September 18, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD National MS Society Launches Survey to Assess Economic Impact of MS The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, together with the Lewin Group, has launched a survey to assess the economic impact multiple sclerosis (MS) has on patients and their families. In the survey, which can be found here, MS patients and/or their family members are asked to answer…
September 17, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Tysabri Better Than Other DMTs at Easing Some MS Symptoms Tysabri (natalizumab) is superior to other disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) at improving balance and vision, easing bladder problems and sexual dysfunction, and alleviating anxiety in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to data from an Australian study. The study’s findings were presented at…
September 16, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – 13-year Data Find Tecfidera Safe, Reduces RRMS Relapses Long-term treatment with Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) continues to be safe and effective at reducing the frequency of relapses and disability progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), according to 13-year data from a Phase 3 extension study. The study findings were presented at MSVirtual2020 by Ralf…
September 16, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Long-term Aubagio Use Seen to Lower Relapse Risk for Children Continuous treatment with Aubagio (teriflunomide) can safely lower the risk of relapses and disability progression in children with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to interim data from the open-label extension of a Phase 3 trial. These findings were detailed at MSVirtual2020 by Tanuja Chitnis, MD,…
September 16, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Cognitive Problems in Children With MS Can Persist Into Adulthood Cognitive problems can persist into adulthood in people whose multiple sclerosis (MS) began in childhood or adolescence, and are linked to neurological issues and delays in treatment initiation, a study reports. Early use ofĀ disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and of approaches designed to preserve cognition should be encouraged for pediatric…
September 15, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – High-efficacy DMTs More Effective at Slowing Retina Atrophy in RRMS Patients, Study Finds Compared to low-efficacyĀ disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), high-efficacy medications are more effective at slowing the loss of nerve cells making up different layers of the retina ā the region at the back of the eye that enables one to see ā in patients with relapsing-remitting…
September 15, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Lesions First Seen on Nerves of GI Tract in Mouse Model of MS Before signs of neurodegeneration in the brain and spinal cord are evident in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) ā which resembles humanĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) ā signs can first be found in the network of nerves innervating the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, a study reports. Additional research is needed…
September 15, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Relapses During Pregnancy More Likely on Higher Efficacy DMTs Women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)Ā using moderate- or high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) before conceiving are more likely to have a relapse during pregnancy than are those taking low-efficacy DMTs or no medicines at all, a registry-based study found. This greater relapse risk during pregnancy could be reduced with…
September 14, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Long DMT Exposure May Delay Disability Progression, Wheelchair Use Longer exposure to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) may delay disability progression and the time until people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) require the aid of a wheelchair, an Italian registry-based study found. The study also suggests that starting treatment with DMTs ā medications that reduce the activity of…
September 14, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 ā Low Rituximab Doses Are Safer, as Effective as Higher Ones Low doses of rituximab, an anti-inflammatory medication used off-label to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), are safer and as effective as higher doses at reducing the frequency of relapses and the number of MS lesions, a clinical study shows. The study findings were presented at MSVirtual2020 by Luciana…
September 11, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Tolebrutinib Prevents Myelin Loss in Mouse Model of MS-like Demyelination Tolebrutinib (SAR442168), an investigational oral BTK inhibitorĀ to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), was seen to prevent the loss of myelinĀ when given to a mouse model of demyelination in a preclinical study. The investigative therapy achieves this by preventing…
September 11, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – GeNeuro’s Temelimab Found Safe When Given Alongside Rituximab Temelimab, GeNeuroās investigative treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), showed a favorable safety profile when given alongside rituximab, according to preclinical safety experiments performed in preparation for the companyās new Phase 2 trial involving patients with relapsing MS. Data from the preclinical experiments, along with details of…
September 10, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – New Safety, Efficacy Data on Mavenclad, Rebif and Evobrutinib on Way EMD Serono will present new data from programs assessing the efficacy and safety of Mavenclad (cladribine) andĀ Rebif (interferon beta-1a), as well as investigative evobrutinibĀ in treatingĀ relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) at the MSVirtual2020 meeting. FindingsĀ are part of 54 abstracts being presented by EMD Serono,…
September 8, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – ATA188 Safe, Early Efficacy Seen in Progressive MS Trial ATA188, Atara Biotherapeuticsā investigative T-cell immunotherapy, is safe, well tolerated, and able to ease disability and improve exercise capacity in patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to one-year data from a Phase 1 trial and its long-term extension study. Findings also showed that, after…
September 8, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Bafiertam, Oral Relapsing MS Therapy, Arrives in US Bafiertam (monomethyl fumarate), a bioequivalent of TecfideraĀ to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), is now available to patients in the U.S. through a network of specialty pharmacies, Banner Life Sciences, the therapyās developer, announced. Banner previously stated that Bafiertam would arrive on the market…
