May 2, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS NICE Briefing Covers Icobrain System for Automated MRI Scans The National Institute for Health and Care Evidence (NICE) in England has issued a briefing on the use ofĀ Icometrix‘s icobrain system to assess disease activity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) based on MRI scans. The NICE statement was in the form of a medtech innovation briefing, or…
April 28, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AAN2022 ā Tolebrutinib Reduces Brain Damage Up to 1.5 Years in Trial Long-term treatment with tolebrutinib significantly reduced signs of disease-related brain damage in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new data from a Phase 2 clinical trial and its extension study. Specifically, the investigational oral therapy was found to keep the number of inflamed brain lesions…
April 27, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AAN2022 ā For Children With MS, Symptoms May Predict Future Disability Children with multiple sclerosis (MS) who in their first year after disease onset experience pyramidal symptoms, such as spasticity or weakness, visual problems, or show signs of cerebellum involvement like poorer coordination are more likely to have worse long-term disability, an analysis of registry data indicates. The analysis also…
April 26, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Trial of Metformin-Clemastine Combo Enrolls First Patient The first participant has been enrolled in a new clinical trial that is testing whether an antihistamine in combination with a diabetes medication might promote the repair of the myelin sheath in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The trial’s first participant, Annabelle, was diagnosed with relapsing MS over a…
April 26, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AAN2022 ā More Patients Given Ublituximab Relapse-free in Trials More relapsingĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) patients givenĀ ublituximabĀ remained relapse-free over the two-year long Phase 3 ULTIMATE clinical trials, compared to those givenĀ AubagioĀ (teriflunomide), new data show. “The prevention of relapses represents an important goal of disease-modifying therapy with the potential for a marked impact on the accumulation of disability,” Lawrence Steinman,…
April 21, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Data Is Lacking on Safety of MS Treatments During Breastfeeding There is minimal data available on the safety of most disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) when used during breastfeeding, a new review indicates. The study “Disease-Modifying Drugs and Breastfeeding in Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Literature Review,” was published inĀ Frontiers in Neurology. Disease-modifying therapies, or DMTs,…
April 18, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Progressive MS Trial Finds Repeat Bone Marrow Infusion Safe, Feasible Repeat harvesting of bone marrow cells and infusing them back into the bloodstream is safe and feasible in people with active progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), according to data from a small, proof-of-concept clinical trial. Results were detailed in the study, “Repeat infusion of autologous bone marrow…
April 15, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Equal DMT Use Found in Norway Despite Socioeconomic Status: Study People newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Norway have in recent years received disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) independent of their socioeconomic status, according to a new analysis. These findings do not support previous reports indicating that fewer DMTs are prescribed for the most socially deprived MS patients, the…
April 14, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Vumerity Added to NHS of England for People With Active RRMS The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has added oralĀ Vumerity (diroximel fumarate), approved to treatĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS) in the U.K., to the list of medications available through the public health program for England. Because the therapy has been recommended through a fast track appraisal process, Vumerity…
April 14, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Behavioral Training May Help MS Patients Recognize Facial Expressions An intervention that involves training to recognize facial expressions, and also mimicking these expressions, may help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have trouble recognizing facial affect, according to data from a small clinical trial. These findings were reported in the study āEmotional processing intervention (EMOPRINT):…
April 13, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Select Brain Stimulation May Ease MS Tremor, But More Study Needed Electrically stimulating certain regions of the brain may help to ease tremors in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but the specific brain regions needed for stimulation may be unique in MS compared to other tremor-causing diseases, a new study suggests. The study,Ā “Connectomic analysis of unilateral dual-lead…
April 11, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS New Bouts of Depression, Anxiety Linked to Pandemic, US Survey Finds Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) report new bouts of depression and anxiety as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but factors that often influence such mental health concerns were not associated with anxiety or depression in the patient group Ā surveyed for a recent U.S. study. “We found that…
April 8, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AAN2022 ā Phase 1 Data Shows NVG-291 Safe; Trial in MS Patients Anticipated NVG-291, an experimental therapy designed to promote nervous system repair, has so far been well tolerated in an ongoing Phase 1 study with healthy volunteers. “The Phase 1 study is progressing very well, and we are encouraged by the data we are seeing so far,” Daniel Mikol, MD, PhD, chief…
April 7, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AAN2022 ā CONSONANCE Update Shows Ocrevus’ Effectiveness After 1 Year Nearly three of every four participants in the CONSONANCE clinical trial, which is evaluating Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) in people with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), showed no evidence of disease progression after a year of treatment. That’s according to new data presented at the American Academy of…
April 6, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AAN2022 ā Data from Multiple Trials Show Kesimpta’s Safety, Efficacy Treatment with Kesimpta (ofatumumab) for more than three years revealed no new or unexpected safety findings, and continued to slow disability progression and prevent the development of new brain lesions in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new clinical trial data. Information from another trial also…
April 5, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AAN2022 ā Ublituximab Bests Aubagio on Disability Measures Ublituximab, an experimental therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, outperformed Aubagio on a number of disability-related outcomes in the ULTIMATE clinical trials, new data show. The findings were presented in a series of posters at the 2022 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, being held in…
April 1, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS No Link Between Herpes Infection and MS Risk in Genetic Study Infection with the herpes simplex virus does not increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new analysis based on genetic data. The study, āMendelian Randomization Analysis Suggests No Associations of Herpes Simplex Virus Infections With Multiple Sclerosis,ā was published in Frontiers in…
March 30, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MS Society of Canada Grants Will Support 66 Research Projects The MS Society of Canada is providing thousands in funding to 66 research projects that aim to accelerate scientific understand of multiple sclerosis (MS) and to improve care for people with the disease. The society announced the winners of its 2022ā23 Annual Research Competition in four categories…
March 24, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS STAT5 Protein Complex Implicated in MS Autoimmunity in Mice A four-protein complex, or tetramer, of the protein STAT5 is involved in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS)-like autoimmune disease in mice, a new study shows. The findings point to this protein complex and its signaling pathway as a potential treatment in MS and other autoimmune conditions, scientists noted.
