Posted by Pfinstegg on April 24, 2003, at 19:47:22
In reply to Anyone know about the CRF antagonist trials, posted by denise528 on April 24, 2003, at 10:29:19
Hi..I read the same thing that you did about the Phase 1 trial of a CRF-1 antagonist in healthy subjects. At that phase, they were just testing for safety, tolerability and proper dosage levels, and, as you say, they found it to be safe and well-tolerated. There are animal studies which have been done at Emory, the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin which show that several antagonists- CRF-1a and 1b, and CRF-2 all have positive effects in preventing abnormal stress responses originating in the hypothalamus. Each of the different CRF antagonists does something slightly different in the brain; it is CRF-1a which most researchers are focussing on.
Phase 2 trials are going on now. Neuroscientists at places like Yale, Emory and the Max Planck Institute in Germany are excited about them, as they will prevent the glucocorticoid abnormalities in depression from ever starting at all, rather than trying to rectify them "downstream" - in the hippocampus and other brain regions, as all the AD's that currently exist do. From what they know now, these drugs work quickly, have fewer side effects than present AD's, and are neuroprotective. Of course, it remains to be seen whether they will really do what everyone hopes!
The CRF antagonists were developed at the Salk Institute; Neurocrine was the first drug company to begin investigating them clinically. After the successful Phase 1 trials, they formed a partnership with Jannsen Pharmaceuticals and then with SmithGlaxcoWellcome to conduct the Phase 2 trials. I couldn't find out where these are being conducted, however, Neurocrine, which describes itself as "committed to remaining the world leader in the CRF field" has a patient information number:858-658-7600. I hope it's useful!
Pfinstegg
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:221973
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030423/msgs/222122.html