Amgen’s GDNF Shows Signs of Effectiveness

Regarding “Study Adds to Dispute Over Drug by Amgen,” July 2:

Amgen spokeswoman Andrea Rothschild stated that the ability of clinical trial participants with Parkinson’s disease to perform day-to-day tasks did not improve when treated with GDNF.

This statement is not only incorrect and misleading but also a threat to the public’s health, given the crippling effects of Parkinson’s disease.

Multiple clinical trial participants who received GDNF reported significant physical functioning improvements, including substantial gains in the ability to walk, bathe and feed themselves.

Rather than being transitory, these improvements were sustained over extended periods of time, even years, for those trial participants who were lucky enough to receive GDNF for that length of time.

It is unconscionable for Amgen to portray GDNF as an ineffective treatment.

If the executives at Amgen no longer believe the form of GDNF used in these studies is a viable treatment for Parkinson’s disease, why not release the patent?

Other scientists could then pursue development of the most promising treatment for Parkinson’s disease that has ever been observed.

Kristen Suthers

Founder

GDNF4Parkinson’s

Washington