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.

October 19, 2020October 19, 2020

Variation in Given Gene May Raise Depression Risk Among MS Patients

News

A genetic variant may make depression more likely in certain people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than others, a genome-wide study in patients indicates. The study, “Depression in multiple sclerosis patients associated with ... Read more

October 16, 2020October 16, 2020

Mayzent Approved for Active SPMS Patients in England and Wales

News

Mayzent (siponimod) has become the first oral medication to be approved for people with active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) in England and Wales. Following this decision by England’s ... Read more

October 8, 2020October 8, 2020

Health Canada Approves Oral Zeposia for Adults With RRMS

News, Zeposia

Health Canada has approved Zeposia (ozanimod), an oral daily treatment for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in the country. Approval does not assure that Zeposia will be available to ... Read more

October 7, 2020October 7, 2020

Differences Found in Brain Connectivity in RRMS Patients During Visual Task

News

Connectivity between parts of the brain related to vision and attention is altered in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), both during rest and while actively engaged in a ... Read more

October 5, 2020October 5, 2020

Gilenya and Tecfidera Similarly Effective at Treating RRMS, Real-world Study Says

News

Gilenya (fingolimod) and Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) are similarly effective at lowering the frequency of relapses and delaying disability progression in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a real-world study ... Read more

September 25, 2020September 25, 2020

Anokion Planning Launch of Phase 1 Trial of Investigational MS Therapy ANK-700

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted an investigational new drug application (IND) for ANK-700, a treatment candidate for multiple sclerosis (MS) that is being developed by ... Read more

September 23, 2020September 23, 2020

Medical Cannabis Lozenges Now Available for MS Patients in Texas

News

People in Texas with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other medical conditions now have access to cannabis-infused lozenges, Surterra Texas announced. Under a Texas Compassionate Use Program, cannabis-containing therapies may be prescribed ... Read more

September 21, 2020September 22, 2020

MS Prevalence at Over 2.8 Million Worldwide, Update to Atlas Reports

News

More than 2.8 million people worldwide are now estimated to be living with multiple sclerosis (MS), including about 1 million in the United States, an update to the Atlas of ... Read more

September 11, 2020September 22, 2020

Progressive MS Trial of Kesimpta Not on Horizon, But Other Possibilities in Works

News

Novartis is not planning to open a clinical trial of Kesimpta (ofatumumab) as a potential treatment for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) anytime soon, a company executive said. But it is ... Read more

September 10, 2020September 10, 2020

New and Ongoing Trials Evaluating Kesimpta, Including as Switch Therapy

News

Upcoming and ongoing clinical trials aim to expand an understanding of Kesimpta (ofatumumab), the Novartis therapy recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). ... Read more

September 1, 2020September 5, 2020

Kesimpta Meets Safety, Efficacy and Flexibility Needs of Relapsing MS, Experts Say

News

Kesimpta (ofatumumab) is a safe and effective treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), with an ease of delivery that makes it more convenient than comparable therapies, experts say. Developed ... Read more

August 27, 2020August 28, 2020

MMJ International Holdings Manufacturing Cannabis-based Investigational Therapies for MS, Huntington’s

News

MMJ International Holdings, in collaboration with a a specialty pharmaceutical solutions company, has begun manufacturing gelatin capsule medicines based on compounds found in cannabis, The company will investigate these ... Read more

August 26, 2020August 26, 2020

Mechanism Controlling Remyelination May Have MS Therapy Implications, Study Finds

News

Chemical modification of the protein eukaryotic elongation factor 1A1 (eEF1A1) regulates remyelination, a new study suggests, indicating that the processes regulating this protein may provide useful therapeutic targets for multiple ... Read more

August 21, 2020September 1, 2020

FDA Approves Kesimpta, B-cell Targeting Therapy for Relapsing MS

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Novartis‘ Kesimpta (ofatumumab) as a self-administered treatment for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), meaning those with clinically isolated ... Read more

August 20, 2020August 24, 2020

Mylan Launching Tecfidera Generic in US

News

Mylan announced the launch of a first generic version of Tecfidera, a treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The generic, now approved by the U.S. Food and ... Read more

August 19, 2020August 19, 2020

Study Reveals Increased Cellular Stress in MS Skin Fibroblasts

News

In people with multiple sclerosis (MS), skin cells show increased amounts of cellular stress in a manner that is distinct from people without MS and from other neurological diseases, ... Read more

August 7, 2020August 7, 2020

Ofatumumab Seen as Superior to Aubagio at Lowering Relapse Rates in Phase 3 Trials

News

Novartis‘ ofatumumab outperformed Aubagio (teriflunomide) at lowering the frequency of relapses and preventing disability progression among people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study based on clinical trial ... Read more

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

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