Prochymal

Does anyone know when Prochymal is anticipated on being approved?  I have heard great things about it, and have yet to join the clinical study group for various reasons.  VERY interested in trying it.

Thanks... how disappointing, though.

Sorry about that, I remembered the post, but forgot the exact details:)

It works, I go in for my one year CT scan and follow up at the U of Minnesota tomorrow. There was a problem with the Placebo effect. Sounds like I will be going on Tysabri now with TPN to gain some weight. Not excited about going on the Tysabri , but at this point I am desperate and would do anything to feel better. No fun when crap is running down your pantlegs in public and there is nothin you can do about it. My doc and I both feel that I got the Prochymal in the first arm of the study because of my rapid weight gain and blood test numbers. When my health declined and I was put into the second arm of the study my health never got any better and my blood tests went whacky again, so the doc felt that I had been given the placebo on the second arm. The stuff works and I just wish I could get it. I almost feel betrayed or cheated that I cant get it and now I have to go on Tysabri until I can get it again.

I understand too. I was hoping for that open-label. I had to move to Tysabri after Prochymal too. It is scary, but keep in mind that trying it is very, very low risk. If it works, then you can decide how you feel about the risk. And, if it works, the risk is easier to accept. Like you said, there is only so much a person can live with and if there is a chance that Tysabri could hold you until the stem cells come around, it's a valid option! So many thousands have taken it safely. And, now there is another med that's showing PML risk. It's tough to know how many of the immune modulators have the potential and we just don't know it yet. (Raptiva - a psoriasis med announced today) I could never get off the steroids while on Tysabri (for 6 months, 7 infusions total) so I stopped it.

northernguy - have you tried Cimzia yet? I still don't know for sure how much it's helping as I am still not off the steroids, but I'm better than I was by enough to keep it up.

My problem with Remicade and Humira stemmed from the fact that I needed it twice as often. At weekly shots I was doing ok (not great/remission, but getting along). The insurance company denied coverage.

I'm not a chemist or a scientist, but what i understand is that Cimzia's formula has been "pegylated" meaning that it has an increased time in the blood. I had two GIs, just went back to my original because my first was not really open to trying it. I figured that it can't hurt to try it and what if I happen to be one of the people who rejected Remicade and Humira and still responds to Cimzia. I figured it's worth a try... So that's what I'm doing. Tale is not fully told yet though. Ideally I can cut back on my steroids. But I am better now than I was when I started. There's been Cipro/Flagyl too, so it's not all clear about me and Cimzia. I am just being optimistic because it seems better for my mind!

Added:  here's a link which explains pegylated:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105132.php

Hi, I was just taken off of the Cimzia yesterday by my doc. I have been on it since last Sept. and it hasnt done anything. By the way though, I also failed Remicade and Humira, so I am not an Anti- TNF responder. I had my One year follow up for the Prochymal study today. It was just a physical exam and a CT scan. My doc now wants to put my on TPN with Tysabri treatment. I am 5 9 and 135lbs , so if a stranger saw me on the street they would just think I am a skinny guy, but if you knew me 4 years ago I was 170lbs and athletic. Hopefully , the combination of the TPN with the Tysabri working will bring me up to that weight again, would be nice for my clothes to fit better.