Posts by: Joana Carvalho, PhD

Joana Carvalho, PhD

Joana holds a BSc in Biology, a MSc in Evolutionary and Developmental Biology and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. Her work has been focused on the impact of non-canonical Wnt signaling in the collective behavior of endothelial cells — cells that made up the lining of blood vessels — found in the umbilical cord of newborns.

July 10, 2020July 10, 2020

Trial of Cannabis Derivatives in Treating MS Spasticity to Open in Canada

News

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and its partner, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), have invested CA$1.5 million to open a clinical trial that will investigate the potential ... Read more

July 9, 2020July 9, 2020

B-Cells Infected by Epstein-Barr Virus Linked to MS Relapse Risk in Study

News

Immune B-cells that proliferate unchecked when infected by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) appear to increase the risk of relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a mouse study suggests. The ... Read more

July 7, 2020July 7, 2020

Collaborative Project Will Focus on TRPM4 as Potential Therapeutic Target for MS

News

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has granted €1.2 million ($1.35 million) to support a project seeking to characterize the function of the protein TRPM4, a ... Read more

July 2, 2020July 2, 2020

Osmotica Amends NDA for Arbaclofen ER to Treat MS Spasticity

News

Osmotica Pharmaceuticals has submitted an amended new drug application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting the approval of arbaclofen extended release (ER) tablets for the ... Read more

July 1, 2020July 1, 2020

Exposure to DMTs Does Not Increase Risk of Severe COVID-19 in MS Patients, Study Finds

News

Exposure to disease-modifying therapies does not increase multiple sclerosis (MS) patients’ risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19, according to a registry-based study. However, MS patients who are older, ... Read more

June 25, 2020June 25, 2020

1st Relapsing MS Patient Enrolls in Phase 3 Trial of Oral SAR442168

News

A first person has enrolled in Sanofi’s Phase 3 trial evaluating SAR442168, an oral BTK inhibitor intended to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), Sanofi’s partner, Principia Biopharma, announced. “We are ... Read more

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020

Adamas Stopping Further Work on ADS-5102 for Walking Problems in MS

News

Adamas Pharmaceuticals has decided to stop further clinical development of ADS-5102 (amantadine), intended to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have difficulties with walking. The decision came after the ... Read more

June 19, 2020June 19, 2020

Gilenya May Help Control Severe Respiratory Disease in COVID-19

Covid-19, News

Gilenya (fingolimod), which works to modulate immune system activity in multiple sclerosis (MS), may benefit people with severe respiratory disease associated with COVID-19, a case report highlights. The study, ... Read more

June 18, 2020June 18, 2020

Depression 2 to 3 Times More Likely in MS Patients Than Others, Study Finds

News

A likelihood of depression is two to three times higher in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the U.S. and U.K. than in similar groups of people in these countries without ... Read more

June 17, 2020June 17, 2020

Phase 3 Trial of GA Depot for Relapsing MS Advances With $20M Support

News

Mapi Pharma, supported by an additional $20 million investment from its partner Mylan, will continue a Phase 3 trial assessing the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of GA Depot, its long-acting, ... Read more

June 15, 2020June 15, 2020

ERT Acquires APDM With Goal of Better Data for Movement Disorder Trials

News

ERT, which specializes in clinical trial data collection, announced it has acquired APDM Wearable Technologies (APDM), a provider of wearables and digital biomarkers, to improve the accuracy of key ... Read more

June 12, 2020June 12, 2020

Switch From Tysabri to Other DMT Raises Relapse Risk, Study Finds

News

The risk of a relapse is two to three times higher in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients who switch from Tysabri (natalizumab) to an oral or other injectable disease-modifying therapy after two ... Read more

June 10, 2020June 15, 2020

Prime Signs Agreement With EMD Serono to Improve Mavenclad’s Cost-benefit Value

News

Note: This story was updated on June 15, 2020, to clarify that the agreement allows for possible reimbursement for Prime’s health plan clients, not patients directly.  Prime Therapeutics has ... Read more

June 8, 2020June 8, 2020

2 Exercise Rehab Aids Soon Available to Patients in US via ReWalk Robotics

News

ReWalk Robotics is preparing to implement agreements allowing it to distribute in the U.S. two new neuro-rehabilitation devices for people with motor disabilities, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS), ... Read more

May 29, 2020May 29, 2020

Ofatumumab Lowers B-cell Counts and Helps Relapsing MS Patients Reach NEDA, Data Show

News

Ofatumumab (OMB157) elicits a strong and fast reduction in the levels of circulating immune cells in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), effectively helping to stop disease ... Read more

May 28, 2020June 4, 2020

MS Diagnostic Criteria Should Be Changed to First Rule Out NMOSD, Study Says

News

Diagnostic guidelines for multiple sclerosis (MS) should be amended to first rule out the presence of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a neurological inflammatory disease that also affects the ... Read more

May 22, 2020May 22, 2020

Cell Transplant Restores Myelin Production in Brains of Adult Mice in MS Model

News

Human glial progenitor cells — forerunners of nerve cells that protect and support neurons — transplanted into adult mice in a model of multiple sclerosis (MS) were seen to ... Read more

May 14, 2020May 15, 2020

FDA Grants Breakthrough Device Designation to Helius’ PoNS Device

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough device designation to Helius Medical Technologies’ portable neuromodulation stimulator (PoNS) for the treatment of walking impairments in multiple sclerosis ... Read more

May 11, 2020May 11, 2020

MMJ Can Ship Cannabis Products to US for Clinical Testing, Agencies Say

News

MMJ International Holdings announced that it has been given clearance to ship its cannabis-based products to the U.S. for use in future clinical trials of potential cannabis-based treatment for multiple sclerosis ... Read more

