Forest Ray PhD,  —

Forest Ray received his PhD in systems biology from Columbia University, where he developed tools to match drug side effects to other diseases. He has since worked as a journalist and science writer, covering topics from rare diseases to the intersection between environmental science and social justice. He currently lives in Long Beach, California.

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Nurse With MS Wins Grant to Find Severity, Progression Biomarkers

A nurse and PhD candidate with multiple sclerosis (MS) is looking for disease biomarkers that can help healthcare providers better estimate how individual cases of MS will progress. The goal of Stephanie Buxhoeveden’s research, now supported by a grant from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), is…

Low Temelimab Doses in RRMS Trial Among Reasons for Poor Results

Low doses selected and underlying inflammatory disease may have confounded the ability of temelimab to significantly affect neuroinflammation in a Phase 2 trial in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. GeNeuro‘s investigational MS therapy did, however, show other evidence of clinical benefit that supports its continued development, researchers…

Nerve Tissue Scarring May Explain MS Progression

Nerve tissue scars associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) show marked differences from those of similar neurodegenerative disorders, according to a recent study. MS-associated inflammation causes brain and spinal cord lesions (nerve tissue scarring) that often are bigger and last longer than those of two other demyelinating diseases: myelin oligodendrocyte…

Destroying Myelin-damaging Immune Cells May Be New Therapy

Vesicles containing the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin can be used to destroy the aberrant, myelin-damaging immune cells that contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS), suppressing the progression of the neurodegenerative disorder, according to recent research findings using a mouse model. If further validated, this technique could provide physicians with a new…

Nasal Foralumab Led to Promising Immune Effects in Phase 1 Trial

Nasally-administered foralumab, a potential treatment for neurodegenerative disorders such as progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), appears safe and well-tolerated, and shows immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory effects in healthy volunteers, an updated analysis from a Phase 1 trial has found. “Nasal administration of Foralumab is a unique approach to treat…

First SPMS Patient Dosed With Foralumab Nasal Spray

Foralumab, an investigational anti-CD3 antibody that is administered via a nasal spray, has been given for the first time to a person with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). It was administered under an Individual Patient Expanded Access Program, which earned approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in…

Ponvory Approved in EU for Active Relapsing Forms of MS

The European Commission has approved Ponvory (ponesimod) to treat adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and active disease, as defined by clinical or imaging features. The approval, which follows a recommendation from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use in March, covers clinically isolated…

‘Stop Multiple Sclerosis’ Is Theme of World Brain Day

Stop Multiple Sclerosis is the theme of this year’s World Brain Day, taking place July 22 to raise global awareness of multiple sclerosis (MS) through seminars, conferences and other presentations. “Every year, we use World Brain Day to highlight an area of neurology that needs the world’s attention,”…

FDA Rejects Under-the-skin Tysabri for Relapsing MS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rejected Biogen‘s request for approval of under-the-skin administration of Tysabri (natalizumab) as a treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). “This response from the FDA does not affect the intravenous administration of Tysabri, a well-established high-efficacy treatment with a…

MS Society of Canada Grant to Support AI in Predicting Disease Course

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada has awarded CA$1 million to a project helping doctors who treat multiple sclerosis (MS) patients make more personalized treatment decisions through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The society awarded the five-year grant (worth about $814,800) to Douglas Arnold, MD, a neurologist with…

TG Expands Contract With Samsung Biologics to Produce Ublituximab

TG Therapeutics has expanded its contract with Samsung Biologics to manufacture ublituximab, an investigational therapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). “Samsung is the global leader in biologics manufacturing and we are happy to have them as our partner as we look forward to the potential commercialization…

#AANAM – Mavenclad, for RRMS, Lowers Long-term Need for Other DMTs

Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. A majority of the relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients given Mavenclad (cladribine) tablets in the CLARITY Phase 3 trial did…

#AANAM – Ublituximab Reduced Relapse Rate, Disability Progression in Twin Trials

Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. Ublituximab, an investigational therapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), significantly outperformed Aubagio (teriflunomide) at reducing patients’…

Rates of MS Seem to Rise With Nations’ Prosperity

Rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) appear to rise with measures of prosperity, occurring more frequently in developed countries, according to a recent study. The reasons for such disparities may be linked to better access to diagnostic facilities in developed countries, as well as increased exposure to factors, such as…

Ponvory Recommended for Approval in EU for Relapsing Forms of MS

A branch of the European Medicines Agency has recommended that Ponvory (ponesimod) be approved to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults with active disease. This positive opinion from agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) covers clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and active secondary…

Health Canada OKs Self-administered Kesimpta for Adults With Active RRMS

Health Canada has approved Kesimpta (ofatumumab) for the treatment of adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who have active disease, as defined by clinical and imaging features. In contrast with other B-cell-targeting therapies used in MS, patients can self-administer a precise dose of Kesimpta at home using the Sensoready…

Ampyra Aids More Than Walking in MS, But Side Effects May Be of Concern

Treatment with oral Ampyra (dalfampridine) improves walking ability, finger dexterity, and cognition in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), an analysis of nine randomized clinical trials shows. But the investigators caution the therapy should be taken only under expert medical guidance, due to its higher rate of potential side effects. The…