January 24, 2023 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Scientists Seek to Understand Effects of Pregnancy on Immune System Roche has teamed up with researchers in Australia to study the immune and biological mechanisms leading to better outcomes for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who are or have been pregnant. The four-year project, led by Vilija Jokubaitis, PhD, a neuroscientist and group leader at Monash University, is expected…
October 8, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Australian Council Supports Research Into MS Risk Factors, Falls Australiaās National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is giving a total of AU$6.75 million (about $5 million) in grants to advance research into multiple sclerosis (MS), including risk factors for the disease, preventing falls, and harnessing viral-immune system interactions to improve patients’ lives. The threeĀ investigator grants,…
September 28, 2021 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Alliance Calls for Accessible Products Design Down Under The Accessible Product Design Alliance has released a statement calling for changes in products and packaging design to assure equal accessibility among consumers, including those with disabling disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Composed of 11 nonprofit health consumer organizations in Australia and New Zealand ā including MS…
October 12, 2020 News by Teresa Carvalho, MS Compounds Targeting Inflammatory C-reactive Protein Under Study in Australia A search is on for anĀ anti-inflammatory treatment targeting theĀ C-reactive proteinĀ ā CRP, a biomarker of inflammation produced by the liver ā of possible use inĀ a wide variety of conditions, including immune-mediated diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and the…
July 30, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Healthy Diet May Lower Risk of Relapse After 1st Myelin Attack, Study Suggests A “prudent” diet rich in fresh fruit, non-fried fish, whole grains, vegetables, and nuts may lower the likelihood of a relapse in people with a first demyelinating event, a major risk factor forĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), a study in Australia suggests. While the researchers did not find a strong link…
November 18, 2019 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Mayzent Approved in Australia as First Treatment for Secondary Progressive MS Novartisās MayzentĀ (siponimod) has been approved by Australiaās Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), making it the first therapy to be approved for this use in Australia. SPMS is a form of MS that develops after the onset of…
October 3, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Bowel, Bladder Problems Linked to Higher Levels of Fatigue and Disability, Study Reports Bladder and bowel problems, such as constipation and fecal incontinence, are associated with a higher level of fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study in Australia. The findings also showed that greater fatigue and experiencing bowel and bladder problems are associated with…
March 1, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein #ACTRIMS2019 ā Health-related Quality of Life in MS Patients Linked to Comorbidities There is a need for better diagnosis and treatment management of comorbidities ā simultaneously occurring disorders ā in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), as shown by the impact these additional health issues have on patientsā health-related quality of life, according to a new report. The data was presented by Lara…
January 11, 2019 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Mavenclad Approved for Reimbursement as RRMS Treatment in Australia Australia was one of the first countries to approve the use of Mavenclad (cladribine tablets, 10 mg) to treat patients with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).Ā Now, the countryās government has taken another step to ensure this 20-day course treatment is available to the largest number possible of people affected by the disease. Australiaās Prime Minister, Hon. Scott Morrison MP, announced that Merck KGaAās therapy was included on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listing effective Jan. 1. This will make Mavenclad affordable for about 6,200 patients each year who are already accessing PBS-subsidized medicines for MS. (Of note, Merck KGaA is known as EMD Serono in the U.S. and Canada.) This was made possible by the joint effort of MS Australia, MS Research Australia, clinicians and members of the MS community who, after successive submissions, achieved a positive recommendation by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to list Mavenclad on PBS as a treatment for RRMS. Australia's government will cover almost all costs of Mavenclad, which will mean that patients will have to pay only $40.30 per prescription, or $6.50 for concessional patients. āThanks to our strong economic management, weāve ensured that every new, essential medicine recommended for listing by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee receives government subsidy to make it affordable for all Australians,ā the Prime Minister said in a press release. Mavenclad was developed to target immune T- and B-cells that trigger relapsing MS without suppressing the entire immune system. To be taken for a maximum of 20 days over two years, the oral drug has shown it helps MS patients remain relapse-free for up to four years, while supporting the āresetā of the immune system. Australia's regulatory agency decided to approve Mavenclad based on the findings of a number of clinical trials, including the Phase 3 CLARITY (NCT00213135), CLARITY EXTENSION (NCT00641537), and ORACLE-MS (NCT00725985) studies, as well as the Phase 2 trial ONWARD study (NCT00436826), and the long-term PREMIERE (NCT01013350) trials. These clinical studies involved more than 2,700 RRMS patients, some of whom were followed for more than 10 years. Overall, the trials showed that Mavenclad significantly reducedĀ relapse rates, disability progression, and brain atrophy. Doctors recommend the therapy for patients who failed to respond to, or are unable to tolerate, other MS treatments.
