Posts by: Marisa Wexler, MS

Marisa Wexler, MS

Marisa holds an MS in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. She specializes in cancer biology, immunology, and genetics. Marisa began working with BioNews in 2018, and has written about science and health for SelfHacked and the Genetics Society of America. She also writes/composes musicals and coaches the University of Pittsburgh fencing club.

May 27, 2020May 28, 2020

Zeposia Receives European Commission Approval for Adults with Active RRMS

News, Zeposia

The European Commission (EC) has approved Zeposia (ozanimod) for the treatment of adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who have active disease based on clinical or imaging features. The ... Read more

May 27, 2020May 27, 2020

Higher Blood NfL Levels Predict Worse Disability Over Time in MS, Study Suggests

News

Higher blood levels of the neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein at diagnosis are predictive of worse disability over time in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a large population study from ... Read more

May 26, 2020May 27, 2020

Evobrutinib Lowers MS Relapse Rates Over 2 Years of Use, Trial Data Show

News

Note: This story was updated May 27, 2020, to note a change in the protocol of the EVOLUTION trials, which are now comparing evobrutinib with Aubagio, rather than Avonex, ... Read more

May 20, 2020May 20, 2020

Biogen Presents Update on its MS Therapeutic Portfolio

News

Biogen has released new data on several of its therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS), including Vumerity (diroximel fumarate), Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), and Tysabri (natalizumab). The data — six presentations ... Read more

May 20, 2020May 20, 2020

Glatopa Shows Efficacy Similar to Copaxone, Study in Real-world Use Finds

News

Glatopa, a generic form of Copaxone, is as effective as the brand-name medication in terms of disease outcomes and has similar healthcare-related costs in real-world use in patients with relapsing multiple ... Read more

May 19, 2020May 19, 2020

Memory Immune Cells Play Key Role in Advanced MS, Study Suggests

News

In the brains of people with advanced multiple sclerosis (MS), memory immune cells reside in the brain tissue rather than entering through the bloodstream, a new study suggests. The ... Read more

May 18, 2020May 22, 2020

National MS Society Expert Panel Offers Guidelines for Regular Exercise

News

Healthcare providers should encourage everyone with multiple sclerosis (MS) to engage in regular exercise and keep physically active, new guidelines based on an expert panel convened by the National ... Read more

May 11, 2020May 11, 2020

FDA Clears Nurocheck, Portable Device to Quickly Assess Brain Health

News

A portable device that can quickly measure electrical activity in the brain and relay it to doctors via a smartphone app, called the Nurochek system, has been cleared by the United ... Read more

May 5, 2020May 12, 2020

Belong.Life Launches App to Support MS Patients and Healthcare Professionals

News

May 4, 2020May 4, 2020

Pain, Fatigue in MS and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Compared in Study

News

May 4, 2020May 4, 2020

Ublituximab Phase 2 Data Support Safety, Efficacy in Relapsing MS

News

April 29, 2020April 29, 2020

Ocrevus’ Early Use May Lower Need for Walking Aid by 49% Over 6 Years

News

April 27, 2020April 28, 2020

XRHealth Raises $7M for Telehealth Expansion

Covid-19, News

April 24, 2020April 24, 2020

Sanofi’s BTK Inhibitor Seen to Effectively Reduce Brain Lesions in Phase 2 Trial

News

The investigational, oral BTK inhibitor SAR442168 can limit the number of new inflammatory brain lesions in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), results from a Phase 2b ... Read more

April 22, 2020April 28, 2020

Starting Mayzent Early of Greater Benefit in SPMS, 5-Year Trial Data Show

Covid-19, News, SPMS

People with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) who began treatment with Mayzent early and continued its use for years are less likely to experience disability progression than those starting the ... Read more

April 21, 2020April 21, 2020

Shorter Ocrevus Infusion Time Up for Approval in US and Europe

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have accepted applications from Genentech to shorten the infusion time for Ocrevus, an approved treatment for multiple ... Read more

April 20, 2020April 28, 2020

Sanofi to Detail Trial Results of Oral Relapsing MS Therapy Online on Thursday

Covid-19, News

Sanofi will host an online science session to present results of a Phase 2b clinical trial testing the safety and efficacy of its investigational, oral BTK inhibitor SAR442168 in ... Read more

April 10, 2020April 10, 2020

Gilenya May Raise Risk of Intestinal Parasitic Infection, Report Suggests

News

Treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod) could make people with multiple sclerosis (MS) more vulnerable to the parasitic infection known as cryptosporidiosis, a case report suggests. The report, “Cryptosporidiosis after treatment with ... Read more

April 9, 2020May 12, 2020

New Database to Compile COVID-19 Data About People with MS and Related Diseases

Covid-19, News

The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society have created a new database to track COVID-19 infections in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and ... Read more

April 6, 2020April 6, 2020

Study Finds Link Between Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Adolescence and MS Risk

News

People exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke during adolescence may be more likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life, a study suggests. The study, “Exposure to passive smoking ... Read more

April 3, 2020April 3, 2020

Headache a Common Side Effect of Interferon-beta Treatment, Study Finds

News

New or worsening headaches are a more common side effect of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) treatment in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than previously appreciated, a new study suggests. The study, “Interferon-Beta-Induced ... Read more

