February 5, 2020 News by Alberto Molano, PhD QyScore, Imaging Software that Analyzes MRI Markers of Brain Disease, Earns FDA Clearance The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance for QyScore, a cloud-based imaging software for the automated quantification of key magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of central nervous system (CNS) disease. MRI is an important tool for diagnosing multiple sclerosis and other CNS disorders. By…
July 8, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Miscarriage or Ectopic Pregnancy Not More Likely in Women Using Rebif, Study Suggests Results from a large observational study of pregnant women with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with an interferon (IFN) beta-1a, like Rebif, before and during the first trimester showed no elevated risk of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy compared to those not using the medicine. This finding was presented at…
June 17, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Relative Cancer Risk is Higher in MS Patients Who Switch Disease-modifying Treatments More Frequently, Study Finds The relative risk of developing cancer was found to be higher in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who more frequently switched between disease-modifying treatments, according to a study. In addition, researchers found an increased incidence of cancer in male MS patients from 20 to 50 years old, and in female…
May 23, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Early Safety Data from Phase 1 Study of Immunotherapy in Progressive MS Patients To Be Detailed at EAN Early, positive safety results from a Phase 1 trial testing a potential immunotherapy, ATA188, in people with progressive multiple sclerosis will be detailed at the 5th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) late next month, its developer, Atara Biotherapeutics, announced. ATA188 is an investigational and “off-the-shelf”…
April 29, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Machine System Based on Brain Activity May Restore Speech to Those Who Lost It, Study Reports A study suggests that it may be possible to create synthetic speech based on recordings of brain activity in people with irreversible speech loss due to neurological ills, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s, or stroke. The system uses tiny electrodes implanted on the surface of the brain that directly records…
April 8, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD In-Depth Study into MS Progression Gets $2M Boost from Roche Canada Roche Canada is contributing $2.125 million to the Canadian Prospective Cohort Study to Understand Progression in MS (CanProCo), a partnership initiative with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, the Brain Canada Foundation, and Biogen Canada. The addition of Roche Canada to the collaboration raises the…
March 29, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD $1.5M Earmarked for MS Research on Cannabis in Canada In partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the MS Society of Canada has announced $1.5 million to fund research over five years on the effects of cannabis on multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms and disease progression. Studies have shown that for each 10-degree increase in latitude, patients newly diagnosed…
March 11, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Immunic Therapeutics Enrolls First Patient in Phase 2 Trial of IMU-838 for RRMS Immunic Therapeutics has enrolled the first patient in its Phase 2 clinical trial testing IMU-838, a potential oral therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). IMU-838 (vidofludimus calcium) is a next-generation selective modulator of the immune system. It works by inhibiting an enzyme called dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), which plays a role…
February 25, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Study Indicates Possible Correlation Between Nutritional Status, MS Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients eat a more limited diet, with a lower average of 31 nutrients, including zinc, thiamin, and iron, when compared with healthy controls, a study shows. Blood tests also showed that MS patients had significantly lower iron levels, a different fatty acid composition in their red blood…
January 22, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Controlling Spasticity Would Greatly Improve Everyday Quality of Life, Survey Shows An international survey of caregivers and adults with neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), revealed that spasticity is a hidden burden, having a negative effect on the ability to perform everyday tasks, and that relieving its symptoms significantly improves patients’ quality of life. The survey was presented by…
January 4, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Bafiertam, a Bioequivalent of Tecfidera, Receives Tentative OK from FDA for RRMS Banner Life Sciences has received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its new drug application (NDA) for Bafiertam (monomethyl fumarate), a novel bioequivalent of Biogen’s Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Final approval is expected no later than…
December 21, 2018 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Study Links Food Allergies and Increased MS Disease Activity Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who reported food allergies showed a 27 percent higher cumulative rate of flare-ups over the course of their disease, and more than twice the likelihood of having active inflammatory lesions, a new study shows. The study, “Food Allergies are Associated with Increased Disease Activity…
December 19, 2018 News by Alberto Molano, PhD FDA Gives Green Light to Phase 2 Trial of NurOwn Stem Cell Therapy in Progressive MS Patients The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics‘ request to open a Phase 2 clinical trial testing the safety and effectiveness of its proprietary NurOwn mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) treatment in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The request was in the form of Investigational New Drug…
December 7, 2018 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Tysabri Seen as Superior to IFN-β in Preventing Relapses, Easing Disability in Small Study Tysabri (natalizumab) was found to be superior to interferon beta (IFN-β) in a small, 12-month study with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients, significantly decreasing their disability levels, its researchers report. A vast majority — 90 percent — of Tysabri-treated patients experienced no relapses during the study period,…
November 30, 2018 News by Alberto Molano, PhD CDC Launching National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System to Study MS The U.S. Congress is supporting with $5 million the National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System (NNCSS), an initiative to be launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help researchers better understand who develops neurological disorders and why. The NNCSS was authorized by Congress as a part…
November 13, 2018 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Heavy Caseloads for MS Specialist Nurses in UK Compromise Patient Care, MS Trust Reports Nurses who specialize in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the U.K. are handling heavier caseloads than recommended or preferred, resulting in patients going without the necessary care and support they deserve, the MS Trust reports. Particularly, the 2018 report notes that newer treatments require more complex and careful monitoring. However, it…
November 9, 2018 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Study Highlights Need for Better Engagement Between MS Patients and Healthcare Providers Multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses can be challenging for some patients, and better engagement is needed between patients and their healthcare providers, a study focused on patient experiences has found. The study, titled “Relapse prevalence, symptoms, and health care engagement: patient insights from the Multiple Sclerosis in America 2017 survey,”…