Campath® (alentuzumab)

Parent companies: Genzyme Corporation and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.

Administered via once-yearly cycles of intravenous infusions (other dosing and methods of administration have been used).

Used to treat Leukemia; also studied in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Targets certain T-cells, B-cells, and macrophages; results in a depletion of T-cells.

CAMMS223 Phase 2 study compared Campath to high-dose Rebif in an open-label study with RRMS patients.

Interim analysis from CAMMS223 showed a 75-percent reduction in risk of relapse and a 65-percent reduction in progression to significant disability in those treated with Campath.

Dosing was suspended in September 2005 when a few patients developed a serious bleeding condition from decreased platelets in the blood, resulting in one fatality.

Patients need to be monitored closely due to risk of significant toxicities.

Apparently more effective when given in RRMS versus SPMS.