July 16, 2018 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc MS Patients Need More Advice from Physicians on Dietary Guidelines, Study Shows Health professionals are often not discussing the importance of following national dietary guidelines with their multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, causing them to turn to other sources like the internet that may advise potentially harmful diets with serious consequences, according to an Australian study. The study, āDietary responses to…
July 6, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Medical Cannabis Favored to Treat MS Spasticity and Other Ills by Doctors in Australia, Survey Finds Most general practitioners in Australia favor prescribing medical cannabis to treat spasticity inĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) or pain in select other diseases, but are not allowed to under current laws and say they know little about its use, according to results of a national survey. A study based on its…
April 12, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD US, Australia Issue Patents on Sonde’s Voice-analysis Technology for Diagnosing Diseases The United States and Australia have issued patents on Sonde Health‘s voice-analysis technology for diagnosing and monitoringĀ multiple sclerosisĀ and other diseases that affect speech. Sonde, which has dubbed its invention vocal biomarker technology, said the U.S. patent is Ā 9,936,914 and the Australian oneĀ 2014374349. Both patents cover Sonde’s…
December 11, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Australia Approves Shorter Mavenclad Treatment Regimen for Relapsing-Remitting MS Australia has approved a shorter treatment regimen ofĀ MerckāsĀ MavencladĀ for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The Therapeutic Goods Administration authorized 20-day courses of the cladribine tablet form of the medication once a year for two years. The regimen reduces relapse rates and the progression of the disease for up to four years, Merck said. The new approval came after Merck submitted additional clinical trial findings on theĀ therapy. Health CanadaĀ andĀ the European CommissionĀ approved Mavenclad earlier this year. Merck continues to seek its regulatory approval in the United States and other countries. "Mavenclad will be a welcomed treatment option for patients with the relapsing-remitting form of MS,ā Bill Carroll, clinical professor of neurology at the University of Western Australia and the Perron Institute, said in a press release. āAs an oral therapy taken in two short courses over a two-year period, Mavenclad will be convenient for all eligible patients in Australia, including those who may not live close to their treating healthcare professional," added Carrol, a neurology consultant at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital as well as president-elect of the World Federation of Neurology. Mavenclad targetsĀ immune cells that trigger relapsing MS.Ā Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, or one in which the immune system attacks healthy cells. Mavenclad inhibitsĀ harmful immune T- and B-cells without suppressing the entire immune system. Australia based its approval of the drug on the findings of a number of clinical trials, including the Phase 3 CLARITY, CLARITY EXTENSION and ORACLE-MSĀ studies, the Phase 2 trial ONWARD study, and the long-term PREMIERE studies. The trials involved more than 2,700 RRMS patients, some of whom were followed more than 10 years. The trials showed that Mavenclad can significantly reduce relapse rates, disability progressionĀ and brain atrophy. Doctors recommended the therapy for patients who failed to respond to, or are unable to tolerate, other MS treatments. "We are pleased the Therapeutic Goods Administration has updated the product Information for Mavenclad in Australia to reflect additional clinical data," said Simon Sturge, chief operating officer of Merck's biopharma business. "Our next step is to work closely with the Australian government to bring this treatment advance to patients as quickly as possible."
December 7, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Partners in Huge Cannabis Therapy Operation Planned for Australia Apply for Licenses Two companies that plan a huge cannabis-growing and research facility in Australia have applied for licenses to run the operations, whose products could benefit multiple sclerosisĀ patients. MYM NutraceuticalsĀ andĀ PUF Ventures AustraliaĀ asked theĀ Australian Office of Drug ControlĀ for both medical cannabis and cannabis research licenses. The applications come at…
November 30, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Flex Pharma Completes Patient Enrollment in Phase 2 Trial of Muscle-relaxing Compound Flex Pharma has completed enrolling multiple sclerosis patients in a Phase 2 clinical trial in Australia testing FLX-787’s ability to alleviate muscle stiffness, spasms, and cramps. The compound has a mechanism of action that Flex believe will generate fewer side effects than other muscle-relaxing medications. The company is also…
October 25, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #MSParis2017 – As MS Rises Worldwide, Differences Remain Evident Among Regions The numbers of people being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis is rising worldwide, though distinct differences in factors thought to drive this rise are evident among regions, according to MS data represented by researchers on patients inĀ Asia, Latin America, and the Australia-New Zealand. The data was part of theĀ session āPrevalence and…
July 18, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Australian Authorities Approve Ocrevus Following U.S. Endorsement of Breakthrough MS Therapy Australia has become the first country to approve Genentech's Ocrevus for relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis treatment since the therapy's initial approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2017. The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration gave Ocrevus the green light on July 17, filling an unmet need for Australia's estimated 23,000 MS patients. āWe are pleased that another regulatory body recognized for its rigorous review process has approved Ocrevus with a broad label as a new treatment option for people with relapsing or primary progressive MS in Australia,ā Dr. Sandra Horning, Rocheās chief medical officer and head of global product cevelopment, said in a press release. āApproval in Australia is significant because of the high prevalence of MS in the country, making it the leading cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults." The drug's developer, Genentech, and Genentech's parent company Roche have submitted applications to get Ocrevus approved in more than 50 countries in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Ocrevus trials showed that, among relapsing patients, relapse rates were nearly halved compared to those treated with Rebif. Many of these patients also reached a level of no disease activity ā measures that Genentech has continued to explore after the drug's U.S. approval. In addition, data also showed that PPMS patients, who deteriorate more rapidly, benefit from Ocrevus treatment. āPeople with PPMS [primary progressive multiple sclerosis], who often experience faster and more severe disability, have not had any approved treatment until Ocrevus," Horning said. "We continue to work closely with regulatory authorities across the world to bring Ocrevus to people with multiple sclerosis as soon as possible." Ocrevus is an antibody that blocks the CD20 molecule on certain immune B-cells. Researchers believe these cells directly damage myelin ā the protective coat that insulates nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Evidence also indicates that B-cells can directly damage neurons themselves. The drug continues to be evaluated in a range of clinical trials, including one that specifically focuses on how the drugās B-cell depleting actions play out to harness MS disease processes.
