The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7205 p11
6 July 2002

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European Neurological Society (www.ensinfo.com)

Cytotoxic agent shows promise in MS treatment

An intercalating agent currently in phase III trials for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is also showing promise for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Italian researchers compared the effects of the agent, BBR 2778, with mitoxantrone, a cytotoxic antibiotic (approved in the United States for the treatment of MS), in an experimental model of MS.

They found that both drugs, when repeatedly administered intravenously, were effective in preventing disease relapses, but better efficacy was seen with BBR 2778 than with mitoxantrone at the dose tested. Both drugs had a similar effect on reducing total white blood cell counts, but a greater reduction in lymphocyctes was seen with BBR 2778. The researchers say that unlike mitoxantrone, with which dose-related cardiotoxicity can occur, BBR 2778 showed no evidence of having cardiotoxic properties.

Data were presented at the12th meeting of the European Neurological Society held in Berlin last week. BBR 2278 is being developed by Novuspharma, Bresso, Milan.