February 24, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Physical Inactivity, Smoking Linked to Patient Fatigue People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who smoke tobacco or are not physically active are more likely to experience fatigue that interferes with their daily life, a new study indicates. The findings suggest that physical exercise and quitting smoking could help ease fatigue in people with MS. The study, “…
February 18, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS EVOLUTION Trials Testing Evobrutinib Now Recruiting Two global Phase 3 clinical trials testing the investigational oral medication evobrutinib are recruiting participants with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The two identically-designed trials āĀ EVOLUTION RMS 1 (NCT04338022) and EVOLUTION RMS 2 (…
February 17, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Survey: Patients, Nurses Prefer Sensoready Autoinjector Pen People with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their nurses prefer the Sensoready autoinjector pen for subcutaneous self-administration of Kesimpta (ofatumumab) over other methods for injecting treatments, according to a survey. The survey was conducted by Novartis, which markets Kesimpta. Full findings from the survey will be presented at…
February 9, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Zeposia Tablets Approved in Scotland to Treat Active RRMS The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has approvedĀ Zeposia (ozanimod)Ā for the treatment of active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Zeposia is sold as a tablet, to be taken by mouth once daily. The SMC has recommended that Zeposia be prescribed for people with RRMS who experience relapses or have evidence of…
February 3, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Protein-targeting Therapy Found to Lessen Inflammation in Preclinical Study A novel medication targeting the protein folate receptor-beta (FR-beta) decreased inflammation and brain damage in a rat model of multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings were published in theĀ Journal of Neuroinflammation, in the study “Efficacy and tolerability of folate-aminopterin therapy in a rat focal model of…
February 2, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS FDA Approves Plegridy as Intramuscular Injection for Relapsing MS The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an intramuscular injectionĀ formulation of Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) to treat people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). This formulation, for injection directly into muscle, is what is typically used to deliver the flu shot. According to Biogen, Plegridy’s…
February 1, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS CHMP Favors Kesimpta for Adults With Relapsing MS in Europe A branch of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended thatĀ Kesimpta (ofatumumab) be approved and made available to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults with active disease. A final decision from the European Commission (EC) is expected in about two months. Typically, the EC follows…
January 28, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS NfL Mirrors Some Life Quality Aspects Felt by Patients, More Work Needed Levels of neurofilament light (NfL), a protein marker of neuronal damage, appear to capture some aspects of patientāperceived physical and functional abilities withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as theirĀ utilization of select healthcare services, a real-world study suggests. Its researchers, however, stress that more work is needed before NfL levels…
January 21, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Levels of Fatty Acid Low in MS Patients, Likely Affecting Immune System Oleic acid, a type of fatty acid, is important for the function of immune cells that are dysregulated in multiple sclerosis (MS), an early study shows. A diet rich in oleic acid may potentially be beneficial for these patients, although researchers emphasized the need for more studies. The study,…
January 20, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Clene Awaits US Patent Covering Gold Nanocrystals’ Use in Treating MS Clene Nanomedicine has been notified it will be given a U.S. patent, as requested, covering an invention using the company’s already patented gold nanocrystals for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). A Notice of Allowance was received by the company. These notices are issued by the U.S. Patent…
January 12, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Helius Provides More Information to FDA About PoNS Device Helius Medical Technologies has submitted its response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s request for more information about the company’s application for de novoĀ classification and clearance of its portable neuromodulation stimulator (PoNS) device to help treat walking difficulties in people…
January 8, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Target Tissues of Immune Attacks Too Often Ignored in Research, Study Says To fully understand autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), it is necessary to study not just the immune system, but also the tissue that the immune system is attacking, a study suggests. “We must move away from the present ‘immune-centric-only’ view of autoimmune diseases,” Decio Eizirik, MD, PhD, study…
January 6, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MSAA Hosting 8th Webinar on COVID-19 and MS The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is hosting a webinar in which experts will discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on multiple sclerosis (MS). The webinar, “What You Need to Know About COVID-19 and MS: Program 8,” will take place at 8 p.m.
