September 10, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS New and Ongoing Trials Evaluating Kesimpta, Including as Switch Therapy Upcoming and ongoing clinical trials aim to expand an understanding ofĀ Kesimpta (ofatumumab), theĀ Novartis therapy recently approvedĀ by theĀ U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationĀ (FDA) to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Kesimpta is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, a type of treatment that is thought to work…
September 1, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Kesimpta Meets Safety, Efficacy and Flexibility Needs of Relapsing MS, Experts Say 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 and marketed by Novartis, Kesimpta was recently approved by the…
August 27, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MMJ International Holdings Manufacturing Cannabis-based Investigational Therapies for MS, Huntington’s 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 in clinical trials as potential treatments forĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) andĀ Huntingtonās disease. “As MMJ…
August 26, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Mechanism Controlling Remyelination May Have MS Therapy Implications, Study Finds 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 forĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, “EEF1A1 deacetylation enables transcriptional activation of remyelination,” was published inĀ Nature Communications.
August 21, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS FDA Approves Kesimpta, B-cell Targeting Therapy for Relapsing MS 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 withĀ clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and active secondary progressive MS (SPMS). According to Novartis,…
August 20, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Mylan Launching Tecfidera Generic in US 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 Drug Administration (FDA), is the first generic of any MS treatment available in an oral solid ā…
August 19, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Study Reveals Increased Cellular Stress in MS Skin Fibroblasts 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, new research shows. The findings were published in the journalĀ Aging, in the study “Signatures of cell…
August 7, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Ofatumumab Seen as Superior to Aubagio at Lowering Relapse Rates in Phase 3 Trials Novartis‘ ofatumumab outperformedĀ 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 data reports. The study, “Ofatumumab versus Teriflunomide in Multiple Sclerosis,” was published in…
August 4, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Oral RRMS Therapy Safely Lowers Active Lesions in Phase 2 Trial, Data Show Immunic Therapeutics‘sĀ IMU-838, a selective immune system modulator, can safely lower the number of brain lesions in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), top-line Phase 2 clinical trial data suggest. Findings show the trial met its primary goal with statistical significance ā a reduction inĀ active lesions (gadolinium…
July 29, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Canadian MS Working Group Updates Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment The Canadian MS Working Group (CMSWG) ā made up of neurologists with the Canadian Network of MS ClinicsĀ ā has updated its recommendations concerning diagnosis and the use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a press release from theĀ MS Society of Canada.
July 24, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Ketamine May Help Treat MS-related Fatigue, Small Pilot Trial Suggests 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 published in the study, “Pilot randomized active-placebo-controlled trial of low-dose ketamine for the treatment of…
July 23, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Cognitive Health Tests Given Online Show ‘Promise’ in Study 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. “By assessing memory in patients prior to a clinic visitĀ using a web-based approach, we may be able to meetĀ the…
July 21, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Tysabri Use Can Lessen Disability in RRMS Patients, Real-world Study Reports Treatment with Tysabri (natalizumab) can lessen disability in people withĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), a large and real-world study found, supporting “confirmed disability improvement” reported in a pivotal clinical trial. Nearly one-quarter of the 5, 384 patients enrolled, particularly those new to treatment, experienced a decrease of at least one…
July 14, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Most RIS Patients Likely to Progress to MS Within 10 Years, Study Says 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 radiologically isolated syndrome reported. Progression to MS appears to be more likely in those who are younger, have spinal…
July 14, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Alternative Medicine Popular With MS Patients in US Northwest, Survey Finds Complementary and alternative medicines are increasingly popular amongĀ people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the northwestern United States, a survey found. More than 80% of the 1,000 people who responded to the Oregon Health & Science UniversityĀ (OHSU) survey reported using supplements and exercise to help treat their MS, and…
July 10, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MS Imaging Startup Among 8 Minority-owned Firms Earning Investment JuneBrain, a startup company that is developing a wearable head imaging device that enablesĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to remotely monitor their disease activity and treatment response, has received a $50,000 investment through TEDCOās Builder Fund, the investor announced. MS is caused by inflammation in the…
June 29, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Tecfidera Safe and Effective Over Years of Use, RRMS Study Finds 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 suggests. The study, “Safety and efficacy of delayed-release dimethyl fumarate in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis:…
June 26, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS NICE Does Not Favor Adding Mayzent to NHS England for Active SPMS TheĀ National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is recommending againstĀ Mayzent (siponimod) as a treatment for active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) in the U.K., because its cost-effectiveness relative to an existing treatment for these patients is not known. NICE’s draft guidance for Mayzent is open…
June 24, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS University Study of Falls During COVID-19 Enrolling Patients for Online Survey A studyĀ 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 online study, largely in the form of a questionnaire, is being carried out by the Motor Control Research…
June 11, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS NIH Backs Project Examining Failure of Immune Tolerance Leading to Autoimmune Disease A new research project will seek to understand the development of immune cells that drive autoimmune diseases such asĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). The project will be led by Leszek Ignatowicz, PhD, a professor in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, and will be funded by…
June 5, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Icompanion App Enables Patients to Track Symptoms, Understand MRI Scans IcometrixĀ launched a new digital platform, icompanion, to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) track their disease and understandĀ MRI scans. The platform, currently available in English, French, German, and Dutch, Ā consists of a phone app for patients and a web-based dashboard to help clinicians track patients and…
June 4, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS FDA Extends Review of Ofatumumab for Relapsing MS to September The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending its review of Novartis‘Ā ofatumumab, a possible self-administered injection therapy for relapsingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), the company announced. Originally expected in June, the FDA decision is now expected in September. “Novartis will continue to work with the FDA to…
June 3, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Zeposia, Daily Oral Treatment for Relapsing MS, Now Available in US ZeposiaĀ (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,Ā announced. “We are pleased to now bring Zeposia, an important new once daily treatment option, to [relapsing]…
June 2, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Pain and Disturbed Sleep May Be Earliest Symptoms of MS, Study Suggests 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 these first symptoms could aid in an early diagnosis, allowing treatment to begin at initial stages of disease. The…
June 2, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Multiarm Trial Fails at SPMS Treatment, But Shows New Way Forward for Studies A clinical trial testing Midamor (amiloride), Prozac (fluoxetine), and riluzole in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) failed to find a treatment benefit for any of the…
May 27, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Zeposia Receives European Commission Approval for Adults with Active RRMS 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 EC decision follows a positive opinionĀ issued in March by the EuropeanĀ Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).
May 27, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Higher Blood NfL Levels Predict Worse Disability Over Time in MS, Study Suggests Higher blood levels of theĀ 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 Sweden suggests. The study, “Plasma neurofilament light levels are associated with the risk of disability in…
May 26, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Evobrutinib Lowers MS Relapse Rates Over 2 Years of Use, Trial Data Show 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, along with updated NCT numbers. The investigational oral medication evobrutinib leads to a sustained reduction in relapse rates…
May 20, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Biogen Presents Update on its MS Therapeutic Portfolio 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 ā six presentations ā originally were to be presented at the 2020 annual conference of the American…
May 20, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Glatopa Shows Efficacy Similar to Copaxone, Study in Real-world Use Finds Glatopa, a generic form ofĀ 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 relapsingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), a new U.S. study suggests. Data also suggest a trend toward lower relapse rates with Glatopa…