March 21, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Early MS MRI markers linked to worse disability in 10 years time 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 ā inter-caudate diameter (ICD) and third ventricular width (TVW) ā detected…
March 21, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Adult diagnostic criteria lacking at predicting future MS in children 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…
March 20, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD No rise in MS patients’ risk of relapse seen with fertility treatments 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…
March 14, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Higher blood levels of Ocrevus lower confirmed disability progression risk Higher blood levels of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is associated with a significantly lower risk of confirmed disability progression during treatment in people with relapsing andĀ progressiveĀ 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…
February 21, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Phase 2 trial to determine if low-dose ketamine eases MS fatigue A Phase 2 clinical trial evaluatingĀ 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,Ā who have been complaining of fatigue as…
February 15, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Frequency moving to test agents with remyelination potential Frequency TherapeuticsĀ 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…
February 13, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Dietitian advice assists MS patients to improve calcium intake: Trial 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. Thatās according to data from CalciCoach (NCT02664623), a clinical study that compared the amount of dietary calcium consumed…
February 3, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for MS, Other Clinical Programs FibroBiologics hasĀ launched an online crowdfunding campaign to support the development of potential therapies in the companyās 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.
February 2, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Aubagio Significantly Lowers Plasma NfL Levels in TERIKIDS Trial 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). Thatās according to a new analysis of data from TERIKIDS (NCT02201108), the Phase 3 trial that supported expanding Aubagio’s indication in…
January 17, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD MS Relapse, Worse Disease More Likely for Smokers: New Study People withĀ 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…
December 26, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD MS Comorbidities Lead to Economic Burden for Patients, Study Finds 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…
December 9, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD No Increase in Disease Activity With Longer Lag in Rituximab Treatment 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 medicationās side effects, researchers say ā noting,…
December 8, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD New Patent Filed for EmtinB With Copaxone as Potential MS Therapy NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals has filed a patent in Australia to protect the use of its lead candidate EmtinB in combination with Tevaās 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…
December 5, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Newer Neurologic Therapies Costly, Less Likely to Be Used Fewer than 1 in 5 people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) or 10 other neurological conditions in the U.S. are on new-to-market medications. Thatās according to a large data study funded by the American Academy of Neurology, which also linked more recently available treatments ā those approved in the…
December 2, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Eating Lots of Acidic Foods Linked to Worse, Longer Depression in MS Eating a lot of acidic foods like meat, eggs, cheese, and grains ā and fewer alkaline ones, such as fruits, vegetables, and milk ā is significantly associated with worse depression scores over five years among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study found. “The level of depression at the…
December 1, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Good Immune Responses to CMV Infection Linked to Better Outcomes People with good immune responses against the human cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common herpes virus, around the time of their first symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) may go on to have a slower disease course, a study has found. Compared with people showing weaker immune responses to CMV, these patients…
November 30, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD SPMS Patients on Mayzent Show Stable Disease in Real-world Study Almost two-thirds of a group of 108Ā secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients being treated with Mayzent (siponimod) remained stable for at least one year, and about 1 in 5 of them showed improvements, a real-world study from Germany found. Nearly one-third of the total 227 SPMS patients evaluated…
November 28, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD How Nasal Foralumab Affects Healthy Immune System: Study Foralumab nasal spray, an experimental therapy by Tiziana Life Sciences thatās being tested for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune and nervous system diseases, was found to be safe and able to modulate the immune system in healthy volunteers, a study has found. Researchers failed to detect antibodies…
November 11, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Trial to Assess Adherence to PoNS Therapy for MS With at-Home Use An upcoming observational clinical trial will assess how adherence to treatment with the portable neuromodulation stimulator (PoNS) device, used in the clinic and later at home, improves gait in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Sponsored by Helius Medical Technologies, the device’s developer, the open-label Therapeutic…
November 8, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Expanded Access Program of Nasal Foralumab Enrolls 4 SPMS Patients A group of four patients have entered a special program where theyāll gain access to foralumab nasal spray, an experimental therapy thatās being tested for non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). This is the first group of four who entered Tiziana Life Sciencesā intermediate-size expanded access program.
November 8, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD NMSS Grant Supports Work Into Epstein-Barr Virus as MS Trigger AĀ National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ grant is supporting an Australian-led research team aiming to better understand how the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may be acting as a trigger for multiple sclerosis (MS). The funding will particularly be used to understand what molecules are being targeted by lymphocytes, immune cells that…
October 21, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD 4 Weeks of Nabiximols Found to Ease Spasticity in MS Pilot Study Four weeks of treatment with nabiximolsĀ ā an oral spray containing compounds found in the cannabis plant ā significantly reduced spasticity and generally improved arm and hand function in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with moderate-to-severe spasticity, according to a small pilot study in Italy. Notably, after nabiximols, patients showed…
October 18, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD NIH Grant to Test ‘Shaky’ Treadmill Training to Prevent Falls With MS A research team at Marquette UniversityĀ has received a $3.34 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to test whether high-intensity exercise on a “shaky” treadmill ā one that moves unexpectedly ā can help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) retain a sense of balance and walk faster. The…
October 4, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Iron Rim Lesions in Brain Linked to a More Severe Disease Course The presence of iron rim lesions, which are regions of chronic inflammation seen on MRI scans, may be linked to a more severe disease course in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent study. The findings suggest the presence and number of iron rim lesions could serve…
September 7, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD High-intensity Resistance Training May Help MS Patients With Fatigue Three months of once-weekly sessions of high-intensity resistance training ā consisting of strength exercises followed by a short recovery between sets ā effectively eased fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients experiencing low energy and tiredness, a trial in Sweden shows. This intervention also lessened feelings of depression and anxiety,…
September 6, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Research Collaboration to Study COVID-19 Vaccine Dosing, Timing The Accelerated Cure Project (ACP) for multiple sclerosis (MS) is teaming up with Quest Diagnostics to study how MS patients respond to COVID-19 vaccines. āUnderstanding the immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine doses in a longer-term study in people with MS will provide tremendous insights into not…
August 18, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Eye Scans May Help to Diagnose MS in Children A machine learning approach based on eye scans was employed by researchers to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) in children with up to 80% accuracy. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans also provided enough data to diagnose other demyelinating diseases with 75% accuracy. OCT is an imaging tool that uses…
August 16, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD RRMS Onset Taking Place at Older Ages Over Past 50 Years The first symptoms of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) have been appearing increasingly later in life, according to a Spanish study covering nearly five decades. From the 1970s through the 2010s, the average age at disease onset rose by more than 10 years in both men and women, its researchers…
July 27, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Natalizumab, Biosimilar of Tysabri for Relapsing MS, Under FDA Review The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to review an application requesting thatĀ Polpharma Biologics‘ natalizumab, a biosimilar of Tysabri, be approved to treat relapsing forms ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). Its intended U.S. use is for the same indications as the approved name-brand medicine, coveringĀ clinically isolated…
July 18, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Case Suggests Soliris as Potential Treatment for Progressive MS Note: This story was updated July 20, 2022, to correct the headline to reflect that Soliris might be a potential treatment for progressive MS based on data from a single case report. A female patient with undiagnosed secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) was placed on Soliris (eculizumab)…