Margarida Maia, PhD, science writer —

Switching from Tysabri (natalizumab) to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) does not appear to increase disease activity in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and stable disease, with most patients continuing to show no relapses or brain imaging findings one year after the transition, a clinical study shows.

Starting treatment with a high-efficacy disease-modifying therapy (DMT), rather than one with lesser efficacy, may reduce the number of times people with multiple sclerosis (MS) switch therapies due to a lack of effectiveness, a study of survey responses from doctors suggests. High-efficacy DMTs often are perceived to have…

An educational intervention program was found to help improve treatment adherence among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving injectable therapies in a clinical trial in Iran. The program was designed based on the theory of planned behavior — a psychological premise that assumes people act rationally according to their…

The sexual satisfaction of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) improved when they actively sought out ways to deal with the practical challenges related to sexuality instead of just relying on managing their emotions, a study finds. It’s therefore important for women with MS to consider a problem-focused coping strategy…

Pipeline Therapeutics will soon launch a Phase 1 clinical study to test PIPE-791, one of its candidate treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS), in healthy volunteers. The announcement follows a go-ahead from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an investigational new drug (IND) application to initiate clinical…

Being exposed to stress as children or adults makes it more likely that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) will experience more disability and/or a heavier burden from relapses, according to a new survey study of more than 700 people in the U.S. “MS is the leading cause of non-traumatic…

While fertility rates in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been increasing over time, they remain about two times lower than in the general population, a study in Italy has found. “There is a large gap in fertility between women with MS and the general population that needs to…

FSD Pharma has completed dosing in the first group of healthy volunteers enrolled in its Phase 1 clinical trial testing Lucid-21-302, an oral medication candidate for all types of multiple sclerosis (MS). The medication, also known as Lucid-MS, was first given to a sentinel subject — one…

Attaching a kind of molecule backpack to myeloid cells — a type of immune cells involved in the inflammatory attack that drives multiple sclerosis (MS) — may help to halt inflammation and damage in the brain in MS by modulating immune cell activity, a study…

Tokachi, a region in northern Japan, has seen a steady increase in the prevalence or proportion of people in the population living with multiple sclerosis (MS) over the past two decades, a recent study found. Data show the disease has also become more common in women in northern…

The first participant has completed dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial testing FSD Pharma‘s Lucid-21-302, an experimental oral medication for all types of multiple sclerosis (MS), in healthy volunteers. After receiving a green light from Health Canada to launch the first-in-human trial, the company began by…

A high-dose vitamin D supplement did not reduce the risk of relapses in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) already using a disease-modifying therapy to control disease activity, according to findings of a Phase 3 clinical trial. The VIDAMS study (NCT01490502) — standing for Vitamin D…

One year of treatment with Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) significantly improved cognitive abilities, particularly with processing speed, and eased depression in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a small real-world study reported. Most of the 39 patients (92%) evaluated after that treatment year showed either stable or improved…

Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) may have a higher risk of giving birth to premature or smaller babies, but it’s unclear if using MS medications during pregnancy has an effect on the baby’s health, according to a systematic review. The long-term health outcomes of children whose mothers have…

An arm of the European Medicines Agency favors the approval of Briumvi (ublituximab) to treat adults with active, relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) across the European Union (EU). The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) opinion is based on data from twin Phase 3 trials,…

Both people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their nurses prefer the Sensoready Pen for administering Kesimpta (ofatumumab) — an approved MS treatment that’s injected subcutaneously, or under the skin — mostly because it’s easier to use than other available devices, a survey study found. With this pen “patients…

Tiziana Life Sciences plans to launch a Phase 2 clinical trial to investigate its foralumab nasal spray in people with nonactive secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) in late 2023, the company announced. The decision follows a Type C meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), wherein…

MRI scans of the brain acquired early on after the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) may help predict disease severity and disability accumulation after 10 years, a new study found. In particular, there were two MRI biomarkers — inter-caudate diameter (ICD) and third ventricular width (TVW) — detected…

Predicting whether an asymptomatic child or adolescent with signs of demyelination on imaging scans will develop multiple sclerosis (MS) is difficult using adult diagnostic criteria, a small study found. The findings highlight the need for more suitable criteria for pediatric patients, which could let them begin treatment…

Disease relapses are no more likely in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) after fertility treatment than they were before such treatment, a study found. Researchers also observed that almost half of the women receiving fertility treatment were on disease-modifying MS therapies, which may have helped to keep a…

Higher blood levels of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is associated with a significantly lower risk of confirmed disability progression during treatment in people with relapsing and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to an analysis of data from three Phase 3 clinical trials. Notably, the lower disability progression rates reported in…

A Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating whether a low dose of ketamine can ease fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is enrolling patients at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The study, called INKLING-MS (NCT05378100), is recruiting up to 110 patients, ages 18-65, who have been complaining of fatigue as…

Frequency Therapeutics announced that it is shifting its focus to advancing small molecules that aim to restore myelin, the protective cover around nerve fibers that is damaged and lost with multiple sclerosis (MS). This decision follows the failure of an investigative treatment for people with acquired hearing loss to…

A tailored diet plan from a dietitian may help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) ingest more calcium from foods, which could make their bones stronger and less prone to osteoporosis. That’s according to data from CalciCoach (NCT02664623), a clinical study that compared the amount of dietary calcium consumed…

FibroBiologics has launched an online crowdfunding campaign to support the development of potential therapies in the company’s pipeline and advance its clinical programs in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases. The campaign was begun in collaboration with StartEngine, an equity crowdfunding platform that facilitates investments in startup companies.

Aubagio (teriflunomide) can significantly reduce plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) levels, a biomarker of nerve cell damage, in children and adolescents with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). That’s according to a new analysis of data from TERIKIDS (NCT02201108), the Phase 3 trial that supported expanding Aubagio’s indication in…

People with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who are receiving oral disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are still more likely to experience a relapse or any form of disease activity if they are smokers, a study found. Researchers also observed that former smokers had a disease…

About half of all individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) have at least one other co-occurring medical disorder, and such comorbidities add a significant economic burden for MS patients in managing their condition, according to an Italian study. These added costs result from an increase in the use of…

People with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who are stable on rituximab treatment may receive the therapy at extended intervals without risking increased MS disease activity, according to a new study. In fact, a longer lag between infusions could potentially reduce the medication’s side effects, researchers say — noting,…

NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals has filed a patent in Australia to protect the use of its lead candidate EmtinB in combination with Teva’s Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection) as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). The patent application (provisional number 2022903564) is based on data from a lab…