May 12, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Disease Severity, Brain Changes Linked to Cognitive Decline Disease severity, brain volume loss, and brain lesions are able to predict later cognitive declines in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a study in China found. The study, āClinical and MRI predictors of cognitive decline in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a 2-year longitudinal study,ā…
May 9, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Phase 3 Trial to Assess Benefits of Group Resilience Training Program A Phase 3 trial will test the ability of a group resilience training program, called READY, to promote quality of life and better psychosocial outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Involving more than 200 MS patients, the trial will compare the benefits of READY training against those of…
May 6, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD MS May Influence Timely Cancer Screenings, Diagnosis: Study Breast cancer is less likely to be detected through a routine cancer screening for women withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), while colorectal cancer is more likely to be detected at an early stage in MS patients compared with those without the disease, a Canadian study found. āUnderstanding the pathways to earlier…
May 5, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Prevalence of MS Among Black People ‘Under-recognized’: Study Rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) were similar among Black and white people, but significantly lower in Hispanics and Asians living in southern California, a study found. These findings contrast with previous studies that have long reported lower MS rates among Black people compared to white people. Those discrepancies might…
May 4, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Maresin-1 Molecule Eases Inflammation, Symptoms in Mouse Model Administering the maresin-1 molecule ā a natural anti-inflammatory in the body ā in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) led to lower levels of inflammation and improved neurological function, a recent study showed. Maresin-1 and other molecules in its family are called specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) and are…
April 29, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD PoNS Device for MS-associated Gait Problems Now Available in US The portable neuromodulation stimulator (PoNS) device, which improves walking abilities in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), is now available commercially in the U.S. for patients ages 22 and older who have a prescription from their healthcare provider. The device was approved last year by the U.S. Food…
April 28, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Blood Biomarker Test Granted Breakthrough Device Status by FDA Quanterixās ultra-sensitive blood test that measures a biomarker of nerve damage in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been granted a breakthrough device designation by U.S. regulators. It is thought that the test, which employs the companyās Simoa technology, can accurately predict the risk of disease activity in…
April 27, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Kesimpta Now Reimbursable for Patients in 2 Canadian Provinces Kesimpta (ofatumumab) is now accessible to eligible Canadians with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) through public drug plans in Ontario and Quebec. The treatment has been included as an exceptional medication under both the Ontario Drug Benefit Exceptional Access Program and the RĆ©gie de lāassurance maladie du QuĆ©bec. This…
April 25, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD In Relapsing MS, NfL Levels Help in Disease Progression Prediction Serum levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) ā proteins found in nerve cell projections ā can help in the prediction of disease progression among people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to an analysis of data from two large Phase 3 trials. The researchers said that NfL…
April 22, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Chinese Authorities Approve Trial of SN1011; US Study on Horizon The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China has agreed to approve a Phase 2 trial testing the safety and efficacy of the investigational therapy SN1011 in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). SN1011 is being developed by SinoMab Bioscience to treat a range of autoimmune and inflammatory…
April 21, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD MSTOP Program in California Cuts DMT Costs and MS Relapse Rates A program aimed at optimizing the use of highly effective therapies successfully lowered treatment costs and relapse rates among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Southern California, according to a study. “Our novel physician-led approach simultaneously reduced MS DMT [disease-modifying therapy] expenditures and the frequency of MS relapses. We…
April 20, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Gray Matter Loss in Spine Crucial, But Difficult, Marker of MS Disability Loss of gray matter in the spinal cord clearly associates with greater disability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but determining the extent of its loss is limited by an inability to accurately measure gray matter in all patients, a small study in Spain reported. The true amount of…
April 19, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Long-term Gilenya Use Safe, Effective in Real-world Czech Study Treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod) for up to four years was found safe and lowered relapse rates among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Czech Republic, according to a real-world study called GOLEMS. Older age, lower disability level, and fewer relapses prior to the treatment’s start were all…
April 18, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Active Social Life Linked to Better Physical, Psychological Health Greater engagement in social activities and positive social support were associated with better physical and psychological health among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a recent study. These data “suggest that social integration and social support should be a crucial part of MS management,” the researchers wrote, adding that…
April 11, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD $1M Invested in Study on Effects of Childhood-onset MS Over Time About CA$1.35 million ($1.07 million) has been invested in a project that seeks to understand the effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) on a group of people with pediatric-onset disease as they move into adulthood. The three-year investment was from Biogen Canada and Roche Canada ā each providing about…
