Posts by: Jose Marques Lopes, PhD

Jose Marques Lopes, PhD

July 18, 2019July 18, 2019

Higher Doses of Opicinumab as Add-on Therapy Fail to Lessen MS Disability, Phase 2 Trial Shows

News

Treating people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) with opicinumab and Avonex (interferon beta-1a) for 72 weeks did not lead to a dose-dependent reduction in disability,  results of a ... Read more

July 10, 2019July 10, 2019

MS Brain Lesions Linked to Early-life Viral Infection in Mice, Way of Blocking Inflammatory Spread Seen

News

An experimental treatment known as OB-002, that works to block an inflammatory molecule in the brain, prevented the development of lesions there after an early-in-life viral infection in a ... Read more

July 8, 2019July 8, 2019

Mayzent Boosts Cognitive Processing Speed in SPMS Patients, Phase 3 Trial Data Show

News

Treatment with Mayzent (siponimod) led to significant improvement in cognitive processing speed in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), according to updated results of a Phase 3 trial. ... Read more

July 2, 2019July 2, 2019

Protein Linked to Microglia Cell Activation and Nerve Fiber Damage in Study That Also Notes Potential Treatment

News

A protein leads to nerve fiber and myelin damage, particularly in progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, by activating brain immune cells called microglia, according to a new study. Its researchers ... Read more

June 26, 2019June 26, 2019

Rare Variants of Inflammasome Proteins and Regulatory Signals More Common in MS Patients, Study Finds

News

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have more genetic variants of genes that regulate the pro-inflammatory signals of protein complexes called inflammasomes, according to new research. The findings support the ... Read more

June 14, 2019June 14, 2019

‘Pregnancy Compensation Hypothesis’ May Explain Greater MS Risk for Women

News

A mismatch — between the ancestral immune function changes induced by the placenta and fewer modern-day pregnancies — may help explain the greater risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) and ... Read more

June 10, 2019

Stem Cell Therapy Based on Exosomes May Treat MS, Study in Mice Suggests

News

Exosomes — tiny vesicles secreted by cells — collected from bone marrow stem cells and injected into a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) helped to treat the disease, ... Read more

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019

Abnormal Activation of Neutrophils a Potential Therapeutic Target in MS, Mouse Study Suggests

News

Targeting the excessive activation of immune cells called neutrophils, and the associated oxidative stress, may be a therapeutic strategy in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a mouse ... Read more

May 16, 2019May 16, 2019

#AANAM – Gilenya at 0.5 mg Superior to Copaxone at Lowering Relapses, Phase 3 Trial Shows

News

Oral Gilenya (fingolimod) taken daily at a 0.5 mg dose is superior to Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) injections at lowering relapses and disease activity over one year in patients with relapsing–remitting ... Read more

May 15, 2019May 16, 2019

#AANAM – 2 Trials Aim to Decide Best Early Way of Treating RRMS, Cleveland Clinic Doctor Says

News

Two ongoing clinical trials may help doctors better understand which type of disease-modifying therapy — those considered highly effective or those with low-to-moderate efficacy used in an escalating treatment ... Read more

May 14, 2019May 14, 2019

#AANAM — Use of Highly Effective Treatments for RRMS Increasing but Still Limited, Study Says

News

Although the use of highly effective disease-modifying treatments (HETs) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) has increased, they still represent a minority among the treatment strategies used, according ... Read more

May 14, 2019May 14, 2019

#AANAM — Ocrevus Lowers Markers of Inflammation, Damage in Relapsing MS Patients, Phase 3 Trial Shows

News

Treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) decreases the levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) and immune B-cells in the serum and central nervous system of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), ... Read more

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

#AANAM – Greater Exposure to Ocrevus Means Less Risk of Disability Progression in MS Patients, Study Contends

News

Higher exposure to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is associated with greater immune B-cell depletion in the blood, and lessened risk of disability progression in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and ... Read more

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

#AANAM – Scoring Tool Helps Identify Patients with RRMS or Transitioning to SPMS, Study Reports

