Hi Gerry-Re: GDNF

[Charlotte A Mancuso <mancann@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Gerry,
GDNF is not the drug that Guilford developed with, I think, John Hopkins; it's 
a public/private endeavor.  They then sold the rights to Amgen, went through 
some clinical trial, and Amgen decided it was a disappointment.  Last I heard, 
Guillford started working on it again after Amgen rejected it. I can't remember 
the name or number of the drug when it was at Amgen, but at Guillford it was 
GPI 1046, I believe, and it was some kind of ligand. It was not a growth factor 
drug, and it is not now being delivered directly to the brain.  But it's an 
interesting idea--perhaps the two will be used together someday: The GDNF 
delivered to the brain, and the Guillford drug to, put crudely, kick start it.
Now, this is not the first time at bat for GDNF either. GDNF had a go quite 
some time ago--before the Guillford thing--and it fizzled.  I don't know what 
the difference is this go around, but delivery was an issue.  The guy that 
spoke at the forum 2 or 3 years ago to announce it gave me the background on it 
in the bar the night before--bent my ear for an hour--he was really promoting 
it--I think he would have talked to a potted plant.
It sounds exciting, and, yes, we've been disappointed before, and I get 
impatient and frustrated.  We'll just have to see.
I'm missing you and our gatherings in the coffee shop, and when we closed that 
down we'd move to the bar until that closed. I miss you all.  The ones you 
talked about--the ones "that have been around a long time."  I was one of the 
new ones joining the veterans--veteran defined as those who went through the 
long struggle to get the Udall bill passed and then to get the Udall Act funded.
If you have second thoughts about the forum, let me know.  I'm going to be in a 
study at the NIH this spring.  I might try to schedule it at the same time as 
the forum.
Take care Gerry, best to Brig
Charlotte
 Gerry Haines <Brignal1@xxxxxxx> wrote: Anyone who has been around a long time, 
will remember a drug company out of
Maryland, can't remember the name, might have Guiford, was testing this
substance even then. If I am correct, then Amgen bought the company and
continued with it, but GDNF was showing no real benefits.
Trying to rely on my memory and that doesn't work sometimes.
If this is all correct, then this time, it was introduced into the brain
which is where the breakthrough occurred.
Just hoping, after 17 years of a cure right around the corner, I don't jump
as high as I used to.
Gerry and Brig

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