March 23, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Scientists Review State of Cannabis Research in MS Treatment with cannabis-based medications may ease muscle spasms, decrease pain, and aid in sleep for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but more research is needed to evaluate the potential benefits of cannabis use. That is the finding of a team of U.S. researchers who published a review paper,Ā “…
March 22, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Smell Test Might Help Predict if MS Treatments Are Working A measure of the nose’s sensitivity to smell could be used to detect whether treatments for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) are working or not, a new study indicates. The scientists noted that their results need to be validated through further study, but said the findings suggest that a smell…
March 18, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MS Doctors, Nurses in UK Struggle With Marking Transition to SPMS Among healthcare providers in the U.K., considerable variation exists in marking the transition from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), a study based on interview responses reports. Neurologists and nurses with MS specialties also expressed a reluctance to label patients as having progressed to…
March 16, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS BCG Vaccine for TB Not Linked to MS Risk: Large Canadian Study Getting the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine to protect against tuberculosis (TB) ā an immunization often given to infants and small children in countries where TB is common ā does not decrease a person’s risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study. “Within a large birth cohort…
March 16, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Novantrone Lowers Relapses, Eases Disability in Highly Active RRMS Initial treatment with Novantrone (mitoxantrone) can reduce the risk of relapses and worsening disability in people with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a 10-year study from France. “Our results support the short-term use of [Novantrone], followed by a maintenance therapy for patients with early highly…
March 14, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Drinking Alcohol Daily May Speed Loss of Nerve Cells in Patients’ Brains While people who smoke cigarettes are more likely to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, MS patients who are daily alcohol drinkers are more likely to show signs of faster neurodegeneration,Ā a new study highlights. The findings suggest that quitting smoking and cutting back on alcohol would be beneficial for people…
March 11, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Worsening Disability in Absence of Relapses ‘Underestimated’ in MS A substantial amount of disability worsening happens independently of relapses in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), including those in earlier stages of relapsing-remitting disease, a study in a large patient database reported. While its findings “confirm relapses contribute to the accumulation of disability, primarily early in multiple sclerosis,” data…
March 9, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Roche and UK University Team Up to Test Floodlight App Effectiveness Roche is teaming up with the University of Plymouth in the U.K. to help develop Floodlight MS, the company’s app to monitor multiple sclerosis (MS). “We were pleased to collaborate with Roche on an innovative project to validate the Floodlight MS app and, as with everything we do…
March 8, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Immune Reaction to Milk Protein May Explain Dairy’s Link to MS Immune system reaction to casein, a protein in cow’s milk, can trigger an inflammatory neurological disease in mice that’s similar to multiple sclerosis (MS) and includes the loss of myelin, a study reported. “These results identify how consumption of milk and milk products may exacerbate the autoimmune response in…
March 4, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2022 ā Blood NfL Levels May Help Quantify Relapse Severity Measuring levels of the neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein in blood may be a way to “quantify” relapse severity and predict future disability in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). “Higher [blood] NfL levels during periods of active inflammation predicted more [brain] atrophy,” researchers wrote in an abstract titled…
March 3, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2022 ā Cognitive Training Paired With tDCS Aids Patients Electrically stimulating the brain while doing at-home cognitive training games can help to prevent a decline in cognition for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly those with more advanced disability, a study indicates. “This could lead to a therapy that can remediate cognitive impairment, we just need to optimize”…