News

A newly developed scoring tool enables better identification of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) as well as those transitioning or already diagnosed with secondary progressive MS (SPMS). The research ... Read more

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

#AANAM – Mayzent Improves Cognitive Processing Speed in SPMS Patients, Trial Results Show

News

Treatment with Mayzent (siponimod) provided sustained improvements and prevented deterioration of cognitive processing speed in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), regardless of their cognitive function prior to ... Read more

May 7, 2019May 7, 2019

#AANAM — Tysabri Lowers Serum Neurofilament Light Levels in SPMS Patients, Phase 3 Trial Finds

News

Treatment with Tysabri (natalizumab) lowers the levels of the biomarker serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), according to data from a Phase 3 trial. ... Read more

May 7, 2019May 7, 2019

#AANAM – Mayzent Lessens Inflammation at Brain Meninges, Prevents Migration of Lymphocytes to Reduce Demyelination, Mouse Study Suggests

News

Treatment with Mayzent (siponomod) may reduce myelin deterioration by lessening the accumulation of immune cells in brain meninges, and preventing the migration of pro-inflammatory lymphocytes into the brain, according ... Read more

April 22, 2019April 22, 2019

Two-year Efficacy with Short-course Treatment Sets Mavenclad Apart, EMD Serono Executive Says

News

Mavenclad (cladribine) tablets stand out as a treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), providing two years of proven efficacy with a maximum of 20 days of oral treatment, a top ... Read more

April 16, 2019April 16, 2019

Trial Testing Deprexis Online Therapy for MS-related Depression Enrolling in US, Germany

News

A clinical trial testing a computer program called Deprexis as a home-based therapeutic strategy for multiple sclerosis (MS)-related depression is enrolling participants with all types of MS  at three sites ... Read more

April 15, 2019April 15, 2019

Anne Cross, Neurologist with Pioneering Work into B-cells and MS, Awarded John Dystel Prize

News

This year’s John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research is being awarded to Anne H. Cross, a neurologist and MS chair in the department of neuroimmunology at  Washington University School of Medicine ... Read more

April 10, 2019April 11, 2019

Different Ways of Working Tailor Mayzent for Early SPMS Patients, Novartis Says

News

The effectiveness of Mayzent (siponimod) in both the brain and the body make it an oral therapy tailored for people with early secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), according to Dan Bar-Zohar, ... Read more

April 8, 2019April 12, 2019

Mayzent ‘Will Change Lives’ of MS Patients Transitioning to SPMS, Novartis Says

News

The “regulatory environment” favored Mayzent (siponimod) being approved as an oral treatment for people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) — specifically, clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), and active secondary progressive MS (SPMS) — a top ... Read more

April 5, 2019May 6, 2019

#AANAM – Mineral Intake Not Linked to MS Risk, Study Suggests

News

The amount of zinc, iron, and other minerals a person has in his or her diet is not associated with the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to ... Read more

April 4, 2019May 6, 2019

#AANAM – Ibudilast Slows Brain Atrophy in PPMS But Not SPMS Patients, Phase 2b Trial Shows

News

Treatment with oral ibudilast slows brain shrinkage in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), but not in those with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), according to results of a Phase ... Read more

April 1, 2019April 1, 2019

Tiny DNA Molecule May Help Development of Myelin Repair Therapies, Study Suggests

News

A shortened DNA molecule showed an increased ability to bind myelin in human cells, and may boost the development of remyelination approaches for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment, according to ... Read more

March 27, 2019March 27, 2019

Celgene Seeking FDA Approval for Ozanimod to Treat Adults With Relapsing MS

News

An application has been submitted to approve ozanimod as an oral treatment for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in the U.S., according to its developer, Celgene. “New oral treatment options ... Read more

March 22, 2019March 26, 2019

Phase 3 Trial of ADS-5102 Recruiting Participants of All MS Types

News

A Phase 3 trial testing ADS-5102 (amantadine) extended release capsules in all types of multiple sclerosis (MS) is enrolling participants to determine whether the oral therapy can improve walking ... Read more