March 30, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Hope, But No Cheers Yet, Voiced by MS Groups in Europe and Canada Waiting on Own Ocrevus Decision American patient groupsĀ and neurologists haveĀ clearly been giving Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) plenty of attention since news of its approval landed, as a sweep of U.S. reaction to the FDA’s decision showed. But what is happening elsewhere in regard to this firstĀ treatment for both primary progressive and relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS)?…
March 9, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Australians Living with MS Lack Adequate Oral Care, Study Finds Australians living with multiple sclerosis (MS) don’t haveĀ adequate access to dental care, a new study reports. The study, āHow do Australians living with MS experience oral health and accessing dental care? A focus group study,ā appearedĀ in the journalĀ Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology. MS is an autoimmune…
February 9, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Shoe Insoles Meant to Make Walking Easier for MS Patients to Be Tested in Australia A specialty shoe insole that mayĀ helpĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients walk and go about their daily lives with more assurance and ease was developedĀ by an Australian-led research team, which is now seeking 176 patientsĀ to test the insoleĀ in a three-month trial. The study is led by Anna Hatton, a physiotherapy professor…
July 19, 2016 Columns by admin Would You Take Parasitic Worm Secretions to Prevent Nervous System Inflammation? Do you have any strong feelings about worms? No, not earthworms you find in the garden, or even roundworms or tapeworms that can sometimes be found in animals and humans. What I am talking about is purposely being infected with parasitic worms. OK, it may not be as gross as…
June 20, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Phase 2 Study to Evaluate an Oral Drug to Treat MS-related Spasticity and Cramps Flex Pharma, Inc., announced the start of aĀ Phase 2Ā clinical trialĀ assessing the safety and efficacy ofĀ FLX-787 in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who suffer fromĀ cramps, spasms, and/or spasticity as a result of the disease. The trialĀ is being run in conjunction withĀ Neuroscience Trials Australia. Flex Pharmaās FLX-787 is aĀ single molecule,…
April 15, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Innate Immunotherapeutics Fully Enrolls Phase 2 Study of Drug Candidate to Treat SPMS Innate Immunotherapeutics, Ltd., announced that it hasĀ completed patientĀ enrollment inĀ its ongoingĀ Phase 2B, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of theĀ drugĀ MIS416Ā as a once-weekly treatment forĀ secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). MIS416 is a biologically derived immune modulator that targets myeloid cells, a subset of innate immune cells that can…
October 29, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Sydney Bikers Join Efforts to Fundraising on MS Gong Ride Sunday Next Sunday, November 2nd,Ā Sydney, Australia will hold one of the country’s largest fundraising events to support multiple sclerosis research and advocacy, theĀ MS Gong Ride, aĀ one day community bike ride designed to collect $3.8 million. Each biker is asked to help raise $250 for the historic ride that celebrates its…
August 4, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD UPDATE: Australian Authorities Warn About Unapproved MS Stem Cell Treatments After Death in Russia Australian authorities are alerting Multiple Sclerosis patients to the risk of unproven stem cell treatments that are being performed both in the country and overseas, after the recent death of a woman in Russia undergoing a controversial treatment for the disease. The continued marketing campaigns to…
June 23, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Physiotherapist Creates Group Exercise Manual for MS Patients Group exercise could be very beneficial in improving the health of multiple sclerosis patients, according to Sheila Lennon, Physiotherapy ProfessorĀ fromĀ Flinders University, in Adelaide, Australia. Lennon is the creator of a new training manual for clinicians, as she advocates the need forĀ regular and ongoing physiotherapy in the public health system.