Do you know what Aubagio® is?
Aubagio is the latest Big Pharma creation designed to treat relapsing MS (multiple sclerosis). Relapsing MS is the most common form of MS. It’s characterized by symptoms occurring in what is called a “flare.”
Then, after the flare is over, the symptoms diminish or even disappear entirely before another flare happens. The problem is that over time, the flares happen more often. And at some point, the disease progresses and the symptoms become constant and steadily worsen.
Aubagio is a drug that’s purported to decrease the rate at which relapsing MS progresses. But how effective is it? How dangerous is it? And is there a better, more natural way to treat relapsing MS?
There have been two studies published on Aubagio and relapsing MS. The results of both studies showed similar results. When compared to placebo, Aubagio is only slightly better. Over a two-year period, the disease progressed in 21% of the patients taking the placebo. It progressed slightly less in the patients on the drug – 15%. Overall, patients were only 6% less likely to progress if they were taking Aubagio. That means that the drug is useless in 94% of patients. So the efficacy is not that great. What about the dangers?
According to the Aubagio website, the doctors prescribing Aubagio in clinical trials reported liver toxicity, infections, peripheral neuropathy, and high blood pressure. Cases of bone marrow suppression, allergies, skin reactions (including one fatal case), and respiratory effects have been reported in patients taking the drug. Also reported have been four cardiovascular deaths, including three sudden deaths and one heart attack. Because of its immune suppression, doctors are advised not to give Aubagio to patients who have infections. Here’s my take on all this.
As you may know, I have nothing against drugs per se. I use them when they’re needed. I just want to make sure of two things. One, the benefits of the drug significantly outweigh the dangers. And two, there are no natural and safer treatments that work better. By these criteria, Aubagio just doesn’t cut it.
First of all, a drug that has an efficacy of only 6%, is immune suppressive, and has to be taken for the rest of the patient’s life just doesn’t make the benefits-outweigh-the-dangers all-time hit list. And secondly, I’m happy to report to you that there’s a new and much better way to treat relapsing MS.
About two years ago, Dr. Vincenzo Simonetti reported on a series of 50 patients that he had been treating with relapsing MS over a period of 10 years. In that time, the progression of the disease stopped in every single one. Not only that, but in more than 90% of them, the disease went into a complete and permanent remission! These results are so unbelievably good that I went to Dr. Simonetti’s clinic in Turin, Italy 18 months ago just to see for myself what was going on. Here’s what I discovered.
During my time there, I was able to talk with several patients whom Dr. Simonetti had been treating for more than a decade as well as several who were relatively new to his therapies. All of them reported an almost immediate improvement in their condition. And the ones who had been seeing him for more than three months told me that they were feeling completely normal. And that’s not all.
Dr. Simonetti works closely with a conventional neurologist. I had a chance to talk with him. He uses only conventional therapies such as Aubagio. He told me that when his patients with MS either don’t want conventional therapy or can’t afford it, he refers them to Dr. Simonetti. And he told me that for the most part, Dr. Simonetti’s results are better than what he can come up with – and the Simonetti protocol does it with absolutely no side effects. So armed with this information, here’s what I did.
As soon as I got back in the U.S., I started using Dr. Simonetti’s protocol on three patients of mine who had MS. Within four months all three were completely without any symptoms. One year after I treated them, they still remained in good health. So, let’s add it up.
Aubagio, the latest Big Pharma creation, has some serious side effects and works only in 6% of the patients. Dr. Simonetti’s protocol works in almost 100% of cases and has no side effects. Amazing! So, what’s the protocol?
The doctor’s protocol is primarily based around a special form of ozone therapy that he does twice a week until the symptoms disappear. This usually takes about 6-12 weeks. Once the symptoms are gone, he gradually reduces the treatments until the patient gets to the point that they are no longer needed. The treatments are natural, easy to perform, completely side-effect-free, and inexpensive. But is this magic or is there a scientific reason for why it works?
In his paper, Dr. Simonetti describes using NIRS (near infrared signaling) scanning to show that in patients with MS, his method increases the activity of cytochrome c oxidase in their brains. Cytochrome c oxidase is also known as complex five in the electron transfer energy-producing system in the mitochondria of cells. This is an astounding finding. Here’s why.
Cytochrome c oxidase is essential to the production and maintenance of myelin. Myelin is a fatty white substance that surrounds the axon of some nerve cells, forming an electrically insulating layer. It’s essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system. The primary problem that patients with MS have is that their nerve cells cannot produce myelin effectively. This is what causes all their symptoms. A paper published in 2008 entitled, “Mitochondrial defects in acute multiple sclerosis lesions,” points out that patients with MS have defective cytochrome c oxidase. By improving the function of cytochrome c oxidase in patients with MS, it’s conceivable that their cells are then able to produce myelin and restore neurological function. Based on these observations, it’s possible that Dr. Simonetti has discovered a cure for MS! But even though it’s the essential part of his treatment protocol, ozone therapy is not all Dr. Simonetti does.
At the same time, he is very careful to make sure that patients avoid milk products and gluten. He also detoxifies them all from heavy metals, particularly mercury. Every single element of his protocol is 100% safe. And here’s the really good news for MS patients in the U.S.
While this treatment isn't widely available yet, we're working to change that. Dr. Simonetti has been teaching practitioners of all kinds how to do these therapies. At my invitation, he has offered them at our meetings of The American Academy of Ozonotherapy (www.aaot.us). If you have MS, pass this information on to your doctor.
Yours for better health,
Frank Shallenberger, MD
REF:
Confavreux, C., P. O’Connor, et al. “Oral teriflunomide for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (TOWER): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.” Lancet Neurol. 2014;13(3):247-256.
Mahad, D., I. Ziabreva, et al. “Mitochondrial defects in acute multiple sclerosis lesions.” Brain. 2008 July;131(Pt 7):1722-35.
O’Connor, P., J.S. Wolinsky, et al. “Randomized trial of oral teriflunomide for relapsing multiple sclerosis.” N Engl J Med. 2011;365(14):1293-1303.
O’Connor, P.W. and D. Li. “A phase II study of the safety and efficacy of teriflunomide in multiple sclerosis with relapses.” Neurology. 2006;66(6):894-900.
Simonetti, V., W. Liboni, and F. Molinari (2014). “Why Ozone Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis?” Ozonoterapia. Vol. 4, nº 1, pp. 51-68. Revista Española de Ozonoterapia