Multi-National Clinical Trial Shows Effectiveness of Amantadine in Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury

BOSTON, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A multi-national study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed a significant breakthrough in the treatment of patients in vegetative and minimally conscious states. The study showed that the drug amantadine hydrochloride accelerated the pace of functional recovery during active treatment in patients with post-traumatic disorders of consciousness.

The study, funded by a 5-year, $3 million grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, involved 184 patients at 11 clinical trial sites in three countries. JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, NJ and MossRehab in Philadelphia served as the lead centers for the international study. The patients involved were receiving inpatient rehabilitation and were in a vegetative or minimally conscious state between four and 16 weeks after traumatic brain injury. During the four week treatment period, recovery was significantly faster among patients who were administered amantadine than those in the placebo group.

Study leader, Joseph T. Giacino, Ph.D, who now serves as Director of Rehabilitation Neuropsychology at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital said, "The results of this study provide convincing evidence that it is possible to increase the speed of recovery from severe traumatic brain injury when treatment is initiated within four months of onset. These findings engender optimism for a medical condition that is often viewed as untreatable."

The study results pave the way for additional studies of a drug whose therapeutic value was previously undetermined. "Now that we know that amantadine can accelerate neurologic recovery, we need to explore the dose and treatment schedule that provides the greatest and most durable treatment impact," said study co-leader, John Whyte, M.D., Ph.D, Director of Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute. "Importantly, this study adds to the growing evidence that patients with disorders of consciousness have rehabilitation potential that we are just beginning to tap."

In addition to JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute and MossRehab, nine other rehabilitation institutions participated in the study including Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital in Braintree, MA.; Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital in Malvern, PA; Carolinas Rehabilitation in Charlotte, NC; Fachkrankenhaus Neresheim Hospital in Neresheim, Germany; Copenhagen University Hospital in Glostrup, Denmark; Methodist Rehab Center in Jackson, MS; Schoen Klinik Bad Aibling in Bad Aibling, Germany; Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital in Schenectady, NY; and Texas Neurorehab Center in Austin, TX. In addition, the Department of Biostatistics in the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York City served as the Data Coordinating Center under the direction of Emilia Bagiella, Ph.D.

About Spaulding Rehabilitation Network
A member of Partners HealthCare, The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network includes Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital-Boston (main campus), a 196-bed facility, as well as Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod. Additional locations include the two long-term care facilities Spaulding Hospital Cambridge and Spaulding Hospital North Shore and two skilled nursing facilities, as well as twenty-three outpatient sites throughout the Greater Boston area. Spaulding is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School as well as the official rehabilitation hospital of the New England Patriots. Spaulding is the only rehabilitation hospital in New England continually ranked since 1995 by U.S. News and World Report in its Best Hospitals survey with a #5 ranking in 2011. For more information, please visit www.spauldingrehab.org.    

About MossRehab
Recognized as a national leader in medical rehabilitation, MossRehab provides high-quality, compassionate medical care for individuals with physical disabilities, and offers a wide range of specialized services, including comprehensive programs for brain and spinal cord injury, stroke, amputation and orthopaedic conditions. MossRehab has two main facilities – MossRehab at Elkins Park at 60 Township Line Road in Elkins Park, PA and MossRehab at 1200 West Tabor Road in Philadelphia.  It also operates inpatient units, outpatient sites and various community programs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.  MossRehab is a member of the Einstein Healthcare Network which consists of Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, Belmont Behavioral Health, Einstein Medical Center Elkins Park, Montgomery Hospital Medical Center, Einstein Medical Center Montgomery (slated to open in September 2012), Willowcrest (a center for subacute care), and a number of outpatient and satellite locations. For more information, call 1-800-CALL MOSS or visit www.mossrehab.com.

SOURCE Spaulding Rehabilitation Network