September 29, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Tiziana seeks sites to conduct Phase 2a trial of nasal foralumab Tiziana Life Sciences has started to recruit clinical sites for a Phase 2a clinical trial that will investigate its foralumab nasal spray in people with nonactive secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). The announcement follows a meeting with the principal investigators of the trial at Brigham and Women’s…
September 28, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Tyruko, first Tysabri biosimilar, approved in Europe for RMMS The European Commission has approved Tyruko (natalizumab), the first biosimilar of Tysabri, for the treatment of adults with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The approval makes Tyruko available in the European Union for the same indication as its reference medicine. It also marks the first approval…
September 20, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Patient enrollment is complete in Phase 1 trial of ANK-700 for RRMS Anokion has finished enrolling patients in the second part of its Phase 1 clinical trial investigating ANK-700 for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Safety data so far from the MoveS-it trial (NCT04602390) has shown the treatment is safe and well tolerated and biomarker analyses suggest it can induce…
September 19, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Imcyse completes enrollment in Phase 1 trial testing IMCY-0141 for RRMS Imcyse has completed patient enrollment and initial dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating IMCY-0141, its next-generation immunotherapy, in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The study, the first portion of a Phase 1/2 trial called IMCY-MS-001 (NCT05417269), is an open-label trial evaluating three doses of IMCY-0141…
September 15, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Benefits of long-term Tysabri seen in RRMS patients in Japan: Study Tysabri (natalizumab) significantly reduced the development of brain lesions on MRI scans in Japanese people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a new study. The therapy also eased or stabilized disability levels in most patients after five years of treatment, and significantly reduced the annual rate of…
September 1, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Platform for MS care was finalist for Innovation by Design Awards Octave Bioscience was selected as a finalist in this year’s Innovation by Design Awards in recognition of the platform it created to improve the care of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Organized by the media brand Fast Company, the awards are touted as some of the most sought-after…
August 31, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Experimental MS therapy NB-4746 to be tested in healthy volunteers Nura Bio has launched a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating NB-4746, its investigational treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) and several other neurological conditions, in healthy volunteers. The trial’s participants will be randomly assigned to receive single and multiple doses of NB-4746 or a placebo. The goal is to…
August 10, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Neuro Night event to raise funds for neurological care, research Neuro Night, a philanthropic event set for October in Scottsdale, Arizona, is raising funds for the Barrow Neurological Institute and its mission of supporting the lifesaving care, medical education, and research for neurological diseases. The star-studded night of music, dancing, and fundraising, hosted by the Barrow Neurological Foundation,…
August 7, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Mavenclad lowers relapse rates, helps RRMS patients reach NEDA-3 Treatment with Mavenclad (cladribine), an approved short-course oral therapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), significantly reduced patients’ relapse rates and the development of new lesions while keeping disability stable over two years, according to a real-world study in Kuwait. Among patients who completed the two courses…
August 1, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Web-based wellness program improves life quality, lowers fatigue A web-based wellness intervention program that educated multiple sclerosis (MS) patients on dietary plans, stress management, sleep, and exercise recommendations significantly improved their fatigue and quality of life, according to data from a clinical study. The study, “Evaluation of a web-based program for the adoption of wellness behaviors…
July 17, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD MS raises person’s risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s, study suggests People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at a greater risk than the general public of developing any type of dementia, with that of Alzheimer’s disease being more than twice as high and vascular dementia nearly four times as high, a study from Korea suggested. This risk also was higher…
July 7, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD CPT code issued for MRI brain scan software by Icometrix Icometrix‘s quantification software for brain MRI scans has received a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) III code, a temporary code for emerging technologies that should facilitate reimbursement. CPT codes, issued by the American Medical Association, are designed to identify procedures and services in healthcare plans. They are used in the…
July 5, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Neurologist Xavier Montalban wins 2023 Charcot Award for research The director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia (CEMCAT) has been recognized with the 2023 Charcot Award, a prestigious prize that honors researchers for their lifetime work toward understanding multiple sclerosis (MS). Xavier Montalban, MD, PhD, has contributed to several areas of MS research and clinical care…
June 19, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Potential blood biomarker of Gilenya response found in MS patients A microRNA called miR-548a-3p, a small molecule important for regulation of gene activity, may help to identify people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who will reach no evidence of disease activity — a status known as NEDA-3 — after treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod), a study found. Data showed that…
June 5, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Canadian TV airs award-winning documentary on man’s MS journey As part of last week’s World MS Day, a documentary about the life of Mathew Embry, a multiple sclerosis (MS) patient who’s been living symptom-free for more than 27 years, has premiered on national Canadian television. The critically acclaimed documentary, called “Living Proof,” premiered June 4 on The…
