By SHARON LEM, TORONTO SUN
Nov 18,1999

Toronto scientists who may have found a potential cure for arthritis and other inflammatory diseases say their theory "shows big promise" to shut down the crippling effect of arthritis.

Researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital/Ontario Cancer Institute and AMGEN Research Institute were still celebrating yesterday after racing to become the first in the world to identify the molecular key to preventing joint, bone and cartilage deterioration in rats.

Phase-one trials for toxicity tests in humans were done earlier this year. Phase-two trials, which will compare the drug treatment on arthritics to traditional treatment, begins in early 2000. "We believe it's a potential cure for arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, but only clinical trials on humans will test how effective it is," said lead author Dr. Josef Penninger, an immunologist at PMH/OCI and AMGEN.