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

Phase 1 trial of KYV-101 opening in progressive MS without relapses

Researchers at Stanford University have partnered with Kyverna Therapeutics to conduct an investigator-initiated clinical trial of the company’s cell-based therapy, KYV-101, in people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) without relapses. The open-label Phase 1 trial (NCT06138132) will take place at the Stanford Multiple Sclerosis…

Briumvi, an infusion treatment for MS, granted 3 more patents

TG Therapeutics has secured three additional U.S. patents for Briumvi (ublituximab-xiiy), an anti-CD20 antibody that’s been approved to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the patent numbers 11,807,689; 11,814,439; and 11,884,740 specifically cover the composition and…

Briumvi for relapsing MS now available for patients in Europe

Briumvi (ublituximab-xiiy), an approved treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), is now available to patients in Europe, where itā€™s being marketed by Neuraxpharm. The infusion therapy, developed by TG Therapeutics, was first launched in Germany, with additional rollouts following in other European countries. Under…

High incidence, prevalence of pediatric-onset MS in Sweden

Sweden has a consistently high incidence and prevalence of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (PoMS), according to a recently published study. Incidence measures the number of new cases identified during a certain period, while prevalence measures the proportion of people in the population with the condition. Data show the disease is…

Sharp lymphocyte drop seen quickly in SPMS patients on Mayzent

Some people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) using Mayzent (siponimod) show a severe drop in their number of lymphocytes, a condition known as lymphopenia, shortly after starting treatment, a report on its real-world use in the U.K. found. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that help the immune…

FDA grants fast track status to KYV-101 for progressive forms of MS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted fast track status to KYV-101, Kyverna Therapeuticsā€™ cell-based therapy candidate for people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) that are treatment-resistant. The FDA designation is intended to accelerate the development of therapies that aim to address unmet medical…

EU agency OKs study of therapy to improve mitochondrial function

Mitochon Pharmaceuticals is launching a pilot clinical trial to evaluate MP101, its treatment candidate for improving mitochondrial function, in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. The announcement follows the trial’s clearance by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which enables Mitochon to begin enrolling patients with…

Monte Rosa plans to begin Phase 1 trial of MRT-6160 in mid-2024

Monte Rosa Therapeutics is planning to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial to test MRT-6160, its investigational therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases, by mid-2024. The trial will follow the submission of an investigational new drug (IND) application, a formal request to U.S. regulatory authorities…

Remote coaching plus online tips ease stress of MS caregiving

Remote coaching sessions to support the mental and emotional health of informal multiple sclerosis (MS) caregivers, coupled with online information, showed significant benefits after four months, according to a pilot study. These coaching sessions ā€” known as psychoeducation ā€” focused on information, support, and strategies for caring and planning…

Blood levels of MIF protein may predict brain atrophy with PPMS

Higher blood levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a molecule involved in inflammation, may predict a faster rate of brain shrinkage, or atrophy, in people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). That’s according to a new analysis of data from the SPRINT-MS Phase 2 trial (NCT01982942) that…

EBV-001 vaccine prevents EBV infection in lab-grown human cells

EBV-001, a vaccine candidate being developed by EBViously to target the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), triggered the production of potent antibodies against the virus in mice, and blood samples from these animals prevented EBV infection in lab-grown human cells. That’s according to new data presented by the company, which is…

4 new SPMS patients dosed with nasal foralumab outside of trials

Tiziana Life Sciences has dosed four new participants in an expanded access program investigating its foralumab nasal spray in people with nonactive secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), the company announced. A total of 10 SPMS patients are now being followed outside of clinical trials in foralumab’s expanded…

FDA clears BrainSpec’s tool to measure metabolites on brain scans

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared BrainSpec Core, a platform that performs non-invasive measurements of brain chemistry, for use in diagnosing some of the most common diseases that affect the brain, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Developed by BrainSpec, the platform uses magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)…

Providers weigh treatment logistics in selecting DMTs for MS patients

Certain clinical attributes of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), such as safety and the medication’s impact on risk of relapse and disability progression, are considered important by healthcare providers in selecting the appropriate treatment for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new survey study. However, a study experiment also…

Supplementation with coconut oil, green tea may help reduce triglycerides

Supplementation with coconut oil and the green tea component epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) significantly reduces the levels of fatty molecules called triglycerides in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a pilot study from Spain. This reduction may complement improvements in functional capacity that have been reported previously following…

Probiotic eased pain and fatigue in RRMS, trial data show

A commercial probiotic supplement containing the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii significantly eased pain and fatigue, and improved mental health and quality of life, in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to data from a clinical trial in Iran. The probiotic, BioDigest, also reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, a form…

FDA names Elecsys NfL blood test for MS a breakthrough device

A test called Elecsys NfLĀ  ā€” developed by Roche to measure blood levels of the nerve damage biomarker neurofilament light chain (NfL) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) ā€” has received breakthrough device designation in the U.S. That status, granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),…