May 31, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD CMSC updates core values to more actively address inequalities in care In an effort to improve access to medical care for all people with multiple sclerosis (MS), the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) has announced new initiatives to address disparities and inequality in MS care. The consortium is incorporating a new statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)…
May 25, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Candidate therapy MRT-6160 chosen for MS, other autoimmune diseases Monte Rosa Therapeutics has selected MRT-6160, its second candidate for development, for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and several other autoimmune diseases. The therapy is now in early studies that would support an investigational new drug (IND) application, a formal request to U.S. regulatory authorities to start testing a…
May 25, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Ocrevus reduces B-cells’ diversity, but not T-cells’, in relapsing MS Long-term treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) doesn’t change the diversity of T-cells — those needed to mount effective immune responses against foreign pathogens — in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a small study shows. Consistent with its mechanism of B-cell depletion, however, Ocrevus did reduce the molecular…
May 23, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD US patent secured for experimental LPX-TI641 for autoimmune diseases LAPIX Therapeutics has secured a new U.S. patent covering the use of its experimental oral therapy LPX-TI641 as a means to restore immune tolerance in people with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with the number 11,648,225, the patent…
May 18, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Fenebrutinib significantly reduced brain lesions in relapsing MS: Trial Genentech‘s investigational BTK inhibitor fenebrutinib significantly reduced the number of new brain lesions and showed no new safety concerns in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). That’s according to new data from the company’s Phase 2 FENopta clinical trial (NCT05119569), which is evaluating fenebrutinib’s…
May 2, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Briumvi’s permanent J-code will aid reimbursement for MS patients The recently approved CD20 inhibitor Briumvi (ublituximab-xiiy) has received a permanent insurance reimbursement code that will simplify claims submissions and documentation processes for adults in the U.S. with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis who are prescribed it. Issued by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the…
April 21, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Aidaptus auto-injector wins Red Dot award for product design Owen Mumford‘s Aidaptus auto-injector, which lets a wide range of under-the-skin medications to be administered, has won a Red Dot Award in the Product Design 2023 category. Launched in 2021, Aidaptus is a disposable auto-injector whose design fits multiple-sized prefilled glass syringes without changing parts. This could provide…
April 19, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Janssen acquires rights to PIPE-307, potential myelin restoring therapy Pipeline Therapeutics is collaborating with a branch of Janssen Pharmaceuticals to advance PIPE-307, a potential oral treatment of nervous system conditions that is expected to enter a clinical trial in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The compound previously was found to be safe and tolerable in…
April 17, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Yoga better than physical therapy at improving MS quality of life: Study A three-month yoga program was significantly better than physical therapy at improving quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a Russian study reports. Significant effects were observed in patients’ physical and social functioning, life activity, and mental health, researchers found. “Regular yoga classes under the guidance of…
April 13, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Cariloop partners with Walgreens to support MS patients, caregivers Cariloop has teamed up with Walgreens to provide support services at select neurology-specialty pharmacies to people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their caregivers. Through its caregiver platform, Cariloop offers services such as professional counseling and cloud-based tools to help families manage challenges and plan for caregiving-associated activities.
April 10, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Vaccine against Epstein-Barr virus may enter clinical trial next year EBViously announced that it has developed a candidate vaccine against the Epstein-Barr virus and plans to bring it into clinical trials starting in 2024. The company is a spinoff of Helmholtz Munich, part of a German government research network. It is led by scientists with expertise in EBV…
April 7, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Early treatment with Mavenclad, antibodies eased highly active MS Early treatment with Mavenclad (cladribine) or monoclonal antibodies is more likely to control symptoms in people with highly active multiple sclerosis (MS), a study in Argentina suggests. Highly active disease usually is considered when frequent relapses occur and there is an increasing burden of brain magnetic resonance imaging…
April 5, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Quitting smoking or moving to snuff may help slow MS progression Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke are both associated with significantly faster disease progression in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but snuff, a smokeless tobacco product placed behind the upper lip, seems to slow MS progression, a study in Sweden suggests. Findings also linked smoking and secondhand exposure, also…
March 31, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Fujirebio launched 2 automated tests to quantify key protein in blood, CSF Fujirebio has launched two fully automated laboratory tests to measure levels of the neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein, a proposed biomarker of nerve cell damage in multiple sclerosis (MS), in the blood and spinal fluid. NfL is a structural protein found in nerve cells that gets released into…
March 29, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Drinking coffee and tea may protect against MS, study says People who drink black and green tea, coffee, and nonalcoholic beer may be significantly less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS), a study in Iran has found. In contrast, consuming carbonated beverages, milk, and natural fruit juices seems to increase the chances of developing the neurodegenerative condition, according to…