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CJD Therapy Advisory Group

  • Last modified date:
    9 February 2007

The inaugural meeting of the CJD Therapy Advisory Group was held on 23 October 2002, under the chairmanship of Professor Sir Michael Rawlins. This group will advise all four UK health departments on potential therapeutic agents for CJD. In formulating its advice, the Group will take into account the work of other committees in this field.

Membership of the CJD Therapy Advisory Group includes medical and scientific experts, representatives of patient support groups, and a representative of the Medicines Control Agency.

The Group agreed the need to both encourage involvement of the NHS in trials of therapeutics for CJD, and to encourage maximum participation by patients.

The Group will have a role in the provision of information on potential therapeutics to patients, families, professionals and the wider public. A summary of future meetings will be made publicly available through this website.

At its first meeting, the Group considered the potential use of the drug pentosan polysulphate as a therapeutic agent for CJD. A small sub-group will be formed to examine the issues in more detail. In the meantime, a working group of the Committee on Safety of Medicines has also considered the potential therapeutic use of this drug.
Details of the advice from both groups can be below.

The CJD Therapy Advisory Group plans to meet every three to four months, and a second meeting will be arranged early in 2003.

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