What we wanted to achieve with [USERGROUP=11]@Team Trobalt[/USERGROUP] was get results published in a peer reviewed journal of science (as this would create awareness within academic circles). I tried many times to get participants of the informal study to report their data in a timely manner (= standardized points of assessment) both by public pleas and personal follow-up PMs. Would you believe it, but, half of the participants (= 10-12) that I contacted did not even respond to my mail. The others responded with words to the effect of "I will see if I have time" (and this despite the exercise being just a one minute daily data form to submit, and, from folks who spend 4-5 hours surfing the forum in any event...!).
That's why Team Trobalt decided to shift to another strategy: create attention for the researchers in the USA who would have the competency to possibly undertake a clinical study of Trobalt (in other words: instead of us collecting the data via the Internet, they would carry out the whole operation on-site in the USA, physically). In addition, they are researchers with phamacological backgrounds, and, have the competency to do further research into potassium channel openers. But of course, research costs money, and since donations are very limited when it comes to collect them from communities such as this one, and since the ATA was not willing to step in (fully), we thought the best way to possibly help the researchers help us, would be via the social media. And indeed the Team Trobalt update we published was extremely successful...
www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/team-trobalt-update-%E2%80%94-april-9-2015.9064
...but spreading awareness was not!
The reason spreading awareness is important is because many, many people (incl. physicians) are not aware of Kv-channel research and they are also not aware of Trobalt (it's a last line drug in the treatment of epilepsy, after all). So as you can imagine, if you are at that level of knowledge (or lack thereof within the mass patient/physician population), then awareness really is the starting point. This was the rationale.
Listen... I cannot even begin to express my dissatisfaction with the incredible amount of clinical misinformation that floats around on a forum such as TinnitusTalk. Lots of arm-chair critics, wannabe experts, and self-proclaimed heroes who want to share their infinite wisdom of tinnitus. Among that misinformation, you will find statements as to "tinnitus is a brain-thing" - well, that's an accurate description isn't it? When was the last time you went to the doctor for check-up and heard him/her say: "I think you have a brain thing..."?
Tinnitus is not necessarily a "brain thing" - there is plenty of literature such as this which indicates other possibilities and involvements - namely that of the cochlea and auditory nerve (as you might expect):
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4614-3728-4_4
Auris Medical AG is a very serious and very dedicated enterprise. They make decisions based on the very best science possible. They are also the first pharma company ever to enter the otology market for inner ear diseases, and, as it happens they are the first sponsor of TinnitusTalk:
www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/auris-medical-the-first-corporate-sponsor-of-tinnitus-talk.11325/#post-139169
It is known that they have a 2nd generation compound in their pipeline, AM-102. This is another intratympanic therapy, and, I can only assume that it is either more potent than AM-101 and/or that it has efficacy beyond the acute stage (otherwise why would a company develop a drug when they already have an existing one, right?).
So we will have to see what developments take place. What I can say is that I am very glad that there are serious and dedicated people such as Mr. Meyer around (CEO of Auris Medical). In addition, we have to weigh in on political agendas such as that which took place by the investor firm Kerrisdale Capital recently:
www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/scifluor-receives-us-patent-for-kcnq2-3-activator-to-treat-epilepsy-and-neurological-disorders.7743/page-3#post-140664
I specifically wrote the above post to "protect" the interests of the tinnitus community, and, had the update spread on the social media (here) and on another Facebook group. If you read the post, you will understand why.
I don't have faith in the tinnitus community in being able to help itself (for reasons I have stated many many times re: poor lethargic commitment). I do a bit of behind the scenes work (with a focused goal), and besides that, things will just have to go the way they go I guess. I don't believe it is possible to revive the cause of Team Trobalt. The tinnitus community has failed itself so many times before that I have no confidence in the members ability to do, well, anything really! I will not start to engage my old contacts from the USA again. No way. Not happening. Sorry.
attheedgeofscience
13/OCT/2015.