Posts by: Alice Melão

News

Nimbus Therapeutics and Celgene have agreed to work together to identify potential therapeutic compounds that can specifically target Tyk2 and STING — two proteins involved in inflammation and innate immune ... Read more

October 9, 2017October 10, 2017

In Blow to Teva, EU Approves Synthon’s Generic Version of Copaxone to Treat RRMS

News

Synthon’s prefilled syringe with 40 mg/ml of glatiramer acetate — the generic version of Teva Pharmaceutical’s Copaxone 40 mg — has received regulatory clearance in all 28 member states ... Read more

October 4, 2017October 5, 2017

FDA Clears Antisense Therapeutics to Proceed with Phase 2b Trial of ATL1102 in RRMS and SPMS Patients

News

Antisense Therapeutics announced that it is proceeding with a Phase 2b clinical trial of ATL1102, its lead candidate to treat multiple sclerosis, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration lifted a clinical hold ... Read more

October 3, 2017October 4, 2017

MS Society, TG Therapeutics Partner to Advance Potential Oral Therapy for Progressive MS

News

Fast Forward, a non-profit subsidiary of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, will give financial support to TG Therapeutics to advance TGR-1202 (umbralisib) into preclinical testing as a potential oral therapy ... Read more

September 28, 2017September 28, 2017

Active Brain Inflammation Helps Cause Anxiety, Depression in RRMS Patients, Study Finds

News

Active brain inflammation appears to be one of the causes driving anxiety and depression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), finds an Italian study published in the journal ... Read more

September 26, 2017September 26, 2017

US, UK Researchers Collaborate on $10.6M Study to Improve Treatment Regimens for MS Patients

News

Researchers at the University of Nottingham and neurologists at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust in England will be working with a team from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio to ... Read more

September 22, 2017September 25, 2017

Study Links MIF, D-DT Molecules to Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Development

News

Two molecules known to regulate cellular signaling contribute to the underlying mechanism of progressive multiple sclerosis, found a recent study conducted by investigators at Oregon Health & Science University ... Read more

September 20, 2017September 20, 2017

ImStem, UConn Obtain U.S. Patent for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Technology to Treat MS, Other Diseases

News

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent for human embryonic stem cells derived mesenchymal stem cells, called hES-T-MSC or T-MSC, and for their method of production. This ... Read more

September 18, 2017September 19, 2017

Finnish Study Links Low Levels of Vitamin D to Higher Risk of MS in Women

News

Women with low levels of vitamin D in their blood are more likely to develop multiple sclerosis later in life, finds a large-scale study on women in Finland. Several studies ... Read more

September 15, 2017September 18, 2017

Five Research Projects Totaling $38 Million to Compare Effectiveness of MS Treatment Strategies

News

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute has awarded $38 million in grants for five projects that compare the effectiveness of different multiple sclerosis treatment strategies. A key aim of the research ... Read more

September 13, 2017September 14, 2017

GT Biopharma to Develop New PainBrake Tablet Formulation to Treat MS Neuropathic Pain

News

GT Biopharma has acquired licensing and development rights for PainBrake — Accu-Break Pharmaceuticals’ non-opioid pain medication to treat dysesthesia and pain caused by nerve damage in multiple sclerosis. Currently ... Read more

September 11, 2017September 12, 2017

Structural Eye Neurodegeneration Common Among MS Patients with Optic Neuritis, Danish Study Finds

News

Structural changes of the eye retina are a common feature among multiple sclerosis patients with a clinical history of optic neuritis, a Danish study finds. Loss of the myelin protective ... Read more

August 31, 2017August 31, 2017

Tecfidera Shows Promise as Replacement MS Therapy for Tysabri, Study Shows

News

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) can be a suitable replacement therapy when Tysabri (natalizumab) is discontinued, keeping low levels of disease activity in patient with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a report ... Read more

August 28, 2017August 29, 2017

RRMS Patients Needed for Phase 3 Trial to Assess Adverse GI Effects of ALKS 8700 Therapy vs. Tecfidera