September 4, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD MS Patients Who Interact With Health Information More Likely to Adopt Healthy Lifestyle Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who interact with different sources of health information are more likely to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviors, a study has found. A combination of in-person interactive educational workshops and practical tools to implement these concepts in daily life may be the best strategy to…
September 1, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD SomaCeuticals Acquires Rights to Formula Targeting Lesions in MS SomaCeuticals, a subsidiary of AngioSoma, has acquired exclusive global rights to a patented formula that aims to ease and possibly eliminate signs of neurodegeneration in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). By entering a licensing agreement with 7 to Stand, a Delaware corporation, SomaCeuticals gained access…
August 28, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Youthful Obesity May Account for 14% of MS Cases in US by 2035 The number of new cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) possibly due toĀ obesity in childhood and adolescence could rise by Ā 14% in the U.S. over the next 15 years, and by 10% in the U.K., a study reported. While the worldwideĀ risk of MS linked to obesity in early life…
August 27, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – MRI Changes Can Reflect Function in Progressive MS, Study Says Certain MRI measures of the brain and spinal cord directly associate with functional improvements in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study reports. According to BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, these data will help in determining the benefits ofĀ NurOwn, the companyās stem cell-based…
August 19, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Sanofi to Acquire Principia Biopharma in $3.6 Billion Transaction In a $3.68 billion transaction, Sanofi is preparing to acquire Principia Biopharma, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies for disorders caused by dysregulation of the immune system, including multiple sclerosis (MS). The decision was unanimously approved by the board of directors of…
July 29, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD CHI3L1 Protein Levels May Mark Neurologic Disability in PPMS, Study Suggests Levels of a protein linked to inflammation and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS) ā called chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1) ā may prove to be a cerebrospinal fluidĀ biomarker of neurologic disability in primary progressive MS (PPMS), a pilot study suggests. Higher CHI3L1 levels at PPMS diagnosis showed a…
July 27, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Tysabri in Long-term Use Seen to Lessen Relapses, Stabilize Disease Tysabri (natalizumab) is effective at reducing the frequency of relapses in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and is rarely associated with poor clinical outcomes, a real-life and multiyear observational study reports. The study, āLong-term effect of natalizumab in patients with RRMS: TYSTEN…
July 23, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD UK Health Services Failing MS Patient Needs Under Pandemic, Survey Finds A vast majority ā 7 out of every 10 ā healthcare professionals working with multiple sclerosis (MS) patients across the U.K. believe health services are failing to meet their needs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an online survey conducted by theĀ MS SocietyĀ and the MS…
July 22, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD FDA Will Review Arbaclofen ER, Potential Oral Therapy for MS Spasticity The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to review Ā Osmotica Pharmaceuticals‘ amended request for the approval of arbaclofen extended release (ER) tablets to treatĀ spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), the company announced.
July 21, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Retina Thickness Can Be Used to Identify MS Patients with Progressive Disease, Study Suggests The thickness of two layers of nerve cells forming the back of the eye, or retina, can be used to distinguish patients with progressing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) from those with stable disease, a study suggests. The study, āMacular ganglion cellāinner plexiform layer…
July 15, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD High Levels of NfL Protein Linked to Disability, Faster Disease Progression in MS High levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein circulating in the blood of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at an early stage of the disease are linked to higher disability and faster disease progression, a study has found. According to researchers, these findings suggest that NfL ā a…
July 13, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD University of Sydney Awarded AU$7.1M in Pursuit of Better MS, Mental Health Treatment The Australian Governmentās Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has awarded AU$7.1 million (about $4.95 million) to support two projects focused on harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to develop new ways of diagnosing and treatingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) and mental health disorders in young people.
July 10, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Trial of Cannabis Derivatives in Treating MS Spasticity to Open in Canada 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 trialĀ that will investigate the potential of two cannabis derivatives ā cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) ā in treatingĀ spasticity (muscle stiffness) and other…
July 9, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD B-Cells Infected by Epstein-Barr Virus Linked to MS Relapse Risk in Study Immune B-cellsĀ 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 study, āEpstein Barr virusāimmortalized B lymphocytes exacerbate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in xenograft mice,ā was published…
July 7, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Collaborative Project Will Focus on TRPM4 as Potential Therapeutic Target for MS The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has granted ā¬1.2 million ($1.35 million) to support a project seeking to characterize the function of the protein TRPM4, a potential therapeutic target to prevent nerve cell injury associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), and to develop new drug candidates…