Posts by: Forest Ray PhD

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.

April 6, 2021April 6, 2021

Rates of MS Seem to Rise With Nations’ Prosperity

News

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 ... Read more

April 5, 2021April 5, 2021

Reeve Foundation Launches Support Groups for People Affected by Paralysis

News

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has launched virtual support groups for people living with paralysis — either due to multiple sclerosis (MS) or other conditions — and their caregivers. ... Read more

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021

Wise Will Seek FDA Approval for Digital Anxiety Management Therapy

News

Wise Therapeutics intends to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of an anxiety management therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), following the positive results of a clinical trial. In ... Read more

March 30, 2021March 30, 2021

Sanofi Genzyme Launches Recruitment Website for Tolebrutinib Trials

News

Sanofi Genzyme has launched a website to help connect people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to one of the company’s four ongoing clinical trials testing its investigational therapy tolebrutinib. Interested men ... Read more

March 29, 2021March 29, 2021

Ponvory Recommended for Approval in EU for Relapsing Forms of MS

News

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 ... Read more

March 24, 2021March 25, 2021

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

News

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 ... Read more

March 15, 2021March 15, 2021

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

News

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 ... Read more

March 12, 2021March 12, 2021

UK Study to Compare Struggles of Patients With ‘Long-COVID-19’ and MS

News

Researchers in the U.K. are seeking patients who found it difficult to return to work or school after a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) or COVID-19 to participate in a ... Read more

March 11, 2021March 11, 2021

Proposed Anti-inflammatory Treatment Found Non-toxic in Zebrafish

News

An anti-inflammatory molecule — taken from a venomous fish and named TnP — with the potential to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) proved safe, without signs of cardiac or neurological problems ... Read more

March 10, 2021March 10, 2021

Emerald Health Preparing for Phase 2 Trial of EHP-101 for Relapsing MS

News

Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals (EHP) is preparing for an international Phase 2 clinical trial testing EHP-101 for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The study will take place in about 20 ... Read more

March 10, 2021March 10, 2021

NeurologyLive, CMSC Launch Expert Video Series ‘Cure Connections’

News

NeurologyLive and the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) have launched a new video series called Cure Connections, designed to provide healthcare professionals with expert news and insights about multiple ... Read more

March 9, 2021March 9, 2021

Pipeline Testing PIPE-307 Remyelinating Compound in Healthy Volunteers

News

Pipeline Therapeutics has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial to investigate PIPE-307, its lead treatment candidate for multiple sclerosis (MS), in healthy volunteers. The trial (NCT04725175) will assess the compound’s ... Read more

March 4, 2021March 18, 2021

#ACTRIMS2021 – Benign Versus Aggressive MS – the Hunt for Clues

ACTRIMS 2021, News

Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25–27. Go here to see the latest stories from the conference. ... Read more

March 4, 2021March 4, 2021

#ACTRIMS2021 – Cognitive, Without Physical, Disability Growing Concern in MS

ACTRIMS 2021, News

March 2, 2021March 2, 2021

#ACTRIMS2021 – COVID-19 Vaccines Safe for MS Patients, Minimally Affected by DMTs

ACTRIMS 2021, News

Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25–27. Go here to see all the latest stories from the ... Read more

March 2, 2021March 2, 2021

#ACTRIMS2021 -MS Demographics in Latin America Broadly Similar to US, Europe

ACTRIMS 2021, News

March 1, 2021March 2, 2021

#ACTRIMS2021 – Realities and Challenges of MS in Latin America

ACTRIMS 2021, News

February 26, 2021February 26, 2021

#ACTRIMS2021 – 30 Minutes in Sun Each Day Lowers MS Risk in Children

ACTRIMS 2021, News

February 26, 2021February 26, 2021

#ACTRIMS2021 – Research Examines T-cells’ Anti-inflammatory Potential

ACTRIMS 2021, News

February 26, 2021February 26, 2021

#ACTRIMS2021 – Blood NFL Levels Seen to Rise With Markers of MS Progression

ACTRIMS 2021, News

February 15, 2021February 15, 2021

Pipeline Raises $80M to Pursue Potential Myelin Restoring Therapy

News

Pipeline Therapeutics announced that it has raised $80 million in investor financing to develop neuroregenerative therapies for neurological disorders, including those like multiple sclerosis (MS) that are marked by the loss ... Read more

February 10, 2021February 11, 2021

Trial to Examine if Ocrevus Eases Cognitive Fatigue in RRMS

News, Ocrevus

Researchers at the Kessler Foundation, with support from Genentech, are opening a study into how Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) affects cognitive fatigue — the feeling of complete exhaustion after focused concentration — in ... Read more

February 8, 2021February 8, 2021

New Spinal Cord Lesions Can Be Evident in Stable MS Patients

News

Asymptomatic damage to spinal nerves occurs even in clinically stable cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) and carries an increased risk for further lesions, a recent study suggests. Although a firm ... Read more

