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.

August 4, 2020August 4, 2020

Oral RRMS Therapy Safely Lowers Active Lesions in Phase 2 Trial, Data Show

News

Immunic Therapeutics‘s IMU-838, a selective immune system modulator, can safely lower the number of brain lesions in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), top-line Phase 2 clinical trial data suggest. Findings ... Read more

July 29, 2020July 29, 2020

Canadian MS Working Group Updates Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment

News

The Canadian MS Working Group (CMSWG) — made up of neurologists with the Canadian Network of MS Clinics — has updated its recommendations concerning diagnosis and the use of disease-modifying ... Read more

July 24, 2020July 27, 2020

Ketamine May Help Treat MS-related Fatigue, Small Pilot Trial Suggests

News

Low doses of the anesthetic ketamine could help treat fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to results from a small Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Trial findings were ... Read more

July 23, 2020July 24, 2020

Cognitive Health Tests Given Online Show ‘Promise’ in Study

News

Assessing the cognitive health of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be performed using online telehealth, with results similar to in-person testing, researchers working with a patient group reported. ... Read more

July 21, 2020July 21, 2020

Tysabri Use Can Lessen Disability in RRMS Patients, Real-world Study Reports

News

Treatment with Tysabri (natalizumab) can lessen disability in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a large and real-world study found, supporting “confirmed disability improvement” reported in a pivotal clinical trial. Nearly ... Read more

July 14, 2020July 20, 2020

Most RIS Patients Likely to Progress to MS Within 10 Years, Study Says

News

More than half of people with brain imaging changes akin to multiple sclerosis (MS) go on to develop the disease within 10 years, a global study of those with ... Read more

July 14, 2020July 15, 2020

Alternative Medicine Popular With MS Patients in US Northwest, Survey Finds

News

Complementary and alternative medicines are increasingly popular among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the northwestern United States, a survey found. More than 80% of the 1,000 people who responded ... Read more

July 10, 2020July 10, 2020

MS Imaging Startup Among 8 Minority-owned Firms Earning Investment

News

JuneBrain, a startup company that is developing a wearable head imaging device that enables multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to remotely monitor their disease activity and treatment response, has received a ... Read more

June 29, 2020June 29, 2020

Tecfidera Safe and Effective Over Years of Use, RRMS Study Finds

News

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) is safe and effective as a long-term treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a study of clinical trial data covering up to 11 years of treatment ... Read more

June 26, 2020June 26, 2020

NICE Does Not Favor Adding Mayzent to NHS England for Active SPMS

News, SPMS

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is recommending against Mayzent (siponimod) as a treatment for active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) in the U.K., because its cost-effectiveness relative ... Read more

June 24, 2020June 24, 2020

University Study of Falls During COVID-19 Enrolling Patients for Online Survey

Covid-19, News

A study aiming to better understand falls and fall-related injuries in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological disorders while self-isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic is recruiting participants. The ... Read more

June 11, 2020June 11, 2020

NIH Backs Project Examining Failure of Immune Tolerance Leading to Autoimmune Disease

News

A new research project will seek to understand the development of immune cells that drive autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The project will be led by Leszek Ignatowicz, ... Read more

June 5, 2020June 5, 2020

Icompanion App Enables Patients to Track Symptoms, Understand MRI Scans

News

Icometrix launched a new digital platform, icompanion, to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) track their disease and understand MRI scans. The platform, currently available in English, French, German, and Dutch, ... Read more

June 4, 2020June 4, 2020

FDA Extends Review of Ofatumumab for Relapsing MS to September

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending its review of Novartis‘ ofatumumab, a possible self-administered injection therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), the company announced. Originally expected in June, ... Read more

June 3, 2020June 4, 2020

Zeposia, Daily Oral Treatment for Relapsing MS, Now Available in US

News, Zeposia

Zeposia (ozanimod), a newly approved oral capsule treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), is now commercially available in the United States, its manufacturer, Bristol Myers Squibb, announced. “We are ... Read more

June 2, 2020June 2, 2020

Pain and Disturbed Sleep May Be Earliest Symptoms of MS, Study Suggests

News

Symptoms including sleep disorders and pain may precede by as many as five years the onset of the more well-known symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests. Understanding ... Read more

June 2, 2020June 2, 2020

Multiarm Trial Fails at SPMS Treatment, But Shows New Way Forward for Studies

News

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May 27, 2020June 2, 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

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May 4, 2020May 4, 2020

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

News

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May 4, 2020May 4, 2020

Ublituximab Phase 2 Data Support Safety, Efficacy in Relapsing MS

News

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April 29, 2020April 29, 2020

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

News

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April 27, 2020April 28, 2020

XRHealth Raises $7M for Telehealth Expansion

Covid-19, News

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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