§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action his Department is taking to discover methods of treatment for people who may be infected with new-variant CJD; [49658]
(2) what reports he has received regarding chemicals which can prevent the transmission of spongiform encephalopathies, with particular reference to (a) potentially new-variant CJD from blood transfusion and (b) CJD from growth hormone; what action his Department is taking to investigate the use of these chemicals; and if he will make a statement. [49657]
§ Ms JowellIn November 1996 the Department published its "Strategy for Research and Development Relating to the Human Health Aspects of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs)". One of the aims of this strategy is the development of curative treatments for patients with new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. A project for the design and synthesis of potential chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of TSEs is being funded over a three year period beginning in July 1997 by the Medical Research Council, which also organised a meeting last year between industry and researchers on possible strategies to develop therapies.
We are aware of research findings on the apparent inactivation of the scrapie agent in animal models which indicate that treatment with certain chemicals might have an inhibiting effect on the transmission of TSEs. Before any such chemicals could be licensed for use as an intervention in humans it would need to be proved safe and efficacious. Following discussions between officials and external scientists we are expecting, as a first step, specific research proposals to explore the efficacy of these chemicals.