Posts by: Alice Melão

Alice Melão

May 15, 2018May 15, 2018

Gilenya Approved by FDA as First DMT for Children, Ages 10 and Older, with Relapsing MS

News

Gilenya (fingolimod) has become the first disease-modifying therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat children and adolescents with relapsing forms of ... Read more

May 8, 2018May 8, 2018

Rituximab Seen to Ably and Safely Treat Refractory RRMS Patients in French Study

News

An approved lymphoma treatment, rituximab was found to be effective and safe for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients whose active disease has failed to respond to immunosuppressive ... Read more

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018

Mavenclad Effective in Treating Highly Active MS, New CLARITY Analysis Shows

News

An additional analysis of data from the CLARITY study confirmed the long-term benefits of treatment with Mavenclad (cladribine tablets) for patients with highly active relapsing forms ... Read more

May 2, 2018May 16, 2018

#AAN2018 — Lemtrada Sustains Long-Term Benefits for RRMS Patients, TOPAZ Study Shows

Lemtrada, News

Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) can sustain reduced activity and prevent progression of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) for more than seven years, clinical data from the CARE-MS extension trial ... Read more

April 27, 2018May 1, 2018

#AAN2018 – Stem Cell Transplant is Effective Treatment for ‘Aggressive’ MS, Study Shows

News

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, also known as aHSCT, has been shown to be safe and highly effective to treat patients with “aggressive” multiple sclerosis. Tested ... Read more

April 26, 2018April 30, 2018

#AAN2018 – MS Progresses Quickly in African-Americans and May Warrant Aggressive Treatment

News

Multiple sclerosis in African-Americans progresses much faster than in Caucasian patients, new research reports, suggesting that blacks would benefit from a more aggressive treatment approach. Led ... Read more

April 25, 2018

#AAN2018 – Review of Phase 3 Trial Data Supports Gilenya as Treatment for Pediatric MS

News

An additional analysis of data collected during the Phase 3 PARADIGMS trial found Gilenya (fingolimod) can prevent the progression of disability and control multiple sclerosis (MS) activity in ... Read more

April 24, 2018April 24, 2018

#AAN2018 – Celgene to Present Latest Data on Ozanimod’s Safety and Effectiveness

News

Celgene’s oral treatment candidate ozanimod can effectively reduce relapse rates in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with mild to moderate disability, results of two Phase 3 trials ... Read more

April 23, 2018April 23, 2018

#AAN2018 – Neurofilament Light Blood Levels Can Help Define Disease Activity in RRMS, Study Shows

News

Analysis of a potential blood biomarker linked to brain cell damage can help define disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Results of a ... Read more

April 18, 2018April 18, 2018

#AAN2018 – Levels of Protein Derived from Brain Cell Damage Can Mirror Severity of MS, Study Finds

News

Levels of a protein stemming from brain cell damage can mirror the severity and symptoms of multiple sclerosis, an analysis of combined data from three trials ... Read more

April 18, 2018April 18, 2018

#AAN2018 — Early Treatment Delays MS Disease Progression But Does Not Affect Death Rate, Study Suggests

News

Beginning treatment early with disease-modifying therapies is the most effective approach to prevent multiple sclerosis (MS) progression in patients, a large-scale study suggests. Data from the ... Read more

April 17, 2018April 17, 2018

#AAN2018 – Siponimod Reduces Disease Activity Biomarker in SPMS Patients

News

Novartis‘ siponimod (BAF312) can reduce blood levels of a biomarker of nerve cell damage in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), a Phase 3 clinical ... Read more

April 16, 2018April 16, 2018

SPMS Patients Have More Cognitive Decline Than Those with RRMS, Study Reports

News

People with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) have more cognitive decline than those with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), according to a Greek study. The finding confirmed a ... Read more

April 11, 2018April 11, 2018

Mapi Pharma, Mylan Partner to Develop Once-monthly Glatiramer Formulation

News

Mylan and Mapi Pharma will jointly develop and commercialize Glatiramer Acetate (GA) Depot, an investigative, long-lasting formulation of the commonly used multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy Copaxone (marketed by Teva ... Read more

April 11, 2018April 11, 2018

Mavenclad Approved by United Arab Emirates to Treat Highly Active Relapsing MS

News

The United Arab Emirates is the first country in the Middle East and Africa to approve Mavenclad (cladribine tablets) as a treatment for patients with highly ... Read more

April 4, 2018April 4, 2018

Online Therapy Program Called Elevida Seen to Help Patients to Manage Fatigue in Clinical Study

News

An interactive, psychotherapy-based online program known as Elevida can effectively reduce fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), results of a clinical study show. In their ... Read more

March 27, 2018March 27, 2018

Siponimod Reduces Risk of SPMS Patients’ Disability Worsening, Phase 3 Trial Shows

News

Siponimod (BAF312) reduces the risk of disability progression in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), a Phase 3 clinical trial shows. An article about the Novartis therapy’s trial ... Read more

March 26, 2018March 26, 2018

Canadian Study Links Psychiatric Disorders and Physical Disability in Women with MS

News

Depression, anxiety and other mood disorders contribute to physical disability in women with multiples sclerosis, according to a Canadian study that confirmed the results of previous ... Read more

March 14, 2018March 21, 2018

National MS Society to Award $433,800 to Support 10 Pilot Research Projects

News

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society will award $433,800 to 10 high-risk pilot studies that will quickly evaluate new strategies and interventions and enhance knowledge about multiple ... Read more

March 13, 2018March 13, 2018

Genetically Engineered Cells Have Potential to Restore Neuron’s Myelin Sheath, Study Shows

News

Genetically modified human umbilical cord blood cells can help nerve cells recover the myelin layer necessary for normal functioning, researchers found in a preclinical study. This ... Read more