News

Alkermes is funding a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the effects of its ALKS 8700 therapy on the gastrointestinal tracts of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients, compared to Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), according to a news ... Read more

August 25, 2017September 4, 2017

Topas and Lily Are Partnering to Develop Therapies for Autoimmune Disorders

News

Topas Therapeutics and Eli Lilly and Company are teaming up to develop compounds that could be used to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes. The ... Read more

August 24, 2017August 25, 2017

Horseback Riding Plus Standard Care Can Help MS Patients Improve Balance, Other Symptoms

News

Therapeutic horseback riding, also known as hippotherapy, when combined with standard care regimens significantly reduces fatigue and spasticity in multiple sclerosis. It also improves balance and quality of life, ... Read more

August 23, 2017August 24, 2017

Researchers Identify Nerve Pathway Linking Brain Inflammation, Gut Dysfunction in MS

News

Chronic stress and inflammation in the brain can cause multi-organ dysfunction including severe gut failure, mediated by a newly identified nerve pathway in animal models of multiple sclerosis, a ... Read more

August 7, 2017August 9, 2017

Restore Exosuit Could Help MS Patients Improve Their Walking Ability, Study Reports

News

An exoskeleton developed by Harvard University researchers could restore multiple sclerosis patients’ balance and some of their walking capability, according to a study. ReWalk Robotics is moving toward commercializing the ... Read more

August 3, 2017August 4, 2017

Resistance Training Can Slow MS Patients’ Brain Shrinkage, Clinical Trial Indicates

News

Resistance training like weight lifting can protect or even regenerate the nerve cells of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients, slowing the progression of the disease, according to a clinical trial. A ... Read more

July 27, 2017July 28, 2017

Columbia University Researchers Record Action of Receptor Linked to Neurodegenerative Diseases

News

The neurotransmitter glutamate triggers most brain signals by activating proteins on the surface of neurons called glutamate receptors. Columbia University Medical Center researchers have taken the first 3D images of ... Read more

July 26, 2017July 27, 2017

Wealthy Oilman with Multiple Sclerosis Funds Canadian Studies for Promising MS Therapy

News

Canadian oilman Hank Swartout made a fortune as longtime founder and CEO of Precision Drilling. The Calgary native mortgaged his house to start the company, which by the time ... Read more

July 25, 2017July 27, 2017

Lilly, Nektar Partner to Develop T-Cell Stimulator NKTR-358 for MS, Autoimmune Disorders

News

Eli Lilly and Nektar Therapeutics have established a development and commercial agreement for the investigational T-cell stimulator therapy NKTR-358 for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis. NKTR-358, discovered ... Read more

July 25, 2017July 26, 2017

New Innate Analysis Fails to Show Clinical Benefit of MIS416 for Secondary Progressive MS Patients

News

A new analysis of Phase 2 clinical data on Innate Immunotherapeutics’ investigational drug MIS416 to treat secondary progressive multiple sclerosis has confirmed that the drug failed to improve neuromuscular ... Read more

July 24, 2017July 25, 2017

Pre-Existing Inflammatory Diseases Reduce Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells for MS Treatment, Study Shows

News

According to a study by researchers at Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, pre-existing inflammatory diseases affecting the central nervous system make mesenchymal stem cells less effective ... Read more

July 17, 2017July 18, 2017

Copaxone Benefits RRMS Patients in the Long Term by Modulating Immune System Responses, Study Shows

News

An Italian study shows that first-line treatment with Copaxone benefits relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients by boosting the number of anti-inflammatory immune cells and restoring the balance of regulatory immune ... Read more

July 13, 2017July 14, 2017

Dormant Herpes Virus Can Impede Repair of Myelin Sheath Whose Deterioration Causes MS, Study Reports

News

A herpes virus that lies dormant in many people can hinder the repair of the neuron-protecting myelin sheath whose deterioration causes multiple sclerosis, a study reports. The finding about the ... Read more

July 7, 2017July 11, 2017

FOXP3 Gene Mutations May Explain Immune System Excitability in MS and Other Diseases

