The Court of Protection today ruled that it was lawful and in the patient’s best interests to receive the unlicensed antibody called PRN100. The patient’s family fully supported UCLH’s application to the court.
In 2018, we began treating three patients with the PRN100 drug which was developed by researchers at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Prion Unit at University College London (UCL).
The third patient to receive the antibody treatment, who had a very aggressive form of the disease, has sadly died as a result of their condition.
UCLH’s chief executive Professor Marcel Levi said: “On behalf of UCLH, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the patient’s family and loved ones. They are in our thoughts at this difficult time.”
The first and second patients to receive the drug have not experienced any side effects to date.
Professor John Collinge, director of the MRC Prion Unit at UCL, said: “All of these patients were at different stages of their disease when they began to receive the antibody. It is too early to determine if, or to what extent, the treatment has had an impact on their condition.”