Sufferer joins in battle for trials of 'wonder drug'
Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 12:01
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A LLANELLI man is spearheading a fight for trials to be carried out on a "wonder drug" which could help treat people with illnesses ranging from Aids to cancer.
Multiple sclerosis sufferer Andrew Barnett, of Llangennech, and his partner, Jayne Crocker, who has ulcerative colitis, both take a drug called Naltrexone.
The pair say the generic drug has been used with remarkable success to treat their conditions, and are now calling on the Government to help make it available to all.
However, the Assembly says it will only consider medicines appropriately licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
The drug went out of patent in 1986. It was introduced into the UK by Swansea-based physician Bob Lawrence in 2000.
The drug works by blocking endorphin receptors for a limited period of time, which then boosts them five-fold.
This stimulates the immune system to produce cells that repair the body.
Only about 200 doctors in the country currently prescribe the drug — many more are reluctant to do so, because it has not yet been approved by health chiefs.
Mr Barnett described how last year he reached a point where he could only support his weight on crutches. The 49-year-old was crawling out of the front door to get to his car, dragging his legs behind him.
But after taking the drug, there was a remarkable improvement.
Mr Barnett said: "Within four days of taking Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN), I could walk to the car with two walking sticks, and even walked down a friend's country path to visit them.
"The downward spiral ended there, in fact I seem to be improving as time goes by."
His partner Jayne, from Milford Haven, decided to use LDN for ulcerative colitis, which she has had for 25 years.
"Within the first month I was no longer in pain," she said.
"It's not a miracle drug, but it does work for a lot of people."
They say as well as being effective, the drug is cheap, costing less than £1 a day, and could save the NHS vast sums of money.
The couple have created a petition to take their fight to 10 Downing Street, and have already gathered around 3,000 signatures.
Mr Barnett, who has secondary progressive MS, said: "We urge the Government to fund a trial of LDN on the NHS.
"Because of lack of interest by drug companies, without political intervention, we will probably never see this drug trialled."
An Assembly spokesman said the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence had looked at the drug.
He continued: "Since there is no licensed product available for low dose administration in the UK it can only be obtained under a special manufacturing licence.
"Products of this nature are obtained on the full clinical responsibility of the prescriber, and any liability for any harmful effects caused rests with them."
He said researchers with an interest in Low Dose Naltrexone could apply for funding for specific research.
*To find out more about LDN and the petition, visit
www.ldnnow.co.uk
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