Sixth patient receives pioneering treatment for CJD

A sixth patient is receiving a new drug for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) developed by researchers at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Prion Unit at UCL. In October 2018, University College London Hospitals (UCLH) began treating patients with the drug, an unlicensed antibody called PRN100. CJD is an invariably fatal disease with a usually rapid progression. Four of the six patients treated with the drug have sadly now died as a result of their condition. UCLH's chief executive Professor Marcel Levi said: "Our sincere condolences go to the families of these four patients. CJD is a rare but cruel disease which is devastating for loved ones to witness. We are very sorry for their loss." All six patients who have received the PRN100 drug were at different stages of their disease when they began treatment.