December 12, 2022 News by Joana Vindeirinho, PhD Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Can Ease Some MS Symptoms: Review Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) may be able to reduce fatigue, spasticity, and pain, and improve quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new meta-analysis reports. The review assessed several NIBS interventions targeting different brain regions. The results suggest that these techniques can have immediate effects…
October 21, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD 4 Weeks of Nabiximols Found to Ease Spasticity in MS Pilot Study Four weeks of treatment with nabiximolsĀ ā an oral spray containing compounds found in the cannabis plant ā significantly reduced spasticity and generally improved arm and hand function in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with moderate-to-severe spasticity, according to a small pilot study in Italy. Notably, after nabiximols, patients showed…
October 5, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Direct Electrical Stimulation of Brain Found to Ease MS Spasticity Electrical stimulation of the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp may ease some measures of spasticity for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to results from a small clinical trial. Using this novel route of brain stimulation was shown to impact muscle contractions in patients with spasticity…
August 18, 2022 Columns by Benjamin Hofmeister My MS Makes Getting Sick With a Viral Infection 10 Times Worse School started last week for our three kids. They got to see friends from the last school year, meet their new teachers, and sit at a new desk in their new classrooms. Per tradition, there was no homework assigned the first week, but they still brought home plenty of papers…
July 5, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Assistive Device Makes It Easier to Self-administer Nabiximols: Study An assistive device made it significantly easier and more comfortable for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with arm and hand mobility problems to self-administer nabiximols ā an oral spray containing compounds found in the cannabis plant ā a study found. Trained nurses involved in the study agreed with its…
June 3, 2022 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Lyvispah, Dissolvable Form of Baclofen, Now Available in US Lyvispah ā a dissolvable granular formulation of baclofen ā is now commercially availableĀ in the U.S. for adults and adolescents, 12 and older, with spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other spinal cord disorders. In people with MS, the strawberry-flavored formulation is particularly suitable to ease flexor…
May 4, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Cannabis ‘Highly Effective’ Against MS Symptoms, Some Users Report More than half of Canadians with multiple sclerosis (MS) report using cannabis to help manage their symptoms, according to a new study. The study,Ā “Medical cannabis use in Canadians with multiple sclerosis,” was published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Humans have used the cannabis plant for millennia,…
February 28, 2022 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: aHSCT, Skin Cancer, Spasticity, NfL Blood Test #ACTRIMS2022 ā Immune System āResetā by Stem Cell Transplant At the University of Ottawa, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) has been used to treat people with aggressive MS since the early 2000s, MS News Today‘s Marisa Wexler reports. This study, which reviewed 71 patients during that period, reports…
February 23, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD App Helps With Long-term Spasticity Management After Rehab Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who experience reductions in spasticity after a four-week course of inpatient rehabilitation can sustain those improvements in the long term using an app-based self-training program, according to data from a clinical trial. The app also led to better adherence to the self-training program than…
December 9, 2021 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD FDA Approves Lyvispah, Granular Form of Baclofen, to Treat Spasticity The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lyvispah, a dissolvable granular formulation of baclofen, to treat spasticityĀ in people withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). The strawberry-flavored formulation, developed byĀ Saol Therapeutics, is particularly suitable to ease flexor spasticity, the involuntary bending of the knees and hips toward the…
November 5, 2021 Columns by John Connor On the Healing Powers of THC I have to admit, Iāve wheeled down the THC path a few times before. Yes, I know itās very difficult to stay on the path when under the influence. Luckily, I’ve solved this problem by only imbibing in bed. I say imbibing, because for me, smoking the stuff is…
October 20, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD #ECTRIMS2021 – App’s Use Prolongs Gains of Spasticity Rehab Program Editorās note: TheĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the virtual 37th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Oct. 13ā15. GoĀ hereĀ to see the latest stories from the conference. Four…
October 15, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ECTRIMS2021 ā Sativex Eases MS Patients’ Spasticity, Spasms in Trials Editorās note: TheĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the virtual 37th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Oct. 13ā15. GoĀ hereĀ to see the latest stories from the conference. Sativex…
October 13, 2021 Columns by Beth Ullah Falling Into Fall: How the Changing Seasons Affect My MS Symptoms “You’re my summer that fades/ To these cold autumn days/ You’re my keepsake, my friend, and my fears/ You’re the strength that’s inside and I swear on my life/ I will always be there by your side.” ā Amber Pacific Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. I…
August 10, 2021 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Third Phase 3 Trial of Sativex, Cannabis Extract for MS Spasticity, Planned Jazz Pharmaceuticals is planning to open a third Phase 3 clinical trial ofĀ Sativex (nabiximols), an oral spray that contains cannabis extracts, as an add-on treatment for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spasticity, the company announced. Set to start this year, the RELEASE MSS5…