March 21, 2019March 21, 2019

Roche and pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance Finalize Ocrevus Negotiations for RRMS and Early PPMS

News

Roche Canada and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) have completed negotiations ultimately aiming to obtain public funding for Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) as a first-line treatment for adults with relapsing-remitting multiple ... Read more

March 20, 2019March 20, 2019

Beta-interferons Extend Survival of Relapsing MS Patients, Study Reports

News

Treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) with beta-interferon therapies is associated with extended patient survival, particularly if taking such treatments for more than three years, according to a real-world ... Read more

March 20, 2019March 22, 2019

SPMS Treatment With Mayzent Better Than Best Supportive Care, ICER Report Says

News

Treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients with the investigational oral therapy Mayzent (siponimod) significantly reduced the risk of disability progression and decreased inflammation, compared to best supportive ... Read more

March 18, 2019March 20, 2019

Temelimab Provides Long-term Benefits in RRMS Patients, Extension Study Shows

News

Two-year treatment with temelimab reduced brain atrophy, or shrinkage, preserved myelin, and reduced disease progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to findings from an extension study of ... Read more

March 15, 2019May 6, 2019

#AANAM – Ublituximab Safe, Well-tolerated in Extension Study of Phase 2 Trial in Relapsing MS

News

Treatment with ublituximab continues to be safe and well-tolerated by patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, according to an extension study of a Phase 2 trial. According to a press ... Read more

March 14, 2019March 15, 2019

Fatty Acid Pentanoate May Be Effective Treatment for MS, Other Autoimmune Diseases, Mouse Study Suggests

News

Increased production of an anti-inflammatory molecule called interleukin (IL)-10, and suppression of a subtype of immune T-cells, may mean that a fatty acid called pentanoate is effective against inflammatory ... Read more

March 12, 2019May 6, 2019

#AANAM – Risk of MS Relapses Not Increased Right After Giving Birth, Study Suggests

News

Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) do not experience more relapses right after giving birth, as previously believed, according to a preliminary study. The study also revealed that mothers with ... Read more

March 11, 2019March 14, 2019

Tecfidera May Work to Lower Relapses by Inducing Epigenetic Changes in T-cells, Study Suggests

News

Treating multiple sclerosis with Tecfidera induces specific genetic alterations that may reduce the levels of immune T-cells targeting the central nervous system, researchers report. Environmental stimuli may induce epigenetic changes in ... Read more

March 8, 2019May 6, 2019

#AANAM – Sugar-sweetened Beverages Linked to Higher Disability Level in MS, Study Finds

News

Drinking about 290 calories of sugar-sweetened beverages — the equivalent of about two cans of non-diet soda — per day may be associated with a higher level of disability ... Read more

February 18, 2019February 18, 2019

Natural Neurosteroid Seen to Block Inflammatory Response in Immune System and Brain in Animal Study

News

A naturally occurring compound, a neurosteroid called allopregnanolone, prevents the activation of the TLR4 protein in macrophages  — a type of immune cell — and in the brain, new ... Read more

February 15, 2019February 15, 2019

Tiny RNA miR-142 Key in Preventing Autoimmunity, Study Reports

News

A tiny molecule known as microRNA-142 plays a key role in the prevention of autoimmune responses through immune cells called regulatory T-cells (Tregs), according to a new study of ... Read more

February 8, 2019March 11, 2019

Medicare Rules, Higher Cost-sharing Load Increase Out-of-pocket Spending for MS Therapies, Study Reports

Aubagio, News

Restrictive access policies by Medicare and a rising cost-sharing burden lead to an increased price of disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis patients, according to new research. The findings also revealed ... Read more

January 28, 2019January 28, 2019

Tiny Cell Membrane Disruptions Lead to Nerve Fiber Degeneration in MS, Mouse Study Suggests

News

Tiny ruptures in the cell membrane of nerve fibers enable the entry of calcium and ultimately lead to their degeneration, a study in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis ... Read more