March 2, 2018March 5, 2018

FDA Wants More Information on Celgene’s MS Therapy Ozanimod Before Starting Its Review

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked Celgene to add more information to its New Drug Application for ozanimod as a treatment for relapsing forms of ... Read more

March 1, 2018March 8, 2018

Argentina Approves Mavenclad for Active Relapsing MS

News

Argentina has become the first country in Latin America to approve Mavenclad (cladribine) as a treatment for adults with highly active relapsing multiple sclerosis. The Argentinian Administration of ... Read more

February 26, 2018February 26, 2018

Oxygen Sensor Protein Can Regulate B-Cell Anti-inflammatory Response in MS, Study Shows

News

Oxygen sensor proteins can regulate immune B-cell activity, preventing inflammation in autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, a study reports. The research, titled “Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α is ... Read more

February 20, 2018February 23, 2018

Low-dose Naltrexone Changes Levels of Inflammatory Proteins in MS, Study Shows

News

Inhibition of the neuroactive opioid growth factor (OGF) alters the blood levels of important pro- and anti-inflammatory proteins in mice with multiple sclerosis (MS)-like disease. The recognition ... Read more

February 16, 2018February 16, 2018

Health Canada Approves Ocrevus to Treat Early Stage PPMS Patients with Active Disease

News

Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) patients in Canada in the earlier stages of this disease can now be treated with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), following Health Canada‘s decision to ... Read more

February 15, 2018February 20, 2018

Clinicians Who Prescribe Cannabis Should ‘Start Low and Go Slow,’ Study Advises

News

Use of medicinal cannabis may pose risks as it may trigger psychiatric problems, but also because it lacks standardized chemical composition, according to a study published ... Read more

February 14, 2018February 14, 2018

Stem Cell Treatment Benefits Three-fourths of MS Patients in Phase 1 Trial

News

A stem cell treatment improved the neurological symptoms of three-fourths of the multiple sclerosis patients in a Phase 1 clinical trial, New York researchers reported. The ... Read more

February 9, 2018February 13, 2018

#ACTRIMS2018 – Combo Can Stop Tysabri-related PML Infection from Worsening, Case Study Shows

News

A combination of an anti-viral therapy and the anti-depressive mirtazapine can stop the worsening of an infection associated with the multiple sclerosis therapy Tysabri, a case study ... Read more

February 8, 2018February 8, 2018

#ACTRIMS2018 – Ampyra Also Aids Cognition, Use of Extremities in MS Patients

News

Ampyra (dalfampridine), approved to treat walking difficulties in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, also helps with cognition and movement in the upper and lower extremities, according to ... Read more

February 6, 2018February 6, 2018

Balance, Sensory Stimulation Exercises Can Improve MS Symptoms, BEEMS Program Shows

News

A specially tailored program focused on balance and eye-movement exercises can help multiple sclerosis (MS) patients improve balance, dizziness, fatigue, and quality of life, according to ... Read more

February 6, 2018February 6, 2018

#ACTRIMS2018 – Prior Therapies Don’t Affect Gilenya’s Benefits, Study Shows

News

Changing from injectable disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to Gilenya (fingolimod) can benefit people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), regardless of prior therapy regimens. The PREFERMS Phase 4 ... Read more

February 2, 2018February 2, 2018

MS Trust Seeking PPMS Patients’ Views on Ocrevus as It Tries to Obtain British Coverage

News

Britain’s Multiple Sclerosis Trust is asking patients to help them get the National Health Service to cover Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) as a treatment for primary progressive multiple sclerosis, or PPMS. The key ... Read more

February 1, 2018February 1, 2018

Researchers Identify Testosterone-triggered Molecule that Protects Men from MS

News

A molecule triggered by the male hormone testosterone protects male mice from developing multiple sclerosis, Northwestern Medicine researchers report. Their discovery may help explain why MS ... Read more

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018

Registrations Open for Upcoming Nashville CMSC 2018 Meeting

News

Registrations are now open for the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), set for May 30-June 2 at the Music City ... Read more

January 25, 2018January 25, 2018

Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Reduces MS-associated Cognitive Fatigue

News

One single session of non-invasive brain stimulation can reduce cognitive fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), say researchers at Germany’s Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg. Their study, ... Read more

January 24, 2018January 29, 2018

Study Identifies MS Patients at Risk of Severe Disease Reactivation After Gilenya Is Discontinued

News

Multiple sclerosis patients with high relapse rates but less physical impairment before starting on  Novartis’ Gilenya (fingolimod) are likely to experience a surge in disease activity ... Read more

January 10, 2018January 10, 2018

Extavia Is the Only Therapy for MS with Relapses That Britain Should Cover, Board Says

News

A British board that recommends what treatments the National Health Service should cover has advised the system to use only Extavia (interferon beta 1b) as a treatment for ... Read more

January 9, 2018January 11, 2018

American CyroStem Warned by FDA to Stop Using Stem Cell Therapy Without Approval and to Correct Safety Issues

News

American CryoStem has received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing its adipose-derived stem cell product Atcell without required regulatory ... Read more

January 3, 2018January 9, 2018

Global Expert Panel Proposes Updating McDonald Criteria to Diagnose MS

News

An international panel of multiple sclerosis experts has proposed revising the McDonald criteria guidelines to improve and expedite the diagnosis of this disease. Co-chaired by Dr. Jeffrey Cohen ... Read more

January 2, 2018January 4, 2018

MS Patients’ Handwriting Ability Correlates with Movement, Sensory and Cognitive Impairment, Study Shows

News

A deterioration in multiple sclerosis patients’ handwriting aligns with drops in their movement, sensory and cognitive skills, a study reports. MS includes loss of hand dexterity and ... Read more