Health Minister Don McMorris announced today that Saskatchewan is finalizing a partnership with U.S researchers and is prepared to fund the participation of Saskatchewan patients in a multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical trial in Albany, New York.
The province is working with a research team led by Dr. Gary Siskin, a vascular and interventional radiologist at Albany Medical Centre.
"Patients need answers as soon as possible about the efficacy of the Liberation Therapy as a treatment for MS," McMorris said. "We owe it to them to explore every opportunity to advance MS research and find answers about this treatment. This clinical study will enable Saskatchewan patients to be involved quite quickly in a controlled, reputable research process."
"Our research team is very excited about this partnership," Dr. Siskin said. "We welcome the opportunity to involve Saskatchewan patients in our efforts to gather reliable data that can help determine whether angioplasty effectively relieves MS symptoms."
Once the partnership is finalized, Saskatchewan MS patients will be advised how and when they can apply to participate. It is anticipated that between 80 and 90 Saskatchewan MS patients would be involved in the clinical trial. The province is setting aside approximately $2 million to cover costs and patient expenses.
In October 2010, Saskatchewan became the first jurisdiction in Canada to commit funding for clinical trials of the Liberation Therapy as a treatment for MS. The province enlisted the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) to form an expert advisory panel and issue a call for research proposals that would lead to clinical trials conducted in the province. That process did not result in a suitable research proposal.
In July 2011, the federal government announced that the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) would proceed with early-stage pan-Canadian research into the Liberation Therapy.
McMorris said Saskatchewan still intends to support the CIHR process.
"We are very interested in participating in national research," McMorris said. "Our concern is that it may be two or three years before that process runs its course, and even longer before it arrives at a conclusion about the effectiveness of the Liberation Therapy. Saskatchewan is not willing to leave our patients in limbo until that work is completed."
The MS Society of Canada Government Relation Chair and Member of the Board Eugene Paquin issued the following statement after the announcement: We are encouraged by the continuing support by the provincial government for MS research activities and we look forward to positive developments from clinical trials regarding venous angioplasty. As always, our first concern is that people living with MS have options when it comes to treating and managing their MS.
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For more information, contact:
Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tyler.mcmurchy@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-3594
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