OHSU Researchers Discover MS-Like Disease In Monkeys

Findings could lead to major advance in MS research in humans

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have discovered a naturally occurring disease in monkeys that is very much like multiple sclerosis in humans — a discovery that could have a major impact on efforts to understand the cause of multiple sclerosis.

The disease that the researchers discovered in monkeys at OHSU’s Oregon National Primate Research Center is associated with a herpes virus that could give significant clues into how multiple sclerosis develops in humans. MS researchers have long believed that a type of herpes virus may trigger multiple sclerosis in people who are genetically susceptible to the disease.

The OHSU researchers' findings were published online today in the Annals of Neurology.

“These findings could have a huge impact on our understanding of MS and could be a landmark in someday developing more effective treatments for the disease, or even methods to prevent the onset of MS,” said Scott Wong, Ph.D., senior author of the study and a scientist at the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute and the Oregon National Primate Research Center.

Both elements of the OHSU discovery are important for MS researchers.

Before the OHSU findings, researchers had been able to study MS-like diseases in nonhuman primates only after the disease had been artificially induced. A naturally occurring disease, such as the one discovered at OHSU, can give researchers many more clues into the causes and development of the disease.

Medivir: terms of herpes-drug venture are reset

Swedish pharmaceutical company Medivir AB (MVIR-B.SK) said Wednesday it has renegotiated the terms of its commercial partnership with Meda AB (MEDA-A.SK) for its cold sore (herpes labialis) product Xerese and will get $45 million for product rights in North America and Mexico.

-Under the terms of the renegotiated agreement, Medivir will now receive a $45 million payment from Meda in return for the transfer of all rights to the product in U.S., Canada and Mexico.

-This agreement will trigger a payment to AstraZeneca PLC AZN +1.15% , the patent originator, according to agreed terms.

-The amended agreement also provides Meda with the exclusive U.S. rights to Xerese for the genital herpes indication.

-Meda is responsible for the development of this indication for which Medivir will be eligible to receive a $10 million development milestone if the product is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

-Medivir will also receive single digit royalties on sales in the U.S. and full commercial rights outside U.S.

-Medivir will pay Meda a single digit royalty on these sales.

-Other agreements that Medivir has for Xerclear with GlaxSmithKline PLC GSK +0.78% , Daewoong Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd and Luxemburg Pharmaceutical will remain unchanged by the transaction with Meda for North America.

-"The revised agreement fairly reflects our view of the market potential and provides us with cash proceeds that we can devote both to our R&D projects in the infectious disease area and to other product in licensing opportunities to take advantage of the commercial platform acquired through the acquisition of Biophausia."

-Xerese is FDA-approved and available in the U.S. as a prescription medicine. Meda launched the product in the U.S. in Feb. 2011 and Medivir currently receives a double digit royalty on Meda's sales in this market.

-Shares closed Tuesday at SEK129.75. 

First 3D Herpes Infection Model Developed

For the first time researchers have developed a 3D herpes infection model - raising hope for the development of effective treatments of the viral infection. 
Active ingredients and new treatments can be reliably tested with this new model and animal tests could soon be a thing of the past. 

"About 90 percent of the world's population carry it in them all their lives, once infected, and become sick again in stress situations," Anke Burger-Kentischer of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart, said. 

The 3D herpes infection model created by Burger-Kentischer together with her team and the cell systems department makes it possible for the first time to integrate the complicated dormant stage of the virus into a model of the skin. 

To date the skin models used for drug testing and to detect the virus have been very simple and unable to simulate the dormancy state of the virus. 

"We have integrated a neuronal cell line into the certified skin model of the IGB and are able to detect this latency stage for the first time," Burger-Kentischer said. 

Just like in the human nerve cells, the particles of the virus itself cannot be seen; only the presence of its DNA can be proven by means of a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) analysis," Burger-Kentischer added.