re. Shot down again

[Genene Hill <geneneh@xxxxxxxxx>]

The Amgen 474 24 week trial was a very aggressive trial with a high
benchmark for hypotheses proof.  As I read the news release and after
talking with contacts at Guilford and Amgen, I come to the following
conclusions.  The trial met the first hypothesis of being a safe drug.  It
failed on the second hypothesis to improve motor skills by 4 points.
However, there were secondary results that are significant.  Those on the
placebo lost dopamine neurons and did not produce new sprouts.  Those on the
low dose produced dopamine neurons and sprouting occurred and the high dose
group produced more dopamine neurons and sprouts.  The test proved that
there were biological changes with use of the drug.  Now they are studying
subsets of the study group such as age, stages of the disease, etc. for more
information.  It may be that it takes longer than 24 weeks for motor skills
to improve.  It seems to me very significant that dopamine neuron density
and sprouting actually did occur.  The scientists and doctors will carefully
analyze the data and decide where to proceed from here.  It isn't over until
it's over.

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