Amorfix suspends blood testing for vCJD
May 31, 2010 by leonardzehr · 1 Comment
Amorfix Life Sciences (TSX:AMF) has suspended development to commercialize its blood test for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) after two new recently developed versions of the test did not yield positive results.
“Although we were able to achieve unprecedented sensitivity with brain prions diluted into blood, we have been unable to detect blood prions with the latest versions of the test,” CSO Dr. Neil Cashman said in a statement. ”At this stage, we believe our other product development programs are a better use of our resources, although future research may prompt re-evaluation of this assessment.”
Instead, the company will continue development of its ProMIS antibody program, amyloid testing service, a human Alzheimer’s test, novel antibodies and vaccines for Lou Gehrig’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, and contract for the development of a liver cancer early detection assay, which is nearing completion.
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I am very disappointed and shocked to hear this news, with Amorfix success screening blood donors in france and its repeated defining of the screening test. It would appear that when blood samples supplied by the UK department of health from victims of vCJD that the test failed not just margainally but totally. With its previous scientific success in and outside the lab this for a mum who has lost a child to vcjd rasies many signficant questions. I and many families who have lost a loved one to vcjd tried without success to provide blood samples from our children to help with the development of the amorfix test. This was continually blocked, stalled and sidelined by the Uk government and whitehall representatives. All our independant efforts ( as families we have no political fincancial gain or agenda) to support amorfix and its vcjd blood screening failed. It was only due to pressure from families and the media here in the UK that blood samples from vcjd victims were finally given to amorfix, the provenance and source of those samples are not known. I remain convinced that blood screening individuals for vcjd before they can give blood is the only way to protect not only the Uk blood supply but also the global communitys blood supply. Filteration does not work, one of the latest victims of vcjd is dying due to a blood transfusion just a few years ago after the implementation of leucodepletion . Myself, fellow campaigners and the Uk public remain aware and undeafeated and will continue to seek evidence, the truth and to the protect our families, the Uk government seeks to protect the architects of bse and a blood screening test for indivdiuals would open too many cans of worms. christine lord http://www.justiceforandy.com
check out my blog for latest news, evidence and truth behind vcjd and bse.