May 28, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD PicnicHealth, Komodo Pool Real-world Data for Research PicnicHealth and Komodo Health have agreed to combine their databases of patient medical records to support research based on real-world evidence. Together, the companies hope to unlock new insights into complex diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). āKomodo Health and PicnicHealth share a mission to utilize health data…
May 6, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD US Patent Issued for Software That Could Make MRI Scans Safer Subtle MedicalĀ announced the granting of a U.S. patent for its radiology software that uses artificial intelligence to improve the quality of medical imaging, with the potential to reduce the amount of gadolinium, a contrast agent, needed to one-tenth of its usual dose. Gadolinium, a heavy metal, is included in…
May 4, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Repertoire, Yale Working to Identify T-cells Driving MS Repertoire Immune Medicines and Yale University have entered a research collaboration to identify what type of antigens are activating immune T-cells in patients withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). Antigens are molecular structures, such as a portion of a protein or a specific chain of sugars, that trigger an immune…
April 16, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Helper T-cells Drive Transition from RRMS to SPMS, Study Suggests A group of helper T-cell (Th cells), a type of immune cell, could be responsible for the transition from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), with important implications for diagnosing and treating SPMS, a new study found. The study, āInvolvement of cytotoxic Eomes-expressing…
April 13, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Vumerity Linked to Better Quality of Life Than Tecfidera in RRMS Trial Vumerity (diroximel fumarate) is easier on the gastrointestinal tract than Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), and this translates into better quality of life for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a new analysis of EVOLVE-MS-2 trial data has found. The study, āImproved gastrointestinal profile with diroximel fumarate is…
April 1, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD SPMS Patient First To Be Treated With Antibody Given via Nasal Spray For a first time, an immune-modulating antibody will be given via nasal administration to treat a person with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a request to use the antibody ā a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody called foralumab ā under an…
March 22, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD National MS Society Encourages Patients to Get COVID-19 Vaccine Most patients with relapsing and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) are encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 ā and any vaccine of three authorized for use in the U.S. is safe to receive ā according to recent guidance from the National MS Society. Despite mounting evidence that…
March 19, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Ocrevus May Delay by 7 Years PPMS Patients’ Need for Wheelchair Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) treatment may delay the need for a wheelchair by seven years in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosisĀ (PPMS), a study reports. This delay, drawn from clinical trial data on treatment- versus placebo-group patients and supported by real-world findings, likely translates to long-term benefits for PPMS patients,…
March 18, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Mavenclad Quickly Reduces MRI Lesions in Early MS, ORACLE-MS Data Show Mavenclad (cladribine) reduces the number and volume of lesions in patients at risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) after a first clinical demyelinating event, a study based on Phase 3Ā trial data found. A demyelinating event occurs when myelin ā the protective coating around nerve fibers ā experiences damage; this…
March 11, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Vitamin D Supplements at Preclinical Stage Prevented MS in Mice Vitamin D, but not paricalcitol (a vitamin D analog), can be used as a preventive measure to control the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study of mice. The study, āPreclinical therapy with vitamin D3 in experimental encephalomyelitis: Efficacy and comparison with paricalcitol,ā was…
March 8, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Lipid Signaling Molecule Regulates Immune Responses in Mice Lipid (fat) molecules can function as chemical couriers, taking messages from tissue to tissue, organ to organ as part of the body’s immune defense guidance system. But in certain diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), the courier service may go awry. One such lipid molecule, called sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P),…
March 4, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Antigen-loaded Red Blood Cells Help Promote Immune Tolerance in Mice Red blood cells carrying specific antigen proteins on the cell surface can be used to disarm overactive T-cells by promoting immune tolerance, a study in mice found. The findings may have important implications for the treatment of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. The study, āPersistent antigen…