April 27, 2020April 27, 2020

US Grants Patent to MedRhythms’ Proprietary Audio Engine Used in Walking Therapy Products

News

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April 22, 2020April 22, 2020

Nimodipine Can Prevent Spasticity Following Spinal Cord Injury, Mouse Study Shows

News

Nimodipine, an approved medication to prevent brain damage caused by hemorrhage, can be used to prevent spasticity following a spinal cord injury, a mouse study shows. In addition to spinal ... Read more

April 16, 2020April 16, 2020

Scientists Build Map of Toxic Immune Cells Contributing to Neurodegeneration in MS

News

Scientists have built a map of the toxic immune cells that contribute to neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). Their findings may open the door to the development of new medications ... Read more

April 13, 2020April 14, 2020

Tysabri Shows Safety, Effectiveness in Real-world RRMS Use: 10-year TOP Data

News

Tysabri (natalizumab) is safe and shows robust, real-world effectiveness at reducing the frequency of relapses in people  with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), 10 years of data from a large, ... Read more

April 9, 2020June 16, 2020

Ursolic Acid, Compound in Fruit Peels, Promotes Myelin Repair, Early Study Finds

News

Ursolic acid, a compound found in some herbs and in the peels of certain fruits, promoted nerve cell repair and restored the myelin sheath covering and protecting nerve endings ... Read more

April 7, 2020April 7, 2020

Specialist Inpatient Rehabilitation Cost-effective for MS Patients in UK, Particularly in Advanced Disease

News

Specialist inpatient rehabilitation is a cost-effective strategy that can improve the clinical outcomes of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly those at more advanced stages of the disease, a ... Read more

April 3, 2020April 3, 2020

Ocrevus Lowers Progression Risk in More Disabled MS Patients, Study Suggests

News

For multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with considerable disability, Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) appears to lower the risk of continued progression in both relapsing and primary progressive forms of the disease, data from ... Read more

March 27, 2020March 27, 2020

Mix of Broad and Specific Language May Help in Talking About MS

News

Using a mix of broad diagnostic terms and more disease-specific ones may help physicians and patients to better communicate symptoms of autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS) that are not always ... Read more

March 25, 2020March 25, 2020

Myelin Health Depends on Steady Supply of Lipids, Study Suggests

News

Continuous production of fatty molecules (lipids) is crucial to the maintenance of the myelin sheath that wraps nerve fibers to protect them, ensuring the transmission of electrical impulses between ... Read more

February 20, 2020February 24, 2020

Bone Marrow Transplant Can Replace Overactive Immune Cells, Preventing Inflammation in MS, Study Says

News

A bone marrow transplant can remove the majority of overactive immune T cells from the central nervous system (CNS) in patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), allowing the ... Read more

January 6, 2020January 6, 2020

Language Classes Promote Brain Health and Life Quality in RRMS Patients, Study Finds

News

Learning a second language can bolster the health-related quality of life and mental well-being of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) by working to expand areas of the brain involved ... Read more

December 11, 2019December 11, 2019

Tysabri May Promote Inflammatory B-Cell Activation in MS Patients, Study Says

News

Tysabri (natalizumab), an effective T-cell targeting treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), seems to also promote the activation of pro-inflammatory immune B-cells in people with this disease, a study found. The study, “Natalizumab ... Read more

December 6, 2019December 6, 2019

FDA Approves Three Generic Versions of Novartis’ Gilenya for Treating Relapsing MS

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three generic versions of Gilenya (fingolimod) for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). A generic is ... Read more

December 6, 2019December 6, 2019

Signaling Protein of Intestines May Trigger Nervous System Inflammation in MS, Study Says

News

A signaling protein (Smad7) that usually blocks the activity of a molecule called transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) appears to be overactive in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), leading to ... Read more

December 3, 2019December 3, 2019

Online MS ‘Toolkit’ Created by University Psychologist to Help in Managing Pain and Fatigue

News

Researchers at the University of Michigan developed an online tool to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) manage some of the more life-affecting symptoms of their disease. Called My MSToolkit, the ... Read more

November 15, 2019November 15, 2019

Weill Neurohub Unites 3 Academic Centers with DOE Scientists to Advance Tools, Treatments for MS and Other Ills

News

Three academic research institutions launched the Weill Neurohub initiative, an effort to speed the discovery and development of therapies for neurological diseases that include multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and ... Read more

November 14, 2019November 14, 2019

7T MRI Reveals New Insights into Some RRMS Features

News

With the help of 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), investigators discovered that leptomeningeal enhancement — a radiographic finding indicative of brain inflammation — is more common than previously ... Read more

November 13, 2019November 13, 2019

Single Dose of CD45-ADC Resets the Immune System, Delays the Onset of MS in Mice

News

A single dose of CD45-ADC, an investigational targeted therapy being developed to treat different types of autoimmune diseases, is enough to reset the normal function of the body’s immune ... Read more

October 22, 2019October 28, 2019

Long-term Gilenya Treatment Safe and Effective for Relapsing MS Patients, Phase 3 Trial Shows

News

Long-term treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod) in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) is safe and effective, results from a Phase 3 trial show. Trial findings were reported ... Read more

October 10, 2019October 10, 2019

Ills Like Depression, Hypertension More Common in MS Patients Than Others in US, Blue Cross Report Finds

News

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the U.S. are three times more likely to have mental or behavioral health issues, including depression and substance abuse (substance use disorder), than the general population, ... Read more

October 8, 2019October 8, 2019

Structure and Workings of Receptor Tied to Inflammation and Cell Death Seen for First Time

News

Scientists observed for the first time the molecular structure of the P2X 7 receptor, a protein that plays a key role in cell death, inflammation, and cancer progression. This breakthrough ... Read more