Finding to save government millions of pounds

(I-Newswire) July 8, 2005 - The findings of the seven year Medical Research Council PT-1 study (Primary Thrombocythemia), published in the New England Journal of Medicine could save the government up to £22 million every year on treatment of the disease, according to senior author of the study Professor Tony Green from the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's hospital.

ET is a member of the myeloproliferative disorders. Patients suffering from the disease are at risk of thromboses (including strokes and heart attacks) and to a lesser extent, bleeding. In the longer term some patients may also develop leukaemia or scarring of the bone marrow. With the right treatment, however, many patients suffering from it can have a normal lifespan. There are about 6,000 cases of the disease in the UK.

The PT-1 study is the largest randomised study of any myeloproliferative disorder ever performed. More than 800 ET patients who were at risk of thrombosis participated.

"Patients receiving hydroxyurea and aspirin not only developed less arterial thrombosis, serious bleeding and bone marrow scarring, but also experienced fewer side effects," said Professor Green. "This study demonstrates the power of a unified national health service in supporting landmark clinical trials."





Notes for Editors:

1. For a copy of the paper contact the University of Cambridge Press Office

2. The terms Essential Thrombocythemia and Primary Thrombocythemia are used interchangeably.

3. The University of Cambridge's reputation for outstanding academic achievement is known worldwide and reflects the intellectual achievement of its students, as well as the world-class original research carried out by the staff of the University and the Colleges.

As Cambridge approaches its 800th anniversary in 2009, it is looking to the future. It continues to change in response to the challenges it faces. The modern University is an international centre of teaching and research in a vast range of subjects: about half of the students study science or technology. Members of the University have won over 80 Nobel Prizes. (www.cam.ac.uk)

4. The Medical Research Council (MRC) is a national organisation funded by the UK tax-payer. Its business is medical research aimed at improving human health; everyone stands to benefit from the outputs. The research it supports and the scientists it trains meet the needs of the health services, the pharmaceutical and other health-related industries and the academic world. MRC has funded work which has led to some of the most significant discoveries and achievements in medicine in the UK. About half of the MRC's expenditure of approximately £500 million is invested in its 40 Institutes, Units and Centres. The remaining half goes in the form of grant support and training awards to individuals and teams in universities and medical schools. Web site at: http://www.mrc.ac.uk.




For more information, contact:

1. Corina Hadjiodysseos, Press and Publications Office,University of Cambridge

Tel: 01223 332300, email: ch250@cam.ac.uk

2. Paula Brown, Clinical PA to Professor A R Green, Professor of Haemato-Oncology, Head, University of Cambridge Department of Haematology, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research

Tel: 01223 762668, email: pcb25@cam.ac.uk

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