January 9, 2024 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Blood levels of GFAP protein may predict disease progression in PPMS The ongoing worsening of disability among people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) may be predicted by elevated blood levels of the GFAP protein, a marker of damage to star-shaped support cells in the brain and spinal cord called astrocytes, a study suggests. The risk of disability progression was…
February 7, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Primary progressive MS confirmed as own disorder in mouse study Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) is driven by antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the liquid around the brain and spinal cord ā but this is not the case in the more common relapsing forms of MS ā a new study done in mice suggests. Researchers say this result…
September 29, 2022 Columns by Stephen De Marzo My Faith Journey With Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis After being given the most life-changing, devastating news I’d ever heard ā āMr. De Marzo, you have textbook MS. As a matter of fact, you have PPMS [primary progressive multiple sclerosis].” ā the emotions and pictures that ran through my mind were vivid, horrific, angry, and upsetting, to say…
August 25, 2022 Columns by Stephen De Marzo The Difference Between Living and Existing After My PPMS Diagnosis Itās been a year and a half since I was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). I still have use of my limbs and am able to walk, albeit shakily, without a walker. My eyesight has not been affected, I drive, and am able to carry on a…
February 7, 2022 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Sweden, Like France, OKs Start of Masitinib Trial in Progressive MS The Swedish Medical Products Agency has approved AB Scienceās request to launch in the country a confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial of its lead candidate masitinibĀ in adults withĀ primary progressive multiple sclerosisĀ (PPMS) and nonactiveĀ secondary progressive MSĀ (SPMS). The decision comes on the heels of a similar authorization byĀ the…
May 6, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Sexual Problems in Women with MS; Aubagio Satisfaction; Cellular Aging and PPMS Women with MS Have Higher Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction, Study Reveals I’m surprised that someone felt it necessary to conduct a formal study of this. A glance at multiple sclerosis (MS) groups on social media, although unscientific, would suggest that this is a common problem. And if you’re going…
July 5, 2018 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Grey Matter Atrophy Common to All with MS and Follows Ordered Sequence, Study Finds Grey matter atrophy ā its loss ā Ā follows a sequential pattern that expands to involve more regions of the brain over time in all multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, regardless of their disease type, a new study reports. Atrophy progression is also similar betweenĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS) andĀ primary-progressive multiple sclerosisĀ (PPMS)…
April 3, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson Is Ocrevus Right for Me? So Close, Yet So Far History has been made because of a major breakthrough for multiple sclerosis sufferers everywhere. Ocrevus (ocrelizumab),Ā by Genentech, has been finally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is the first drug treatment that includes my type of MS, primary progressive. This is what I’ve…
July 19, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD 127 Progressive MS Patients Finish Treatment in Phase 2 Study of Ibudilast, MediciNova Reports MediciNova recently reported that half of the 255 patients enrolled in a Phase 2b clinical trialĀ (SPRINT-MS) exploring MN-166 (ibudilast) in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) had completed the 96-week-long treatment. Interim data will be analyzed by the trialās external Data Safety Monitoring Board later this year, with results…
July 19, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD 127 Progressive MS Patients Finish Treatment in Phase 2 Study of Ibudilast, MediciNova Reports MediciNova recently reported that half of the 255 patients enrolled in a Phase 2b clinical trialĀ (SPRINT-MS) exploring MN-166 (ibudilast) in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) had completed the 96-week-long treatment. Interim data will be analyzed by the trialās external Data Safety Monitoring Board later this year, with results…
September 29, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Could Genentechās Ocrelizumab Become the First Effective Primary Progressive MS Therapy? Genentech, a leading biotechnology company and member of the Roche Group, recently announced promising results on a pivotal Phase III clinical trial (ORATORIO) assessing its investigational therapyĀ ocrelizumab as a treatmentĀ for patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that results from…
July 24, 2015 News by Maureen Newman Masitinib Shows Promise in Study For Treating Progressive MS Patients Progressive multiple sclerosis patients treated with AB Science’s lead compound AB07002 (masitinib) in a Phase 3 clinical trial showed positive results in a non futility test (a test to determine if an experimental therapy shows some sign of efficacy). With the successful completion of the futility analysis, AB Science is…
December 8, 2014 News by Isaura Santos Disappointing Results for Fingolimod Phase III Trial In Primary Progressive MS Novartis International recentlyĀ provided an update on itsĀ fingolimod Phase III trial evaluating the use of the drug inĀ primary progressive multiple sclerosisĀ (PPMS), reporting that the study did not reveal any significant benefits of prescribing fingolimod over a placebo.Ā However, results regarding…
November 5, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Teva and Active Biotech Expand Investigational MS Treatment Program Drug manufacturersĀ Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.Ā and Active Biotech announced that they expanding the ongoing clinical research program for the study ofĀ laquinimod, a potential treatment for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), as the companies are now initiating theĀ ARPEGGIO trial. In addition, Teva has also announced…