Human Trials: Scientists, investors, and patients in the quest for a cure
by Susan Quinn, Perseus, 拢18.99, ISBN 0738201820
DO READ this modern American tale of one man鈥檚 quest for a cure for multiple
sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. It is bejewelled with insights into the
lives of patients, researchers, and businessmen鈥攂ut is largely a biography
of one charismatic neurologist, Howard Weiner.
The first part of Human Trials tells the chilling story of Weiner鈥檚
ancestors, a prewar Vienna family whose survivors launched a bagel deli in
Denver and a doctor son. Then comes the science bit. In 1985, Weiner realised
that it might be possible to induce tolerance to an antigen by feeding that
antigen orally. This, he hoped, could lead to a cure for autoimmune diseases. A
couple of trials on mice with arthritis and MS were, it seems, enough to raise
funds for human trials.
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Of the 15 people given placebos, 12 had an attack of the disease. Only 6 of
the 15 treated with myelin from cows鈥� brains had an attack.
Now comes the venture-capitalist part of the story, in which Weiner raised
$39 million to establish a company, AutoImmune, to continue his research.
Its other product is oral collagen to treat rheumatoid arthritis鈥攗nkindly
known as the 鈥渃hicken soup treatment鈥�.
Human Trials gives a valuable insight into how science gets from the lab to
the clinic via the stock market. Scientists and clinicians will particularly
enjoy reading this rare tale of venture capitalists鈥� enthusiasm for the hard
funding of soft data.
