§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of any therapeutic or prophylactic effects of the drugs heparin sulphate, dextran sulphate, pentosan polysulphate and dapsone in spongiform encephalopathies; and whether they will fund investigations of their role for the treatment of animals suffering from BSE and other spongiform encephalopathies. [HL93]
§ Baroness Hayman:The Government are aware of the work taking place on the prophylactic and potential therapeutic effects of these drugs. The Department of Health is currently funding research to investigate pentosan polysulphate as a potential prophylactic agent against the transmission of vCJD by blood products. Studies on the effectiveness of these drugs in preventing experimental TSEs in mice have taken place and we are exploring the possibility of a research proposal to further these studies in sheep together with the Food Standards Agency.