§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being carried out by his Department into methods of treatment for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies; what information he has collated on research being carried out by other organisations in the United Kingdom on this subject; and if he will make a statement. [18253]
§ Mr. HoramWe need to improve our understanding of the nature of the agent which causes spongiform encephalopathies before we are able to investigate possible methods of treatment. This is a high priority in our centrally directed programme of research across departments and research councils.
Preliminary studies suggest that a small number of compounds may have beneficial effects in producing deactivation and/or slowing the rate of disease and further work to expand these very preliminary early findings is about to be funded by the Medical Research Council. The MRC will be meeting with the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries to explore other opportunities from past, present or future research.