April 8, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD MS Patients May Meet Criteria for Sjƶgrenās Diagnosis, Study Reports Symptoms of Sjƶgrenās syndrome, including dry eyes and mouth, were observed among 16 people with multiple sclerosis (MS), three of whom met the diagnostic criteria for Sjƶgrenās in a recent study. Given this low number, however, it’s unclear if there is a true association between the two diseases,…
April 4, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Irisin Hormone May Underlie Benefits of Aerobic Exercise for RRMS Six weeks of aerobic exercise led to benefits in cognition, fatigue, and depression among people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), which may be due to increases in blood levels of a hormone called irisin, according to data from a randomized, controlled trial. “Considering the high prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms…
April 1, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Use of GA Depot in Treating Progressive MS Given US Patent Mapi Pharma announced that it has been granted a U.S. patent covering the use of GA Depot, a potential long-acting formulation of glatiramer acetate, in people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent, No. 11,167,003, is titled, ā…
March 31, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Rexall’s Bubble Campaign Supports Caregiver Initiatives Rexall Care Network, a nonprofit organization that is part of the Rexall Pharmacy Group, has launched a campaign to bolster theĀ MS Society of Canada‘s initiatives to support caregivers of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). The Bubble Campaign, which began March 27 and runs through April 30,…
March 29, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Trial Cleared for PIPE-307, Potential RRMS Myelin Restoration Therapy The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared a Phase 1b/2a trial of PIPE-307, Pipeline Therapeutics‘ investigational myelin-restoring treatment, in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The trial will enroll about 45 RRMS patients from multiple U.S. sites who will be randomized to receive either three months…
March 28, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Hormone Therapy May Help With Menopause, But Safety a Concern Eight weeks of hormone therapy was tolerable, and its use may ease the hot flashes and greater disease-related disability this life transition can cause inĀ menopausal women with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to results of a small Phase 1b/2a trial ofĀ Duavee,Ā an approved therapy. Public concerns over the safety of…
March 25, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD No Increased Risk Found From Ocrevus Exposure in Pregnancy Exposure to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) just before conception or during the first three months of pregnancy does not seem to increase the risk of adverse outcomes for women with multiple sclerosis (MS) or their babies, according to a small Australian study. All of the patients stopped taking Ocrevus upon…
March 24, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Online Mindfulness Program Helps Patients With Depression, Trial Finds Eight weeks of an online mindfulness program significantly lowered levels of depression and improved quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers in Australia report. āThis study adds to growing evidence on how wellness strategies can help people with MS to reduce symptoms and enable fuller participation…
March 21, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD BDNF Risk Variant Linked to Brain Inflammation in New RRMS Patients A risk variant in the BDNF gene is tied to increased brain inflammation and reduced cortical thickness on MRI scans in people newly diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a recent study found. āWe report for the first time an association between the BDNF [genetic variant] and central inflammation…
March 21, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD MS Patients Voice Satisfaction With Telehealth Use During COVID-19 Telehealth services for physical and mental healthcare were used often by people with multiple sclerosis (MS) during the COVID-19 pandemic and most were satisfied or highly satisfied with such care, according to a study based on survey results. “The findings suggest that telehealth services were well liked during the…
March 10, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Parents’ Aubagio Exposure Not Linked to Greater Pregnancy Risks Maternal or paternal exposure prior to conception to the multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy Aubagio (teriflunomide) does not seem to increase the risk of adverse pregnancy events, including miscarriage, preterm birth, small newborn size, or malformations, according to the results of a recent Danish study. About…
March 8, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD MS Society, Corporate Partners Commit to Diversity in Clinical Trials The National MS Society, together with a number of its corporate healthcare partners, want to help correct the lack of diversity in clinical trials as part of an effort toward resolving healthcare inequities in the MS community. To address these disparities, the National MS Societyās Corporate Healthcare Roundtable, a…
February 23, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD App Helps With Long-term Spasticity Management After Rehab Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who experience reductions in spasticity after a four-week course of inpatient rehabilitation can sustain those improvements in the long term using an app-based self-training program, according to data from a clinical trial. The app also led to better adherence to the self-training program than…
February 16, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD UK MS Society Investing $1.5M in Support of 9 Research Projects The MS SocietyĀ of the U.K. intends to raise over Ā£1.1 million (about $1.5 million) to support nineĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) research projects, marking the return of the grants program it put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding will support research in the…
February 15, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Neurodynamic Therapy Found to Reduce Pain, Improve Dexterity in Trial The addition of neurodynamic therapy ā a type of manual therapy targeting the nerves ā to a standard treatment regimen using several different approaches reduced pain sensitivity and improved dexterity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to data from a clinical trial. āTo the best of our…