Osiris trials for COPD in SC and CA and VT

[Jeannine]

Osiris trials for COPD in SC and CA and VT

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00683722?term=copd+and+stem+cell&rank=1

They will only accept participants in their local areas as many evaluations are involved over a 2 year period and you have a 50% of receiving a placebo. Also your FEV1 must be 30 or higher.

[barbara]

And as Danny found out, you have to be at least 40 years old. I think the maximum is 80. I am grateful that the Osiris trials are taking place, but for me having to be in a trial for two years knowing I got a placebo would be unacceptable. If the stem cell therapy they are using works even a little bit, believe me you would know whether you got the real deal or not in just a few days or weeks in my opinion. If anyone has two years to devote to their study, then I would say go for it if you qualify. You might just get lucky and not get the placebo.

[Ed in NH]

Not sure I get your previous post Barbara. Do you think that this prochymal stem cells won't work or will be innefective?

I think I read somewhere that this line of stem cells, for cardiac patients, demonstrated a 17 point improvement in lung function. Not sure what that means exactly (is that FEV1??), but it sounds impressive.

I am very hopeful for this trial. At least we are now seeing COPD and stem cell research together. This is great news.

[barbara]

Ed - No, I am not saying that what Osiris is using won't work. I am saying that for me waiting for two years to have it confirmed if I were in the group that got placebos is not really something I would want to do. I may amend my previous post to say that effects may not be felt for a couple of months in some cases, but I would think if you were in the group that got the real deal, you are going to know fairly quickly. If a person can easily qualify for a trial, it may be the solution to getting therapy without shelling out a lot of money, but most trials have strict criteria and people that need treatment the most will in many cases be excluded as they can't qualify. As I said, I am very pleased that the trials are taking place. It is progress. I just don't have the patience is all.

[arichardn5]

i wonder as to how many people in need of a chance to get healthier feel left out because of the fev1 at 30% requirement by orisis. i know i did when i first read about the trial being offered as my fev1 is about 26-27%. i believe that they take the healthier subjects with higher fev1 readings because they want their trials to look better statistically so they can make a ton of money when they market it. its like the very needy for a treatment with little money for a treatment are left behind with feelings of little hope on a possible trial....richard

[Jeannine]

arichard

I felt left out as well. It was even worse than that. I asked to participate in the Burlington VT trial directly to the doctor running the trial as I know him personally. I was willing to drive up there as often as necessary too as I live about 2 hours south. HE said no because he was only recruiting people who live in Burlington VT. Burlington VT has a population of about 27,000 so good luck to him in finding the appropriate people. What I found even more ridiculous was that they would accept an 80-year old before someone who was 30 who had COPD because they were too young.

So you couldn't be too young or too sick. I agree with you 100%