MS group cautions against US drug

THE Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland has said it could not recommend the use of a drug claimed by an American company to be effective in MS treatment because it was not licensed here by the Irish Medicines Board.

Claims were also made yesterday by the company which supplies the drug that it could be useful in the treatment of hepatitis C. A company spokesman, Dr Paul Reid, acknowledged, however, that the product had not undergone full clinical trials which could help show whether the drug had any proven medical value.

Dr Reid talked About the drug yesterday on RTE's Today with Pat Kenny radio programme. He said the drug had been given to two women with symptoms of fatal liver disease thought to be caused by hepatitis, one in 1978 and the other in 1988 or 1989. He said he believed both of these women had survived, saying that the drug had reversed the disease.

When contacted by The Irish Times in Florida yesterday however, Dr Reid could give no specific details about the women.

Dr Reid works for the Phylomed Corporation, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which is involved in developing products for the veterinary, human health and cosmetic pharmaceutical sectors.

He said the drug had been given to about 4,000 people with virtually no side effects. The same drug had been used in various tests on animal and avian illnesses. However, it had not undergone recognised US Federal Drugs Administration (FDA) testing for toxicity or to prove therapeutic value.

A spokeswoman at the MS Society of Ireland, Ms Vickie Lloyd, said the drug had had no clinical trials and was not licensed. "We could not recommend anyone take a drug that is not licensed."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said yesterday that Dr Reid had been in Ireland in September 1996 seeking State funding for a clinical trial of the drug.

"In the course of the discussions Mr Reid was informed of the requirement of the Clinical Trials Act in this respect. The Irish Medicines Board indicated that they would be happy to receive any follow up data or information thought appropriate by Phylomed but to date no further communication has been received," she said.

The Irish Medicines Board in a statement said Dr Reid had been "invited to contact the board for further assistance prior to submission of any clinical trial application". It has not had any further contact from him since September last year.

Commenting on the claims for the drug, Ms Jane O'Brien, of Positive Action said: "Positive Action is aware of what was said on the Pat Kenny programme and will investigate further."

The FDA said it had no information about the company and could not comment.