Boston Life Sciences - Announces Data to be Presented on Cethrin(R) for SCI

[cljanney]

This would be an interesting meeting to attend as
a whole to get some insights as to what is brewing
in the neuro-surgical sciences.

Anyone ever attend one of these?

Christopher


http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...4564573&EDATE=

Boston Life Sciences, Inc. Announces Data to be Presented on Cethrin(R) for Spinal Cord Injury
at the 2007 American Association Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting

HOPKINTON, Mass., April 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Life
Sciences (Nasdaq: BLSI), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
research and clinical development of diagnostic and therapeutic products
for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, announces the presentation of
6-month Phase I/IIa clinical data for Cethrin in Acute Spinal Cord Injury
(SCI) at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting
April 14-19, 2007 in Washington, DC.
The oral presentation, "Results of the Cethrin Phase I/IIa Prospective
Clinical Trial of a Rho Inhibitor for the Treatment of Acute Spinal Cord
Injury," will be presented in the Neurotrauma and Critical Care Scientific
Session on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 3:15 EDT by Michael G. Fehlings, MD,
PhD, FRC, Medical Director of the Krembil Neuroscience Center and Head of
the Spinal Program at the University Health Network of the University of
Toronto.

About Cethrin
Cethrin is a recombinant protein drug intended to facilitate the
re-growth of axons during the critical period immediately after a major
injury to the spinal cord. Following an SCI, about two-thirds of patients
undergo decompression/stabilization surgery. In this surgery, Cethrin is
delivered in a single dose directly onto the injured region of the spinal
cord without the need for further invasive procedures.

About Boston Life Sciences
Boston Life Sciences, Inc. (BLSI) is engaged in the research and
clinical development of diagnostic and therapeutic products for central
nervous system (CNS) disorders. Cethrin(R), a recombinant-protein-based
drug designed to promote nerve repair after acute spinal cord injury, has
reported positive interim results in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial.
ALTROPANE(R) molecular imaging agent is in Phase III clinical trials for
the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (PD). The company's research and
pre-clinical CNS programs include Inosine for the treatment of spinal cord
injury and stroke, a DAT blocker for the treatment of Parkinson's disease,
and a second generation technetium-based molecular imaging agent for PD
and ADHD. BLSI's current research collaborations include Harvard Medical
School and Children's Hospital Boston.


Contact: Sharon Correia - 508-497-2360
Boston Life Sciences, Inc.
scorreia@bostonlifesciences.com

SOURCE Boston Life Sciences, Inc.

Related links:
http://www.bostonlifesciences.com/

[betheny]

Dr. Mark Hurtt, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Boston Life Sciences, is speaking Sunday April 22 at Working 2 Walk in DC.

Topic:
"Phase I/IIa Clinical Trial Results of Cethrin for Acute Spinal Cord Injury"

It should be good. Boston Life Sciences is one of the generous sponsors of W2W as well. (All the sponsors can be viewed at the bottom of the page here). I hope everybody will support them, because they have supported our community by sponsoring this event!

[Leo]

From W2W web site.

---------------------------
This is your opportunity to learn about the status of a North American Clinical Trial Network.
-----------------------------

Also an opportunity to work with them on what an how we can make these trials happen.....asap


thanks sponsors

[manouli]

Boston Life Sciences, Inc. Announces Data To Be Presented On Cethrin(R) For Spinal Cord Injury At The American Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience News
Article Date: 13 Apr 2007 - 0:00 PDT
| email this article | printer friendly | view or write opinions


Boston Life Sciences (Nasdaq: BLSI), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and clinical development of diagnostic and therapeutic products for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, announces the presentation of 6-month Phase I/IIa clinical data for Cethrin in Acute Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting April 14-19, 2007 in Washington, DC.

