RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:Blackout on RVX: ProbablyHi G1945V.
I wish I did understand the chemistry. In Don's Feb 2014 webcast at slide 3 he did say rvx-208 "did show strong trending with significance for plaque reggression". I'm assuming he would not make statements like that publicly for fear of liable.
This was an unqualified statement so it suggests rvx-208 can work on it's own. However, the rest of the presentation and post hoc analysis focuses on the very significant plaque regression when in concert with rosuvastatin particularly on low HDL high risk patients. What struck me about these results was not just the high levels of statistical significance (which means that the differences measured between the placebo group and the treatment group were not just a result of random chance but, in fact, were real improvements) but also the levels of plaque regression that within the low HDL high risk group were greater than 2% points (well above the trial target of .6% point reduction) and were achieved in a much shorter period and with lower doses than just statins i.e lower drug related risk.
In the book The Grain Brain, which is about the negative impact of glutens, the author Dr. David Perlmutter, a neurologist, talks about the importance of cholesterol in the functioning of the brain. He argues that cholesterols (and he doesn't seem to differentiate between LDL and HDL) are critically important in the production of variuos chemicals that ehance development of neurons (neurogenisis) in the brain and of course this is critical for mental health as we age.
Well, it seems established that rvx-208 increases Apo-1 and Apo-1 makes up 70% or so of HDL.
The, on the safety side on slide 24 Don says..."this shows again the frequency of the ALTs that we've seen in the past, where they come between usually weeks six and twelve, they're benign, they go away. So there are no signs of any liver results at all". This suggests that as the Apo-1 is digging out the plaque and shipping it to the liver, the liver has an initial adjustment to getting rid of this stuff but then adjusts and keeps doing it's job, unharmed. So this suggests that another potential risk (liver damage) is not an issue with rvx-208. This is extremely important to moving forward. If the rvx-208 caused liver damage there would be a serious trade off decision to be made.
When these results are combined with the potential to help diabetes and Alzheimers diseases I can't help but get even more excited.
Of course drug companies spend many years developing any given drug and the odds of succeeding are extremely low. However, with rvx-208 having achieved so many hurdles and with the very positive post hoc results the odds are much better.
The fact that KD and NGN are financially and intellectually involved reinforces my positive impressions.
Then of course there is the business side.
Anyway, I seem to be getting very positive.
Keep in mind that I am not a scientist. I am only trying to interprete the information I see so...DYODD.
Cheers
Toinv