Natura Alpha anyone heard of this?

I found a website describing that trial, but not much other information. A pharmasutical company is appying for a patent, and the owner is a co-author on some published research on Natura-a and prostate cancer. (Longgui Wang/President, Natrogen Therapeutics International, Inc)

I did get into some medical literature, and read a paper on Natura-a for rheumatoid arthritis. They gave a fairly accessible description of what the drug is and how it seems to work. It appears to regulate the IL-17 cytokine in the immune system, which is related to Th-17 helper cells, and inflammatory responses

"Natura-a, a newly developed cytokine regulator, has been
shown to have potent therapeutic activities against dextran
sulfate sodium salt-induced chronic ulcerative colitis in Balb/c
Mice. This molecule is capable of rebalancing expression/
production of various cytokines, i.e. inhibiting expression of
pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6 and simultaneously
stimulating regulatory cytokine IL-10 in LPS-stimulated
THP1 human monocytes and inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation
(unpublished data; US patents pending)."

"Natura-a is a cytokine regulator being developed by Natrogen
Therapeutics International (NY, USA). It is small synthetic
molecule, and chemically belongs to dihydroindole family with
a molecular weight 276 and a melting point of 235–237 C1. The
chemical name of Natura-a is N-methyl-D3, 30-dihydroindole-2,
20 diketone. Experiments demonstrate that Natura-a significantly
inhibits expression of various pro-inflammatory cytokines including
IL-1b, IL-6 and TNF-a while stimulates expression of the
regulatory cytokine IL-10 in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells (Study
NTI-2001 Report, Supporting Information support S1). Natura-a
also shows efficacy against acute and chronic ulcerative colitis in
dextran sulfate sodium salt induced mouse models (Manuscript
in Preparation)." [I checked, this article has still not come out]

"Our results showed that Natura-a has a strong effect on Th-1
and Th-17 differentiation. Recent papers show that CIA is
governed by two proinflammatory CD4 T-cell types called Th-1
and Th-17 cells. These cells are mainly producers of IFN-g and
IL-17A and these syntheses are induced by distinct cytokines in the
medium; IL-12 for Th-1 and IL6, TGF-b for Th-17 cells."

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This stuff is hard for me to read, but the goal seems to be to re-balance the immune system, so it would be sort of like a cure if it works in humans.

From this trial's publication, to toxicity studies, to FDA approval, to appearing on the shelf .... would likely still be 3-5 years in my opinion.

The toxicity studies will be something to watch. Some studies on tissue in petri dishes did find adverse effects at higher dosages. The real key will be that it can down-regulate the proinflammatory and tuneup the parts of the immune system that self regulate - without throwing something else out of kilter and causing worse immune problems, or without damaging an organ like the liver or kidneys.

Overall, reports like this are one reason I wold fight to avoid surgery. I have held out for over two years no with no remission, only some moderation of symptoms and some pain management. I know if the limited management I have managed failed, and the symptoms got a lot worse, that surgery would be in the discussion. But it sure would suck to have surgery a year form now, and then two years later there were several new treatments on the market. I just feel like there are a lot of new thing on the brink of being released.

My doctor was doing trials on that drug.  It is derived from a Chinese herb.  I am taking a herbal supplement that contains the same ingredients (from what I understand).  The company that is doing the trial is Natrogen and, from what I understand, has completed phase II.  I think that means they are about 4 years away?

 

I was given some papers on the Natura drug when my doctor talked to me about joining the study.  I was told the inventor is a Chinese/American that had derived this from an herb available in China.  The study was for 30 days with 66% chance that I would get a placebo or a dose that may not be effective.  So I didn't do the study.

However, my dodctor pointed me to the Chinese herb that was the basis for Natura.  I've been taking it for almost 2 years now and it has changed my life.