May 5, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Safety of Oral DMTs for RRMS in Real-world Use Seen to Match Trial Findings People with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) using approved oral disease-modifying therapies generally tolerate the treatments well, with real-world adverse event profiles similar to those seen in clinical trials, an analysis of U.S. data indicates. Results also suggest high adherence to these therapies — meaning patients are usually taking the therapies…
April 29, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Exploring Mavenclad’s Effects on Immune Cells Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, held April 17–22. Go here to read stories from the conference. After starting treatment with the multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy Mavenclad (cladribine), some types of immune cells are more affected…
April 28, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Research Focuses on Measuring Therapeutic Lag Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, held April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. A novel method to calculate how long it takes therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) to become fully effective…
April 27, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Early Ocrevus Treatment Helps to Protect Nervous System Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. Treating multiple sclerosis (MS) in its earlier stages with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) can substantially lower disease activity and lessen damage…
April 27, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Ocrevus, Rituximab Linked to More Severe COVID-19 Cases in Italy Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that target CD20 are associated with worse outcomes from COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, an…
April 23, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Tysabri Improves Quality of Life, Can Reduce Infection Risk Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. Treatment with Tysabri (natalizumab) can improve mental and social health in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new…
April 23, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – COVID-19 Often Leads to Flares in MS Patients, Survey Finds Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. The majority of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience new or worsening symptoms after developing COVID-19, a patient survey…
April 23, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Abnormally Warm Weather Tied to More ER Visits Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. When the weather is unusually warm, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to require emergency medical care,…
April 22, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – More Diversity Needed Among Neurologists, Presenters Agree Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. There is a lack of diversity among neurologists, who are disproportionately white men, but new programs aimed at inclusivity may…
April 21, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Disease Severity, Job Loss Higher in Black Than White Patients in US Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. African Americans with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are more likely than white patients — despite comparable disease durations and…
April 20, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Measuring Blood Proteins Could Predict Disability in SPMS Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. Among people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) without active disease, high blood levels of the…
April 12, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MS Has 3 Distinct Subtypes, Study of MRI Brain Patterns Using AI Reports Using artificial intelligence (AI) on imaging data collected from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, researchers were able to classify these people into three new disease subtypes, each distinct from the current groupings determined by symptoms. These new subtypes may allow doctors to better determine those patients more likely to have…
April 8, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Mertk Gene Plays Key Role in Myelin Repair, Mouse Study Finds A gene called Mertk has important roles in the repair of myelin, the fatty substance that surrounds and protects neurons and that is lost in multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings were published in Cell Press, in the study “Multiple sclerosis risk gene Mertk is required for…
April 8, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Under-the-skin Injection of Tysabri Approved in Europe The European Commission (EC) has approved a new method to administer Tysabri (natalizumab) as a treatment for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). This new delivery route involves a subcutaneous injection in which Tysabri is injected under the skin. Compared with the previously approved intravenous (into the bloodstream) formulation,…
April 7, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Pediatric-onset MS Tied to Fewer School Years, Lower Income in Adulthood People who develop multiple sclerosis (MS) as children are more likely to attain lower education levels, earn less in the workplace, and be more reliant on disability benefits later in life, new research shows. These findings were published in JAMA Neurology, in the study, “Long-term Socioeconomic…
April 6, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS N-acetyl Cysteine Safe, But Failed to Lessen MS Fatigue Treatment with the antioxidant N‐acetyl cysteine is well-tolerated, but failed to outperform a placebo at easing fatigue in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), a small clinical trial found. More studies now are needed to determine if oxidative stress contributes to fatigue or clinical progression in MS patients, and…
March 31, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Machine Learning of Walking Patterns Could Help Predict MS Progression A machine learning-based method that examines walking abnormalities in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) could help identify patients who are at high risk of worsening symptoms, a study suggests. The study, “Predicting Multiple Sclerosis from Gait Dynamics Using an Instrumented Treadmill – A Machine Learning Approach,”…
March 29, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS PoNS Device to Help Adults in Rehab for Walking Problems Gets FDA Approval The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the use of a medical device called Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator or PoNS as a short-term treatment for walking difficulties in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). PoNS, developed by Helius Medical Technologies, is a non-invasive medical device…
March 26, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Rituximab Fails to Lessen Brain Inflammation in Progressive MS Trial Injecting rituximab — a cancer therapy sometimes used in multiple sclerosis — into the spinal canal of people with progressive forms of MS did not demonstrably lower inflammation or improve clinical conditions, according to the results of a small trial. “Contrary to the initial high expectations, no clear-cut effect on…
March 23, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Certain Factors Worsen Outcomes in MS Patients With COVID-19 People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have more extensive mobility issues are more likely to have worse outcomes from COVID-19, a new study indicates. The study findings also indicate that COVID-19-associated outcomes are worse among MS patients who are Black, older, have heart-related diseases, and who were treated with…
March 19, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Ponvory (ponesimod) Approved for Adults With Relapsing Forms of MS The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ponvory (ponesimod) as an oral treatment for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The approval covers clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and active secondary progressive MS (SPMS). The treatment is taken as a…
March 9, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Novartis, iHeartRadio Team Up for ‘A Night for MS Awareness’ on March 11 In recognition of National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month — celebrated throughout March — Novartis and iHeartRadio are teaming up on a virtual event to celebrate the resilient spirit of people affected by MS. Called “A Night for MS Awareness,” the event will be streamed on…
March 5, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2021 – Taking Medication During Pregnancy Reduces Healthcare Costs Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25–27. Go here to see the latest stories from the conference. Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who continue taking disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) throughout pregnancy accrue lower non-maternity healthcare…
March 3, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2021 – Reduced Methionine in Diet Eased Symptoms in MS Mice Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25–27. Go here to see the latest stories from the conference. Reducing the essential amino acid methionine in the diet lessened multiple sclerosis (MS)-like symptoms in a mouse model of…
March 3, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2021 – Dietary Restriction May Limit Severity of MS Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25–27. Go here to see the latest stories from the conference. Dietary restriction can lessen the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) by modulating levels of fat-related hormones, new research…
March 3, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2021 – Research Finds Race- and Ethnicity-based Differences in MS Therapies Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25–27. Go here to see the latest stories from the conference. Clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, including their response to therapies, vary based on race and ethnicity,…
March 2, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2021 – Leptin’s Pro-inflammatory Effects May Link Obesity to MS Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25–27. Go here to see all the latest stories from the conference. The fat-related hormone leptin has pro-inflammatory effects on immune cells, new data show, findings that help in better…
March 1, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2021 – Neurologist Calls for Trial Testing Estrogen Therapy at Menopause Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25–27. Go here to see all the latest stories from the conference. At the ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Rhonda Voskuhl, MD, a neurology professor at the University…
February 26, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2021 – Young Brain Fluid (CSF) Rejuvenates Memory in Mice Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25-27. Go here to see all the latest stories from the conference. Factors in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding the brain and spinal cord change with age and can affect…
February 25, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2021 – Better Strategies Needed to Help Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Patients Editor’s note: The Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25-27. Go here to see all the latest stories from the conference. People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are less socioeconomically advantaged tend to have faster rates…
