Feds to fund clinical trial of controversial MS treatment in Canada

Canada's Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced Wednesday that the federal government will fund a clinical trial for "liberation treatment," an experimental vein therapy for multiple sclerosis developed by an Italian doctor.

The MS Society of Canada, a co-funding partner of the project, said it's "thrilled" by the announcement that may bring "definitive answers" about the controversial treatment developed by Dr. Paolo Zamboni.

The clinical trial for Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) in Canadians with multiple sclerosis seeks to determine the safety of venous angioplasty, also known as "liberation treatment" which requires the opening of blocked veins, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research said in a release about the announcement.

Liberation treatment rejects long-held medical opinion that MS is an autoimmune disease. At least two Canadians have reportedly died overseas from complications of the procedure, which is currently unavailable in Canada.

Asked about the controversy surrounding the procedure, MS Society of Canada CEO Yves Savoie said he supports the call of those concerned about the treatment for more rigorous research.

"We're thrilled at this very important step and because of this question of the risk, that's why there are appropriate safeguards for participants going to be involved in that, including an ethics approval," he said.

The trial is subject to an ethics approval in Canada in "a way that balances our hunger for innovation and research with respect for dignity of human life," Savoie said.

The government is withholding the names of the researchers and institutions involved in the project "to protect the independence" of the ethics review, according to CIHR which launched a call for research applications to select the team of researchers.

Savoie said withholding the names is standard CIHR practice and will ensure that the ethics approval process "can happen without intense public pressure."

The trial will only begin after ethics approval is granted, he added.

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Feds to fund clinical trial of controversial MS treatment in Canada