validity of any specific scientific or
political opinion expressed in Co-Cure posts, and we urge readers to
research the various opinions available before assuming any one
interpretation is definitive. The Co-Cure website <www.co-cure.org> has a
link to our complete archive of posts as well as articles of central
importance to the issues of our community.
---------------------------------------------