July 8, 2021 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Sativex Eased MS Spasticity as an Add-on Therapy Sativex (nabiximols), an oral spray that contains cannabis extracts, was found effective as an add-on therapy for easing spasticityĀ in adultĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) patients who failed to respond to other anti-spastic treatments,Ā a real-world study from Belgium reports. Overall, about 74% patients reported easing of spasticity ā muscle stiffness or…
June 7, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Medical Cannabis in Greece Will Be Sold Under Brand Name Panaxir Medical cannabis made by Panaxia Labs Israel will be marketed and distributed in Greece by Leriva Group, under a recent agreement between the two companies and pending a marketing authorization in the country. The product will be sold under the brand name Panaxir. The companies expect to start…
March 18, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD More Trials Needed to Clarify Benefits of Alzheimerās Therapy Memantine in MS Treatment of up to a year with memantine ā an approved therapy forĀ Alzheimerās diseaseĀ ā failed to prevent cognitive decline and disability, and to significantly reduce fatigue and spasticity in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), a review of published studies shows. The therapy, soldĀ under the brand nameĀ Namenda, works…
January 13, 2021 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD GW Pharma Plans More Clinical Trials for Sativex GW Pharmaceuticals is planning to continue recruiting patientsĀ into two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of Sativex (nabiximols), an oral spray that contains cannabis extracts and is being investigated as a potential add-on therapy for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spasticity. The company also is…
November 5, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Phase 3 Trial of Sativex, Cannabis Extract Treatment for MS Spasticity, Opens in US A Phase 3 trial is underway in the U.S. to assess the safety and efficacy of SativexĀ (nabiximols), an oral spray that contains cannabis extracts, in treating spasticity ā muscle stiffness or spasms ā associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Sativex, by…
July 22, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD FDA Will Review Arbaclofen ER, Potential Oral Therapy for MS Spasticity The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to review Ā Osmotica Pharmaceuticals‘ amended request for the approval of arbaclofen extended release (ER) tablets to treatĀ spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), the company announced.
July 10, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Trial of Cannabis Derivatives in Treating MS Spasticity to Open in Canada The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and its partner, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), have invested CA$1.5 million to open a clinical trialĀ that will investigate the potential of two cannabis derivatives ā cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) ā in treatingĀ spasticity (muscle stiffness) and other…
July 2, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Osmotica Amends NDA for Arbaclofen ER to Treat MS Spasticity Osmotica Pharmaceuticals has submitted an amended new drug application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting the approval of arbaclofen extended release (ER) tablets for the treatment of spasticityĀ in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Arbaclofen ER (brand name…
May 12, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Spasticity Scales May Not Reflect Sativex Benefits in MS Patients, Study Suggests SativexĀ (nabiximols) eases spasticity-associated symptoms in multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) patients, including those with no significant improvements in a validated spasticity scale, according to a large study from Italy. The findings support previous studies suggesting that spasticity scales may not be enough to evaluate patientsā responses to Sativex and to…
April 22, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Nimodipine Can Prevent Spasticity Following Spinal Cord Injury, Mouse Study Shows Nimodipine, an approved medication to prevent brain damage caused byĀ hemorrhage, can be used to prevent spasticity following a spinal cord injury, a mouse study shows. In addition to spinal cord injury, nimodipine may be a promising treatment for neurodegenerative disorders such asĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) and…
March 18, 2020 News by David Melamed, PhD MS Patients Find Cannabis Helpful for Easing Pain, Spasticity, Study Reports About 85% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) usingĀ cannabis find it to be helpful for pain, and 79% find it eases spasticity, a new study reports. The study, “Cannabis use in people with multiple sclerosis and spasticity: A cross-sectional analysis,” was published in…
March 12, 2020 News by Forest Ray PhD THC:CBD Oral Spray Sativex Provides Consistent Relief for Treatment-resistant MS Spasticity Sativex (nabiximols), a THC:CBD oral spray, consistently relieves the pain and severity of treatment-resistant spasticityĀ in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, according to a recent study. An analysis of theĀ Sativex as Add-on therapy Vs. further optimizedĀ first-line ANTispasticsĀ (SAVANT) study revealed that Sativex, used in…
February 27, 2020 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell I Am Beautifully Rare Despite SPMS I have secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and I am rare. In honor of Rare Disease Day on Feb. 29, I honor myself. I honor you and anyone else with a rare disease. I have been asked if multiple sclerosis qualifies as a rare disease. It does if…
February 21, 2020 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Flowonix’s Prometra II Pump System Receives FDA Approval for Use with Intrathecal Baclofen The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to Flowonix MedicalāsĀ Prometra II Programmable Pump System for use with intrathecal baclofenĀ for the treatment of spasticity across numerous conditions, including multiple sclerosis. Intrathecal baclofen ā sold asĀ Gablofen by Piramal,Ā Lioresal by…
November 13, 2019 News by Mary Chapman Sativex, Cannabis Extract for MS Spasticity, Now Available to Select Patients in England The cannabis sativa plant extract SativexĀ is a cost-effective therapy for spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS) and can be offered to patients in England needing it on at least a monthlong trial basis, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said in issuing a final…