We recently heard about a  study that is currently recruiting in Aberdeen and Bristol Eye hospitals.   We know of at least one Birdshot patient who has been recruited on this study in the UK and probably there are others.  This link takes you to details about the clinical trial.

The objective  of this study is to test the  Efficacy and Safety of the Human Anti-TNF Monoclonal Antibody Adalimumab in Subjects With Inactive Non-infectious Intermediate, Posterior, or Pan-uveitis.

Adalimumab (also called Humira) is a type of drug known as anti-TNF (anti-tumour necrosis factor). In people with rheumatoid arthritis and some other inflammatory diseases a protein called TNF is overproduced in the body, causing inflammation and damage to bones, cartilage and tissue. Anti-TNF drugs block the action of TNF and so can reduce this inflammation.

Treatment with Adalimumab (Humira)  is self-injected normally every  two weeks. It may be used in combination with antimetabolites or calcineurin inhibitors. Its effect on uveitic activity can be swift, with benefit sometimes seen within days or weeks.  Although not currently licensed for uveitis this drug is already sometimes used in people  who have not responded to other  treatment.

Annie and Rea

The discovery of an unexpected new mechanism behind the inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis was recently reported in the Journal of Clincial Investigation JAN 25, 2011

It’s all to do with GGTase-I which is found in all cells, but is particularly important for the function of so-called CAAX proteins in inflammatory cells. Apparently GGTase-I attaches a cholesterol-like fatty acid on the CAAX proteins.

Researchers previously believed that a fatty acid played an important role in activating the proteins and could contribute to the functioning of inflammatory cells. The research has shown that they have the opposite effect to what they expected.

The researchers believe that their discovery will contribute towards a greater understanding of the mechanisms involved in inflammatory processes, and help find appropriate medication. Birdshot is believed to be an inflammatory autoimmune disease, just like rheumatoid arthritis. We have always believed that the ‘cure’ for Birdshot is most likely to come from research into one of the other more well known and more common inflammatory auto-imune diseases. Now, with the launch of the Birdshot research network, we have extended the possibilities of finding that ‘cure’!

To read more about the research into GGT-ase1, follow the link at the start of this post.

This is some breaking news which applies to inflammatory autoimmune diseases. The news is from scientists at Imperial College London, who helped to invent anti TNF medication (which some of us are on, for example Humira/Adalimumab). Imperial college scientists are hoping that, by finding the ‘switch’ for inflammation, they will be able to develop medication that can also turn off the inflammatory switch, so helping people like us with Birdshot Chorioretinopathy.  We thought members might like to read about something that sounds as if it might be a  promising  scientific development, which furthers the understanding of how inflammation can be controlled.

Annie and Rea

“Scientists in the UK have identified a protein that acts as a ‘master switch’ in certain white blood cells, determining whether they promote or inhibit inflammation. They believe these findings, presented in the journal Nature Immunology, could aid treatments for diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, which involve excessive inflammation. The study was funded in part by the MODEL-IN (‘Genomic determinants of inflammation: from physical measurements to system perturbation and mathematical’) project, which is backed with more than EUR 2.9 million under the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).”

The full report from the EEC Research Centre  can be found at:

White blood cell ‘master switch’ discovery to aid rheumatoid arthritis treatments

EEC Research Information Centre – News 28th January 2011

Our eyes see the world in previously unsuspected ways, say scientists

A type of nerve cell in the retina of the eye may have a more sophisticated role in vision than we thought, a finding that may lead to treatments for some kinds of blindness

To read more about this follow the link to the article in the The Guardian Newspaper 7th December 2010.  A scientific breath through in the understanding of how light sensitive proteins (melanopsins) relay visual information of the brain could lead to new treatments for blindness caused by degradation of rods and cones inside the eye.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/dec/07/eyes-nerve-cell-vision-melanopsin?INTCMP=SRCH

Rea spotted this bit of news today about biologics, which  can be used  to treat special cases of Birdshot where other drugs fail.    It opens up another possibility if the more usual treatments fail or if you suffer from very bad side effects.  We know of cases where  adalimumab, infliximab have been prescribed. Continue reading →

Instead of the usual purple white and black pack, that I pick up every month from my friendly local chemist I was greeted today by a white,orange and lurid green one.  Its called Myfenax, and apparently the ingredients are identical to Cellcept.  Jay, my pharmacist had told me when when I dropped off my prescription, that cellcept had gone generic and that the problem of obtaining it would now be over; but I hadn’t realised quite how quickly.  Myfenax is produced by Teva Pharma who are a dutch company, but inside the “mixed” pack I also had drugs from Dr Reddy’s Laboratories…… and  they are  an indian company based in Hyderabad, although they have a UK subsidiary marketing the drugs here. Continue reading →