News

A gene mutation may explain the uncontrolled, inflammatory immune response seen in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases like multiple sclerosis, scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University ... Read more

July 5, 2017July 5, 2017

MSBase, Icometrix Collaborate on Global Imaging Project to Understand MS Progression

News

MSBase and icometrix have joined efforts in a large-scale project to identify imaging markers of multiple sclerosis (MS) that could help diagnose the disease in its early stages. The combination ... Read more

July 5, 2017July 5, 2017

MIS416 Fails to Benefit Secondary Progressive MS Patients in Phase 2 Clinical Trial

News

Innate Immunotherapeutics’ MIS416 has failed to help secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients in a Phase 2 clinical trial. The company said it will continue testing the therapy, made up ... Read more

June 27, 2017June 29, 2017

Cladribine Tablets Are Only a Step Away from European Union Approval for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

News

Merck’s cladribine tablets are now just one step away from obtaining European Union approval as a relapsing multiple sclerosis treatment. The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human ... Read more

June 22, 2017June 22, 2017

MS Researcher Stephen Hauser, MD, Awarded the 2017 Taubman Prize

News

Stephen L. Hauser, MD, director of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)‘s Weill Institute for Neurosciences, has been awarded the 2017 Taubman Prize for Excellence in Translational Medical Research. Recognized ... Read more

June 19, 2017June 19, 2017

FDA Expands Dysport’s Approval for Treatment of Lower Limb Spasticity in Adults

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded approval of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) for treatment of spasticity in adults, a condition that affects many people in the United States, ... Read more

June 5, 2017June 5, 2017

Researchers Develop New Method to Specifically Target Immune Cells that Trigger MS, Other Autoimmune Processes

News

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) have developed a new experimental method to specifically target unwanted activation of the immune system without the toxicity of current immunoregulatory drugs. ... Read more

June 2, 2017June 2, 2017

Acne Therapy Reduces Rate of Multiple Sclerosis Progression, Canadian Study Reports

News

A common acne medicine called minocycline can reduce the rate of multiple sclerosis progression in patients who are at early stages of the disease, according to a Phase 3 clinical ... Read more

May 24, 2017May 24, 2017

N.Y. Stem Cell Foundation Grows Brain Immune Cells in a Dish, Offerings Clues into MS Research

News

Researchers from the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) have developed a method to produce brain immune cells, called microglia, from human stem cells. That can help scientists uncover biological mechanisms ... Read more

May 23, 2017May 23, 2017

Results of Phase 3 Trial for Celgene’s Ozanimod Suggest Therapeutic Benefit in RMS Patients

News

Relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) patients taking the investigational drug ozanimod, also known as RPC-1063, had lower relapse rate than those on weekly Avonex (interferon β-1a) therapy, according to Celgene in an announcement ... Read more

May 22, 2017May 22, 2017

Real-world Spanish Study Confirms Gilenya’s Ability to Reduce Multiple Sclerosis Relapses

News

A real-world medical-facilities setting has confirmed clinical trial findings that Gilenya (fingolimod) can reduce multiple sclerosis relapses, according to a Spanish study published in Plos One. Gilenya, developed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals, was the first ... Read more

May 17, 2017May 17, 2017

PODS May Aid in Transporting Growth Factors for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, Other Diseases

News

PODS (POlyhedrin Delivery System), a new technology designed to transport any protein in the human body, may open up new approaches in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases, says ... Read more

May 16, 2017May 16, 2017

RRMS Patients on Beta-Interferon Therapy Have Increased Risk of Stroke, Study Finds

News

A large-scale study revealed potential adverse reactions to beta-interferon (IFN-β) therapy, one of the most common treatments used for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). According to the study published in ... Read more

May 15, 2017May 15, 2017

Transcription Factor T-Bet Triggers MS, Other Autoimmune Diseases, Study Finds

News

The expression by immune B-cells of a protein called T-bet is crucial to promoting production of autoantibodies that recognize and destroy the tissues of one’s own body, finds a new ... Read more