FTY270 (fingolimod), an S1P1 modulator, is a T-cell specific immunosuppressant and is a hot, emerging phase III therapy for MS from Novartis (NVS). So where is the difficulty?
In the Aug. 14, 2008, issue of Nature, scientists from Emory University and the Yerkes Primate Research Center reported that, paradoxically, in a mouse model the drug also can enhance the body’s ability to get rid of chronic viral infections.
Yeah… an immunosuppressant helps mice getting rid of viruses.
The apparent biological contradiction in this paper underscores a few things (of many) that made drug development/discovery crazy hard:
1.) Most animal models of disease really really blow.
2.) Most of the time, how these compounds work at all is only a theory.
3.) Biological systems are redundant and complex. You never know what removing or adding one player will do.
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Eben is a highly caffeinated business development associate at a small, cash sensitive pharmaceutical company somewhere in Massachusetts. He enjoys cliche-less banter, compartmentalization, non-equilibrium thermodynamics and NPV analysis. Agree or disagree with what he's posted? He encourages comments.
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