Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.

Articles by Marisa Wexler

New patent covers progressive MS drug for patients in US

Immunic Therapeutics will receive a new U.S. patent covering its experimental therapy, vidofludimus calcium, and some related molecules in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Titled “Treatment of multiple sclerosis comprising DHODH inhibitors,” the patent explicitly covers the use of the molecules in progressive types of MS, including primary…

Most MS neurologists in the US have received pharma payments

In the U.S., nearly 4 out of 5 neurologists prescribing therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) have received payments from pharmaceutical companies that market MS treatments, according to a new analysis. The findings indicate that neurologists who receive payments from a company are significantly more likely to prescribe that…

Study finds potential strategy for myelin repair in MS

Targeting a protein called SOX6 could be an effective way to promote myelin repair in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study found. Researchers said the results point to a way for new therapies to treat the condition. The study found SOX6 could control the maturation of oligodendrocytes, the…

Ketogenic diet shows promise for MS, but more research needed

A ketogenic diet — which involves eating a very low amount of carbohydrates and replacing them with fat — may help ease fatigue, improve neurological function, and boost life quality in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new analysis. Researchers stressed that available data on the effects…

Fenebrutinib curbs brain lesions in MS, Phase 2 study finds

Fenebrutinib significantly reduced the occurrence of new brain lesions with active inflammation in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), a Phase 2 clinical trial found. In the open-label extension portion of the FENopta trial (NCT05119569), disease activity “remained very low” for nearly one year, researchers wrote, with 98%…

Anti-CD20 therapy reshapes immune cell profiles in MS: Study

Anti-CD20 therapies, a type of treatment approved for multiple sclerosis (MS), alter the activity of several types of immune cells, including increasing the levels of certain anti-inflammatory immune cells. That’s according to the study “Transcriptomic profiling after B cell depletion reveals central and peripheral immune cell…

Advanced imaging technology may help predict MS brain lesions

A new imaging technology may help detect early signs of brain damage in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) that aren’t visible on conventional MRI scans, a recent study shows. The technology detects specific metabolic alterations in the brain by tracking certain metabolites and neurotransmitters — molecules that nerve…

Trial: Vidofludimus calcium shows benefits for 9 of 10 RRMS patients

More than 90% of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients who received Immunic Therapeutics‘ experimental oral therapy vidofludimus calcium have not experienced confirmed disability worsening after nearly three years. That’s according to new data from the EMPhASIS Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT03846219) and its open-label extension (OLE)…

Gender-affirming hormone therapy may affect MS disease activity

Hormone therapies used in gender-affirming care for transgender people may affect disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS), a small new study reports, although its researchers cautioned that more research is are needed to more comprehensively assess its impact in MS. The study, “Gender-affirming interventions and prognosis…

Children with MS show signs of accelerated biological aging: Study

Children with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) experience biological aging at a faster rate than children without the disease, a study shows. “We found evidence that children living with MS experience accelerated biological aging,” Jennifer Graves, MD, PhD, senior author of the study at the University of California, San Diego,…

Childhood infections, stress may increase MS risk: Study

Infections and stressful life events in childhood may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), while childhood exercise is associated with lower MS risk, according to a study. The findings, part of the German National Cohort (NAKO) population study, imply that programs to encourage physical activity and prevent…

Signaling molecules impair growth of myelin-making brain cells

Pro-inflammatory signaling molecules that have been implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) cause problems with the growth and development of myelin-making cells in the brain, according to a study done in cell models. The findings may have implications for treating MS, as promoting the growth of myelin-making cells could be…

Tysabri safe as treatment for MS during pregnancy, breastfeeding

Tysabri (natalizumab), an approved treatment for forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), can be safely used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, a study showed. “The findings of our observational study offer … relevant insight into the safety profile of [Tysabri] therapy not only during pregnancy but also during breastfeeding,”…

Patients with PIRA have more damage to white matter: Study

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who experience progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) tend to have greater damage to major white matter tracts, or bundles of nerve fibers that connect different regions of the brain, a new study reports. The findings offer some insights into the biological processes that…