February 1, 2021February 2, 2021

Potential for Stem Cells to Repair Myelin Focus of University Toronto Team

News

Teams of scientists at the University of Toronto are sharing a nearly CA$21 million (about $16.36 million) award into research that might lead to self-repair treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) ... Read more

January 29, 2021February 1, 2021

Rituximab Effects Evident at Low Dose, Persist After Treatment Stops

News

Rituximab shows long-term benefits, even among people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) who stopped its use or reduced their dose, a study reported. Researchers found ... Read more

January 19, 2021January 20, 2021

Brain Changes in Relapsing MS Found to Follow Pattern

News

Changes in the amount of grey matter in specific regions of the brain appear to occur early in relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), while structural changes in white matter happen late ... Read more

January 18, 2021January 18, 2021

Compound That Mimics Thyroid Hormone Prevents MS Nerve Damage in Mice

News

A thyroid hormone-mimicking compound not only prevented nerve cell damage but promoted the cells’ survival in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). This discovery advances previous research showing that ... Read more

January 14, 2021February 1, 2021

Public-private Partnership Will Assess Therapy Potential, Effects of CBD

News

Open Book Extracts (OBX) and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have partnered to investigate how cannabinoids like CBD affect brain cells, particularly in regard to neuroinflammation, according to ... Read more

December 8, 2020December 17, 2020

MS Patient-derived Stem Cells May Be Viable Source for Myelin Repair, Mouse Study Shows

News

Scientists have demonstrated that stem cells derived from the skin cells of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) can grow into normal myelin-producing nerve cells, called oligodendrocytes, in a mouse model ... Read more

December 7, 2020December 7, 2020

MS-Specific Cognitive Rehabilitation Tool Shows Promise in Pilot Study

News

A multiple sclerosis (MS)-specific computerized cognitive rehabilitation (CR) program led to significant improvements in mental skills among MS patients participating in a recent pilot study. These findings suggest that those ... Read more

November 12, 2020November 12, 2020

Non-invasive Imaging Technique Reveals Ibudilast’s Neuroprotective Effect

News

A non-invasive retina imaging technique known as optical coherence tomography (OCT) provided evidence of the neuroprotective effect of ibudilast (MN-166) — an oral medication designed to reduce the body’s inflammatory responses ... Read more

October 23, 2020October 26, 2020

VX-765 Therapy, Given Through Nose, Limits MS Progression in Early Study

News

The anti-inflammatory medication VX-765, which is delivered through the nose (intranasal), was found to limit disease progression in a preclinical model of multiple sclerosis (MS) by blocking a protein called ... Read more

October 22, 2020October 22, 2020

European Patent Given to IMP761, Antibody Aiming to Treat MS

News

The European Patent Office granted a patent for IMP761, Immutep‘s experimental antibody to be used in treating inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS). IMP761 targets a receptor found ... Read more

October 15, 2020October 15, 2020

Mayzent Approved for Active Secondary Progressive MS in Scotland

News

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has approved Mayzent (siponimod) for the treatment of active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) in Scotland. Mayzent, developed by Novartis, is a tablet taken once ... Read more

October 14, 2020October 14, 2020

Aubagio’s Long-term Benefits Not Influenced by Prior Treatments, Review Finds

News

Prior treatment with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) does not affect the long-term benefits of Aubagio (teriflunomide) in treating relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a review study. The study, ... Read more

October 2, 2020October 2, 2020

Children With MS Do Well at School Despite Challenges, Danish Study Finds

News

Children with multiple sclerosis (MS) perform as well at school as healthy peers, but are more challenged in their mental health and make greater use of healthcare services, according to ... Read more

October 1, 2020October 1, 2020

$373K Grant to Support Discovery of Remyelinating Compounds for MS

News

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has awarded a two-year, $373,000 Fast Forward grant to researchers at the University of California Riverside School of Medicine to identify compounds best able to replace myelin ... Read more

August 31, 2020August 31, 2020

MS Patients Using Cooling Vests Show Significant Exercise Gains in Small Study

News

Wearing a cooling vest significantly improved the time and distance walked under conditions that can provoke heat sensitivity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a small study. The ... Read more

August 24, 2020August 24, 2020

Paramagnetic Rim Lesions Showing Promise as Diagnostic Marker of MS

News

Inflammatory lesions within the brain, called paramagnetic rim lesions, visible on imaging scans may improve the accuracy of a multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis, especially when used in combination with other imaging-based ... Read more

August 17, 2020August 17, 2020

Better Efforts Needed to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections in MS Patients

News

Urinary tract infections are a common cause of hospitalization among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially older patients with progressive disease, and more attention should be given to their bladder, catheter, and ... Read more

Join our email list!