September 30, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Multiple Sclerosis Self-Management Scale Enhances Patient Independence Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune neurodegenerative disease that the biomedical research and pharmaceutical industry has yet to find a cure for. It is a progressively debilitating condition that manifests with a number of unpredictable symptoms that can greatly reduce one’s quality of life. In order…
September 29, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Patients Can Tolerate Exercise According to University of Vermont Study A new study conducted at theĀ Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science of the University of Vermont, reinforces the idea that multiple sclerosis patients can handleĀ exerciseĀ regimens, despite their mobility difficulties, in order toĀ improve not only their motor capacities, but also their quality of life. Although over 90% of…
September 29, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Kessler Study Recommends Wellness Program for Multiple Sclerosis In today’s healthcare environment, it is often not enough that patients are provided with the latest treatments. Good health is not merely the absence of injury or disease, but overall wellness that includes mental, spiritual and social health. A group of investigators from the Kessler Foundation…
September 26, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Continuing Multiple Sclerosis Education To Be Offered at AIMS Live Meetings With multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence rates still at concerning levels of 90 for every 100,000 Americans, researchers are continuously seeking to learn more about the disease, and are aggressively working to develop novel treatments and interventions for symptom management. This poses an ongoing challenge for healthcare professionals and academics,…
September 25, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Evotec Multiple Sclerosis Drug Studies Receive ā¬5 Million in New Funding Funding for continued research and development into understanding, treating, and eventually curing Multiple Sclerosis continues to accelerate. Evotec AG, aĀ German company that specializes in providing drug discovery resources to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and learning institutions, has just announced the launch of its line-up of groundbreaking studies intoĀ MSĀ — an…
September 24, 2014 News by Maureen Newman Primary, Secondary Progressive MS Therapy to be Tested in Phase 2 Trial by MediciNova MediciNova, Inc., recently announced that it had surpassed 50% enrollment for the phase 2b clinical trial evaluating MN-166 (ibudilast) in progressive multiple sclerosis patients. As of September 15th, 150 of an expected 250 patients have enrolled for treatment, and the trial is on track to complete enrollment by the…
September 24, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Multiple Sclerosis Summit in Quebec to Feature “Deepelling” As Encouragement for Active MS Lifestyles Deepelling International conferences on multiple sclerosis (MS) typically gather the most accomplished experts and leading biotech companies under one roof to exchange discoveries and celebrate new hope for MS patients all over the world. Quebec is one of North America’s epicenters for MS research and developments. This year, on…
September 24, 2014 News by Maureen Newman Vaccine Against MS Being Developed at Baylor Institute for Immunology Research A vaccination against multiple sclerosis is in progress in the laboratory of SangKon Oh, PhD, at the Baylor Institute for Immunology Research. Along with Gerard Zurawski, PhD, and Ted Phillips, MD, Dr. Oh is applying new insights from research in dendritic cell vaccines to a multiple sclerosis vaccine. “Dr.
September 23, 2014 News by Maureen Newman RRMS Treatment from Antisense Highly Effective in Clinical Trials For the first time, an antisense oligonucleotide has been shown to be effective in treating relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis. A phase 2a clinical trial of Antisense Therapeutics Limited’s ATL1102, a CD49d antisense drug, showed that the treatment quickly reduced brain lesions in RRMS patients following the start of therapy.
September 23, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Researchers Reveal Relevance of Microparticle Levels in MS, Clinically Isolated Syndrome Researchers are continuing to make headway in discovering new insights into how MS works, which in turn could lead to next-generation therapies. A new study shows that in the early stages ofĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), plasma micro particles act as biomarkers as well as pathological factors that induce endothelial permeability and…
September 22, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Women with Disabilities Like Multiple Sclerosis Photographed for The Raw Beauty Project NYC Joy Nabors – The Raw Beauty Project NYC model living with Multiple Sclerosis In a bold movement aimed towards empowering disabled women to stand against social stigmas, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation partnered with innovative visual arts project, Raw Beauty Project NYC, to showcase a series of photographs…
September 22, 2014 News by Maureen Newman New MS Therapy From Biogen Idec, AbbVie Reveals Positive Phase 3 Results in RRMS Patients Phase 3 clinical trial results from Biogen Idec and AbbVie presented at the Sixth Triennial Joint Meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS-ECTRMIS) suggest that relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients experience…
September 19, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Accelerated Cure Project for MS, EMD Serono To Study Treatment Outcomes The nonprofit organization Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis is going to sponsor the launch of theĀ Optimizing Treatment – Understanding Progression (OPT-UP) study in collaboration with biopharmaceutical companyĀ EMD Serono, Inc, a subsidiary of the german Merck KGaA. The study will enroll 2,500 MS…
September 19, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MuckFest MS Los Angeles 5K Mud Fun Run on October 25 MuckFestĀ® MS runners getting down and dirty for a cause. One of the more engaging ways to campaign for awareness and fundraising for a disease is hosting a sporting event. Be it a marathon, weight lifting, biking, or even ziplining, adding an element of fun in supporting a serious…
September 18, 2014 News by Maureen Newman Cognitive Defects in Multiple Sclerosis Caused in Part By Brain Processing Speed Trying to nail down the reason for executive deficits in multiple sclerosis can be difficult, considering the number of factors related to the condition. A team of researchers from the Kessler Foundation — led by Victoria Leavitt, PhD, who is now a part of the Manhattan Memory Center, and…