April 2, 2020April 3, 2020

Regular Exercise ‘Strongly Recommended’ to Ease Fatigue in MS

News

Physical exercise can ease fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and potentially benefit them in many other ways, and should be part of rehabilitation programs for patients, a ... Read more

April 1, 2020April 1, 2020

Biosimilar Truxima Works as Well as Rituximab Originator in MS, Study Finds

News

Truxima, a biosimilar of rituximab, is comparable to the originator therapy in terms of effectiveness and safety for treating multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study suggests. Rituximab — marketed as Rituxan in the United ... Read more

March 31, 2020March 31, 2020

Canada Rules EHP-101, Potential Cannabidiol Treatment, Not Controlled Substance

News

EHP-101, a cannabidiol-derived investigational therapy being developed by Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals (EHP) to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), is not a controlled substance in Canada, the company announced. The active ingredient in ... Read more

March 20, 2020March 24, 2020

Janssen Seeks FDA Approval for Oral Ponesimod for Treating Relapsing MS

News

Janssen has submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking for ponesimod to be approved as an oral treatment for adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Ponesimod, ... Read more

March 12, 2020April 3, 2020

Ponesimod, Up for Approval, Shows ‘Clear Superiority’ Over Aubagio, Janssen Exec Says

News

Ponesimod may soon be a new oral therapy for people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in Europe, and a filing for its approval in the U.S. is likely within weeks. ... Read more

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020

Janssen Asks EMA to Approve Oral Ponesimod to Treat Relapsing MS

News

Janssen has submitted an application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) asking that ponesimod be approved as an oral treatment for adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in the European Union. Ponesimod ... Read more

February 24, 2020February 25, 2020

Masitinib Slows Disability Progression in PPMS and Non-active SPMS, Phase 2/3 Trial Reports

News, SPMS

AB Science‘s masitinib significantly slowed disability progression in people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and non-active secondary progressive MS (SPMS) at a lower dose of 4.5 mg/kg a day, ... Read more

February 17, 2020February 17, 2020

Number of People with MS in UK More Than Previously Estimated

News

New data from Public Health England (PHE) and the U.K. MS Society show that the number of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United Kingdom is now more ... Read more

February 11, 2020February 18, 2020

Cognitive Decline in MS May Not Be Inevitable or Progressive, 10-year Study Suggests

News

Progressive cognitive decline in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may not be as inevitable as previously thought, a study suggests. The study, “A longitudinal study of cognitive function in ... Read more

February 10, 2020February 10, 2020

Mavenclad May Be Added to RRMS Treatments on Quebec’s Public Health Plan

News

The agency in charge of health and social services for Quebec, known as the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS), is recommending that Mavenclad (cladribine) be offered ... Read more

February 7, 2020February 7, 2020

Fewer New Brain Lesions Seen in Patients Treated with BTK Blocker in Phase 2 Trial, Results Show

News

The experimental BTK inhibitor SAR442168 showed an acceptable safety profile and met its primary endpoint — a significant reduction in the number of new lesions visible on a brain ... Read more

February 3, 2020February 3, 2020

MSAA Marks 50th Anniversary with Benefit Evening, New Logo and More

News

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is celebrating 50 years of work and dedication to improving the lives of people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Some changes are ... Read more

January 29, 2020January 29, 2020

Mental Health of Women Affected by Caring for Children with MS, Study Suggests

News

Caring for children with multiple sclerosis (MS) can affect the mental health of their mothers over the long term, a study has found. The study, “Increased mental health care ... Read more

January 27, 2020January 27, 2020

NICE Approves Plegridy as RRMS Treatment Offered by NHS England

News

The National Institute for Health Care and Excellence (NICE) in the U.K. issued its final decision, approving the inclusion of Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in ... Read more

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020

Gene Variants Linked to High Childhood BMI Point to Higher MS Risk, Study Finds

News

Genetic variations that increase body mass index (BMI) in childhood are associated with a higher risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) regardless of a person’s vitamin D levels, a study found. ... Read more

January 23, 2020January 23, 2020

Memory Training Could Make Brains of MS Patients More Efficient, Study Suggests

News

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who complete training through a method called the modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT) show a decrease in brain activity after training, which could indicate ... Read more

January 16, 2020January 16, 2020

Scottish Medicines Consortium Approves Ocrevus for Treating PPMS

News, Ocrevus

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) has been approved in Scotland as a treatment for early, inflammatory primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has advised that Ocrevus can be prescribed ... Read more

January 13, 2020January 13, 2020

First MS Patient Dosed in Phase 2 Trial of Potential Remyelinating Therapy CNM-Au8, Clene Announces

News

The first participant has been dosed in the Phase 2 REPAIR-MS clinical trial examining the effects of CNM-Au8, Clene Nanomedicine‘s investigational remyelinating therapy, on brain metabolism in people with multiple ... Read more

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

US Patent Issued for Anavex 2-73 for Treatment of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Including MS

News

Anavex Life Sciences has received a U.S. patent covering the use of Anavex 2-73 (blarcamesine) for the treatment of several neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and ... Read more