Andrea Lobo, PhD,  science writer—

Andrea Lobo holds a PhD in cell biology/neurosciences from the University of Coimbra-Portugal, where she studied stroke biology. As a research scientist for 19 years, she participated in academic projects in multiple research fields, from stroke, gene regulation, addition, and rare diseases. She has authored several research papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Articles by Andrea Lobo

ECTRIMS 2025: NMSS funding, support drives progress in care

The world’s largest meeting on multiple sclerosis (MS) has wrapped up for the year, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) played a central role in many of the advances highlighted there. Nearly 10,000 people attended the 41st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple…

ECTRIMS 2025: Vidofludimus calcium shows promise against MS

Immunic Therapeutics‘ experimental oral therapy vidofludimus calcium continues to show a significant effect on disability worsening in people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), even in those without signs of active inflammation in the brain, a group with limited treatment options. That’s according to new data…

ECTRIMS 2025: Ultra-processed foods may fuel disease in early MS

Consuming large amounts of ultra-processed foods (UPF) — products high in additives, artificial ingredients, and extensive processing — is associated with increased disease activity in people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), which is the first presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study has found. The analysis used a…

ECTRIMS 2025: Cognitive changes may precede physical decline

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) seem to experience significant changes in cognition more than a year before significant physical decline is evident, a study found. While measures of processing speed, verbal memory, and visual memory worsened after about 2.7 years, significant changes in walking function and dexterity were only…

ECTRIMS 2025: A ‘new era’ for diagnosis and treatment

The 41st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), the world’s largest congress dedicated to multiple sclerosis (MS) research and care, kicks off today in Barcelona. About 9,000 scientists, clinicians, industry leaders, and patient advocates from more than 100 countries are expected…

Health Canada warns of severe allergy risk with some MS products

Health Canada is warning that glatiramer acetate products, used in the country to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), may cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. The warning follows 11 reported cases of anaphylactic reactions linked to Copaxone — the original brand name of glatiramer…

Tolebrutinib gets UAE OK for progressive MS, a world 1st

The United Arab Emirates became the first country to approve tolebrutinib, clearing it to treat adults with nonrelapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Sanofi’s oral BTK inhibitor is also the first approved therapy that directly addresses the chronic inflammation that contributes to disability progression independent of relapses. “The…

Study finds better physical ability is tied to higher cognition in MS

Having better physical performance is associated with higher cognitive function in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly among those with more disability, a study finds. Disability levels, in turn, correlate negatively with cognition and physical performance, with patients with moderate disability having worse scores on assessments than those with…

Switching to Ocrevus or Kesimpta doesn’t alter either’s effectiveness

Switching between CD20-targeting antibodies Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) and Kesimpta (ofatumumab) doesn’t affect either’s effectiveness at lowering disease activity and slowing disability progression in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a real-world study in Germany shows. Researchers did see a link between switching and a faster, continuous decrease of immunoglobulin…

Fatigue, cognition in MS patients aren’t barriers to healthy habits

Three self-reported prevalent symptoms among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) – fatigue, mobility issues, and cognitive impairment – are generally not associated with lower engagement in healthy lifestyle factors, a study in Australia shows. However, in the long term, mobility difficulties may significantly reduce adherence to physical activity, a…

Stem cell transplant may slow RRMS disease progression: Study

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) could slow disease progression in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a study tracking MS patients in Sweden. The procedure was associated with sustained reductions in biomarkers linked to progressive MS. The results also showed that a significant portion of patients…

DMTs before, during MS pregnancy generally safe: Registry data

About 62% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients use disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) before and during pregnancy, and the medications don’t appear to harm their health or their babies’ health, recently reported data from an international registry show. Most pregnancies resulted in live, full-term births, and these births generally occurred…

Foralumab nasal spray trial starts dosing patients at Weill Cornell

A multicenter Phase 2a clinical trial testing foralumab nasal spray in people with nonactive secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) has begun dosing patients at Weill Cornell Medicine Multiple Sclerosis Center in New York. The Phase 2a study (NCT06292923) is assessing the safety and efficacy of Tiziana Life Sciences‘ therapy,…

Aetna agrees to reimburse PoNS device for MS patients

Aetna Healthcare has agreed to reimburse Helius Medical Technologies’ PoNS device, short for Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator, which uses electrical stimulation to improve walking in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The policy covers PoNS at an out-of-network negotiated price of $18,350, making Aetna, one of the largest private health…

4 Canadian MS nurses among 11 honored for excellence in care

Four Canadian nurses are among the 11 recipients of this year’s International Nightingale Awards, which support innovative projects aimed at improving care for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Presented annually by the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN), the awards are open to MS nurses living…

Walk in New York opens to aid access to advanced mobility devices

Wandercraft has launched Walk in New York, a new rehabilitation center that offers access to its advanced mobility devices for people with severe walking impairments, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS). The center provides sessions with neurological rehabilitation therapists and walking sessions with its robotic exoskeleton,…

Resistance training program didn’t cut cardiovascular risk in SPMS

While a four-month progressive resistance training program improved muscle strength in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis  (SPMS) in the Netherlands, it did not significantly change their risk of developing cardiovascular disease, a small study showed. Individual cardiovascular risk factors and 10-year risk estimation tools showed no significant changes…