September 17, 2014 News by Charles Moore $31.4 Million in Funding Earmarked For Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Research The first round of 22 research grants have been awarded to projects in nine countries by the International Progressive MS Alliance, with the goal of removing barriers to developing treatments for progressive MS. The 22 projects were chosen from 195 research proposals submitted by researchers in 22 countries and…
September 16, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Fatigue Felt by MS Patients May Be From Underdiagnosed Sleep Disorders The underlying cause ofĀ fatigue experienced by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients may be undiagnosed sleep disorders, according to a study conducted at the Department of Neurology of the University of California. Not only is that a problem in itself, but also an undiagnosed and untreated sleeping disorder may exacerbate the…
September 16, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Biogen’s Two-Year Study Confirms Plegridy’s Efficacy and Safety as Relapsing MS Treatment Biogen Idec revealed data from itsĀ second year of the phase 3 ADVANCE clinical trial for the study of Plegridy as a treatment for patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, which demonstrated the positive effects of the subcutaneous injectable therapyĀ beyond the first year…
September 16, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Merck Serono Awards ā¬1 Million at the Second Annual Grant for Multiple Sclerosis Innovation Biopharmaceutical companyĀ Merck Serono, a division of Merck, recently awardedĀ a total of ā¬1 million to the five winners of theĀ second annual Grant for Multiple Sclerosis Innovation (GMSI) at MS Boston 2014, the joint meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ACTRIMS) and European Committee…
September 15, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Teva, Active Biotech Present Positive Findings for RRMS Experimental Therapy Laquinimod During the 30th Congress of the European Committee for Research and Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) last week in Boston, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA), together with Active Biotech (NASDAQ OMX NORDIC:ACTI), presented new follow-up data evaluating the clinical safety of laquinimod in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)…
September 15, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Biogen Idec’s Study Reviews Positive Results Over Five Years of Tecfidera RRMS Treatment Biogen Idec presented theĀ five-year results from its ENDORSE phase 3 extension study of TecfideraĀ (dimethyl fumarate), which revealed that the treatment is able to provide strong and sustained efficacy to patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), at last week’sĀ ACTRIMS-ECTRIMSĀ summit. Not only did…
September 12, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Novartis Presents Impressive Gilenya Updates at MSBoston 2014 This past Wednesday, September 10th, the largest, most anticipated multiple sclerosis (MS) convention — the 6th Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Triennial Meeting, MSBoston 2014 — kicked off with a whopping 8,000 registered attendees, all eager to learn more about the latest developments in MS. One of the highlights of the event…
September 12, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD EMD Serono’s Multiple Sclerosis Pipeline On Display at 2014 ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting in Boston During the joint meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ACTRIMS) and European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ECTRIMS), taking place in Boston from September 10-13, EMD Serono, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, will present new data from its multiple sclerosis…
September 12, 2014 News by Maureen Newman Real-World Analysis of AMPYRA Multiple Sclerosis Drug Presented by Acorda and HealthCore Acorda Therapeutics will present results of a study analyzing AMPYRA (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets in multiple sclerosis patients at the 2014 Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting in Boston, held through September 10-13. Unlike many other studies of therapeutic agents, this study looked at prescribing patterns, patient compliance, and budget impact…
September 11, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Receptos to Present Data on RMS Treatment Trial at MSBoston 2014 Biopharmaceutical companyĀ Receptos, Inc. announced that they will review data from the phase 2 portion of theĀ RADIANCE trial,Ā the company’s phase 2 / 3 study testing RPC1063 in the treatment ofĀ Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS).Ā The data is being presented at theĀ largest meeting dedicated to multiple sclerosis…
September 11, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Multiple Sclerosis Trial for Lisinopril Granted $1.4 Million in New Funding From NCATS Transparency Life Sciences, LLCĀ (TLS), the first clinical-stage drugĀ development company based on open innovation in the world, recentlyĀ receivedĀ a $1.4 millionĀ Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant intended for its phase IIa proof-of-concept study, which is assessing the utility of the ACE inhibitor lisinopril as an adjunctive treatment for patients with multiple…
September 11, 2014 News by Maureen Newman Working Memory and Cognitive Reserve Linked in MS Kessler Foundation Study Any intervention that could helpĀ multiple sclerosis patients preserve long-term memory would likely be well-received. As suggested by a recent study from the Kessler Foundation, “Working Memory Mediates the Relationship Between Intellectual Enrichment and Long-term Memory in Multiple Sclerosis: An Exploratory Analysis of Cognitive Reserve,” one…
September 11, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Diagnosis Inspires Miss Kentucky For 2015 Miss America Pageant For a 23 year-old country girl from the University of Kentucky to go through the harsh demands of an American beauty pageant, there has to be an inspiration stemming from something more profound than a desire for world peace, a sash, and a shiny crown. Last month, on July 12th,…
September 10, 2014 News by admin Oceans of Hope Yacht For MS Awareness Anchored In Boston The Oceans of Hope yacht, part of the Sailing Sclerosis Foundation project, has recently arrived in Boston after its transoceanic trip from Lisbon, the first by a crew of people with multiple sclerosis, announced the foundation through its webpage. The yacht, which started its sailing journey in…
September 10, 2014 News by Charles Moore New MRI Study Shows Strong Correlation Of Gray Matter Myelin Loss To MS Disability Loss of myelin, the fatty protective sheath around nerve fibers, is a characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS). A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study by a team of researchers has determined that people with MS lose myelin in the gray matter of their brains, and that the amount of loss…