The oral presentation, "Results of the Cethrin Phase I/IIa Prospective Clinical Trial of a Rho Inhibitor for the Treatment of Acute Spinal Cord Injury," will be presented in the Neurotrauma and Critical Care Scientific Session on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 3:15 EDT by Michael G. Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRC, Medical Director of the Krembil Neuroscience Center and Head of the Spinal Program at the University Health Network of the University of Toronto.

more:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...&nfid=rssfeeds

[Susan M]

BLSI seems pretty excited about their work. I'm looking forward to hearing about it at the 4/22 W2W Science Symposium.

[Jeremy]

Boston Life Sciences Reports Presentation Of Cethrin Phase I/IIa 6-Month Results - Quick Facts

Monday, April 16, 2007; Posted: 02:40 PM
http://www.pharmalive.com/News/index...&categoryid=40

Company Announces Extension of Phase I/IIa Trial to 9 mg Dosage Level

HOPKINTON, Mass., April 16, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Life Sciences announced today that clinical data on its lead nerve repair therapy, Cethrin(R), were presented in the Neurotrauma and Critical Care Scientific Session at the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) in Washington, DC.

The oral presentation, "Results of the Cethrin Phase I/IIa Prospective Clinical Trial of a Rho Inhibitor for the Treatment of Acute Spinal Cord Injury," was given by Michael G. Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRC, Medical Director of the Krembil Neuroscience Center and Head of the Spinal Program at the University Health Network of the University of Toronto and principle investigator in the study. Co-authors are Nicholas Theodore, MD, James Harrop, MD, Gilles Maurais, MD, Charles Kuntz, MD, Christopher Shaffrey, MD, Brian Kwon, MD, Jens Chapman, MD, Albert Yee, MD, Patrick Tremblay, PhD, and Lisa McKerracher, PhD.

"The preliminary results in this study show that Cethrin may offer great promise for restoring sensory and motor function for patients with new cases of acute SCI," stated Dr. Mark Hurtt, BLSI's Chief Medical Officer. "We have extended the Phase IIa trial to include a 9 mg dose. Currently, three patients have been enrolled at this level and we expect the enrollment at this dosage extension to continue to the 3rd quarter of 2007. Additionally, based on the positive findings to-date in the Phase I/II trial, we are drafting a protocol for a Phase IIb/III study. We plan to meet with the FDA and with Health Canada and plan to initiate this trial in North America by the end of this year or early 2008."

Thirty-seven patients with acute SCI were enrolled in the open label study at nine sites across Canada and the United States. All patients were classified with a complete SCI assessed as American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) A. That means they suffered a complete thoracic or cervical injury (i.e. having no sensory or motor function below the level of the SCI). ASIA grades are designated from A through E, with 'A' designating complete SCI, and 'E' being normal. Grades 'B' through 'D' designate increasing levels of motor and sensory improvements.

An escalating dose of Cethrin(R) (0.3, 1.0, 3.0, or 6 mg.) was administered to the injured spinal cord during surgical decompression/reconstruction. This occurred within five days of the SCI incident, with the average time being 53 hours. All adverse events were recorded and neurological outcomes were assessed using ASIA standards at 0, 1.5, 3, 6 and 12 months. The following outcomes were noted:


-- There were no serious adverse effects related to Cethrin(R).
-- The complete 6-month patient data showed, 28 percent of patients (10 of
36) improved by one or more ASIA grades as compared to reported
literature results of 6.7% (Burns, J.Neurotrauma, 2003).
-- Five patients improved to ASIA C and two patients improved to ASIA D.
One patient with a thoracic SCI died from acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS).

[DA]

great news....for those who is not paralyzed.

[manouli]

Drug Shows Promise in Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

Published Yesterday | April 2007 , Treatments | Unrated

(HealthDay News) -- A drug called Cethrin shows promise in treating people with spinal cord injury (SCI), according to a study by American and Canadian researchers.
Cethrin inhibits Rho, a signaling master switch that, when activated, triggers cell death and increases damage after SCI. Tests in animals with SCI have found that Cethrin inhibits cell death and promotes neural Regeneration.


more:
http://www.thescizone.com/news/artic...eatment/1.html