December 15, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Study Seeks to Better Understand How MS Affects Memory A new research project will seek to better understand the biological processes that drive memory problems in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), as a better understanding of these processes may open new avenues for intervention. The four-year study is titled “Neuroimaging of Hippocampally Mediated Memory Dysfunction in…
November 25, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Tablet-based Video Game Could Help Measure Cognitive Impairment in MS, Study Shows People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may have cognitive defects that cannot be detected using conventional paper-and-pen tests but that can be assessed with computer-based tests, a new study shows. The findings also indicate that people with MS may be more susceptible to cognitive impairment when the brain has to addressĀ increased…
November 23, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS ChariotMS to Test Mavenclad in SPMS, PPMS Patients With Little Ability to Walk An upcoming Phase 2 clinical trial, called ChariotMS, will test whether Mavenclad (cladribine) can slow a worsening of hand and arm function in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and very limited walking abilities. Patients reliant on wheelchairs or aids to walk even short distances generally have…
November 18, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Software Platform May Allow for Automated MS Cognitive Testing A software platform, called CogniSoft, allows for automated assessments of cognitive health in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The platform was described in the study “CogniSoft: A Platform for the Automation of Cognitive Assessment and Rehabilitation of Multiple Sclerosis,” published in the journalĀ Computers. Cognitive impairment…
November 16, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS New MS Trust Funding Will Help Improve Patient Support During Pandemic The U.K.’s MS Trust has been awarded Ā£50,000 (about $65,800) from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund ā distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund ā to further its “Supporting the MS community during Covid-19” project. Expected to run for six months, the project aims…
November 12, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Neurofilament Light Levels at First MS Event Can Predict Long-term Brain Atrophy The levels of the protein neurofilament light chain (NfL) in the blood when a person experiences a first demyelinating event associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) can predict brain atrophy up to a decade later, a new study shows. Titled “Association of Serum Neurofilament Light Levels…
October 28, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Mavenclad for RRMS Now Available Through Seven Provincial Public Drugs Plans in Canada Eligible people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) now have access toĀ MavencladĀ (cladribine) through seven provincial public drug plans in Canada, including the RĆ©gie de l’assurance maladie du QuĆ©bec (RAMQ) and the Ontario Drug Benefit Exceptional Access Program. The oral treatment now is available through public drug programs…
October 27, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Recently Identified Subset of Immune Cells Plays Role in MS, Study Suggests A newly identified population of immune cells contributes to inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study suggests. The study, “A distinct GM-CSF+ T helper cell subset requires T-bet to adopt a TH1 phenotype and promote neuroinflammation,” was published in Science Immunology. MS is an…
October 19, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Variation in Given Gene May Raise Depression Risk Among MS Patients A genetic variant may make depressionĀ more likely inĀ certain people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than others, a genome-wideĀ study in patients indicates. The study, “Depression in multiple sclerosis patients associated with risk variant near NEGR1,” was published inĀ Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Depression is characterized by…
October 16, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Mayzent Approved for Active SPMS Patients in England and Wales 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 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) ā which reversed itsĀ opinion announced in June ā the…
October 8, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Health Canada Approves Oral Zeposia for Adults With RRMS Health Canada has approvedĀ 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 Canadian patients at no or low cost, as publicly funded prescription plans are largely administered by each…
October 7, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Differences Found in Brain Connectivity in RRMS Patients During Visual Task 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 task, a new study indicates. The study, “Altered brain network function during attention-modulated visual processing in multiple…
October 5, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Gilenya and Tecfidera Similarly Effective at Treating RRMS, Real-world Study Says 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 from Switzerland reported. These efficacy measures were also consistent whether patients were new to aĀ disease-modifying therapy (DMT)…
September 25, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Anokion Planning Launch of Phase 1 Trial of Investigational MS Therapy ANK-700 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 the Swiss company Anokion. With this approval, Anokion can enter clinical testing and is planning to…
September 23, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Medical Cannabis Lozenges Now Available for MS Patients in Texas People in Texas with multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) and other medical conditions now have access to cannabis-infused lozenges, Surterra TexasĀ announced. Under a Texas Compassionate Use Program, cannabis-containing therapies may be prescribed to help treat various neurological and other disorders, includingĀ terminal cancer, spasticity,…
September 21, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MS Prevalence at Over 2.8 Million Worldwide, Update to Atlas Reports 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 theĀ Atlas of MSĀ reports. An increase since its previous update, this number translates to someone,Ā somewhere in the world, being newly diagnosed with…
September 11, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Progressive MS Trial of Kesimpta Not on Horizon, But Other Possibilities in Works Novartis is not planning to open a clinical trial ofĀ Kesimpta (ofatumumab)Ā as a potential treatment for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) anytime soon, a company executive said. But it is well aware of the “unmet need” for therapy options among this patient group, and is exploring avenues. “We do…