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

AI tool aims to accelerate clinical trial patient recruitment

An artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool called Muse aims to accelerate drug development by optimizing clinical trial patient recruitment. The tool, designed as part of a collaboration among Formation Bio, OpenAI, and Sanofi, is designed to be implemented across a range of areas. Sanofi will first put it…

MS cell-based therapy PTG-007 wins patent protection in China

Poltreg will receive a patent in China that covers the administration of its cell-based therapy PTG-007 for multiple sclerosis (MS) via an injection into the spinal canal, or intrathecally. The method showed superior benefits compared with PTG-007’s intravenous infusion into the bloodstream in a Phase 1b/2a study of people…

Ocrevus Zunovo now approved in US to treat relapsing MS, PPMS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ocrevus Zunovo (ocrelizumab and hyaluronidase-ocsq),Ā a subcutaneous, or under-the-skin, formulation of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), for treating adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). The approval covers all the same indications as the original medication, including relapsing forms of MS ā€” namely…

Neufit’s MS Bootcamp offers intensive 3-day rehab experience

Neufit is encouraging people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to register for its upcoming MS Bootcamp, a three-day event that will showcase the company’s Neufit method for an intensive, specialized rehabilitation experience and connect patients to experts and a supportive community. The event will take place Nov. 8-10, at…

Tolebrutinib delays disability progression in nonrelapsing SPMS

Treatment with the investigational BTK inhibitor tolebrutinib significantly delayed the onset of confirmed disability progression in people with nonrelapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) compared with a placebo, meeting the primary goal of the HERCULES Phase 3 trial. A preliminary analysis of liver safety was consistent with previous…

National MS Society names Coetzee president and CEO

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) said it named Tim Coetzee, PhD, president and chief executive officer. Coetzee had been chief advocacy, services, and science officer for the organization, which provides funding and advocacy programs and services and works toward creating a world without multiple sclerosis (MS). Coetzee…

Researchers win AU$2.9M toward AI precision medicine for MS

The Australian governmentā€™s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has awarded AU$2.9 million (about $1.96 million) to support a project focused on developing artificial intelligence (AI) precision medicine strategies for multiple sclerosis (MS). The project will be conducted by a team of investigators that will include neurologists, neuroradiologists, and data…

Bit.bio launches human astrocyte product to help model brain

Bit.bio, a company that creates human-derived cell products, has launched a novel product called ioAstrocytes, which provides functional human astrocytes to help scientists model the brain and study neurological disease mechanisms or screen new drugs. Astrocytes are star-shaped cells in the brain and spinal cord that provide support…

Subcutaneous Ocrevus approved in EU for relapsing MS, PPMS

The European Commission has approved a subcutaneous, or under-the-skin, formulation of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) to treat adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). The approval makes the new formulation available in the European Union for the same indications as the original intravenous (into-the-vein) formulation, which is available to people with relapsing…

Anti-CD20s effective MS therapy switch from Tysabri: Review

Switching to one of the anti-CD20 targeting therapies Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) or rituximab may be an effective strategy for discontinuing Tysabri (natalizumab) treatment inĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients at risk for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), according to a systematic review. The study, ā€œSwitching from natalizumab to an…

Headaches and MS linked, and therapies may affect them: Study

A large proportion of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience headaches as a result of their condition, and treatment with interferon-based therapies seems to increase the risk of worsening headaches or developing new ones, a study found. In contrast, the CD20 antibody rituximab that’s used off-label in MS…

Whole grain food diet may reduce risk of pediatric-onset MS: Study

A higher intake of whole grain food is significantly associated with a lower likelihood of developing pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study led by researchers in Canada. Conversely, an overall more pro-inflammatory diet ā€” one containing higher amounts of fats and proteins ā€” was linked to increased…

Committee favors approval of under-the-skin Ocrevus in Europe

A committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is recommending the approval of a subcutaneous, or under-the-skin, formulation of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the European Union. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, known as CHMP, specifically recommended that this new formulation…

Nektar to develop NKTR-0165 for MS, autoimmune diseases

NKTR-0165, an antibody that targets the tumor necrosis factor receptor type 2 (TNFR2), will continue to be developed by Nektar Therapeutics as a candidate for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases. The experimental therapy was developed under a 2021 collaboration between Nektar and Biolojic…

Foralumab found to ease fatigue in SPMS patients in access program

Fully 70% of patients with nonactive secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) who received foralumab nasal spray in an expanded access program (EAP) experienced a lessening in fatigue levels after six months of treatment. That’s according to early findings from the EAP ā€” a program that enables patients with serious…

Enrollment full in trial of Scone device for overactive bladder

A clinical trial testing SpineX‘sĀ Scone neuromodulation device for treating a neurogenic, or overactive, bladder, a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), has finished enrolling patients. Called CONTINENCE (NCT05301335), the study enrolled adults with overactive bladder due to MS, stroke, or spinal cord injury at…

BCG vaccine to prevent tuberculosis not linked to MS risk: Study

Getting the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine to protect against tuberculosis (TB) or having latent (inactive) TB in young adulthood aren’t linked to the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), a Norwegian study found. The study, ā€œBCG vaccination and multiple sclerosis risk: A Norwegian cohort study,ā€ was published in…

SetPoint nerve stimulator for RRMS accepted to FDA TAP program

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted SetPoint Medical, which is developing a nerve stimulator for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), into a pilot program designed to promote the development of new medical devices, the company said. The Total Product Life Cycle Advisory Program…

MSAA, Lumina partner to provide MRIs to MS patients in Ohio

Lumina Imaging has partnered with the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) to provide affordable brain and spinal cord MRI scans to multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The partnership makes Lumina the preferred provider for the MSAA’s MRI Access Program in northeast Ohio. The program is designed…

Metabolon, Cardiff University partner for MS biomarker research

Metabolon and Cardiff University are partnering to discover new biomarkers that could help better understand disease mechanisms and develop new treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS). The project leverages Metabolon’s expertise in metabolomics, a field of research that measures all products of metabolism, called metabolites, that are made…