Posts by: Marta Figueiredo

Marta Figueiredo

Marta Figueiredo holds a BSc in Biology and a MSc in Evolutionary and Developmental Biology from the University of Lisbon, Portugal. She is currently finishing her PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Lisbon, where she focused her research on the role of several signalling pathways in thymus and parathyroid glands embryonic development.

June 15, 2020June 15, 2020

Experts Clarify Concepts of MS States to Improve Patient Care, Clinical Trials

News

An international committee of multiple sclerosis (MS) experts further clarified how guidelines, updated in 2013, should be used to classify this disease’s different states, and stressed the importance of ... Read more

June 9, 2020June 12, 2020

Blood Factors Impair Metabolism of Blood-brain Barrier in MS, Study Suggests

News

Molecules in the blood of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients promote a pro-inflammatory state and impair the metabolism and integrity of the blood-brain barrier, a study suggests. In MS, the disruption ... Read more

May 14, 2020May 14, 2020

Progressive MS Linked to Faster Retinal Atrophy, Study Shows

News

People with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) have faster and disease-modifying therapy (DMT)-resistant retinal atrophy (thinning), compared to those with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), a study shows. Data also highlighted ... Read more

May 12, 2020May 12, 2020

Spasticity Scales May Not Reflect Sativex Benefits in MS Patients, Study Suggests

News

Sativex (nabiximols) eases spasticity-associated symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, including those with no significant improvements in a validated spasticity scale, according to a large study from Italy. The findings support ... Read more

May 12, 2020June 17, 2020

COVID-19 May Not Be Severe in MS Patients, Early Data from Italy Suggest

Covid-19, News

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may not be at higher risk of developing a severe COVID-19 infection, according to preliminary data from patients in Italy. “At the moment, these ... Read more

May 6, 2020May 12, 2020

COVID-19 Infection Not Severe in PPMS Patient on Ocrevus, Case Report Finds

Covid-19, News

Read more

April 20, 2020April 20, 2020

‘Chaperone’ Protein’s Lack Tied to Myelin Injury, Autoimmune Disease in Mouse Study

News

The lack of a “chaperone” protein — called HLA-DO — that helps to protect the body against threats by presenting specific molecules (antigens) to immune cells to drive a response, promoted the ... Read more

April 14, 2020May 11, 2020

Researchers Shed Light on Anti-inflammatory Effects of Vitamin D Supplements in MS

News

Vitamin D supplements promote a shift toward an anti-inflammatory state in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) through an increase of two key molecules, IL-27 and TGF-beta 1, a study shows. ... Read more

April 14, 2020April 14, 2020

Ocrevus Use Still Growing in Europe But Challenges on Horizon, Spherix Reports

News, Ocrevus, SPMS

Prescriptions of Roche’s Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients initiating or switching a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) continue to rise in Europe, according to a survey conducted by Spherix Global Insights. Ocrevus, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody ... Read more

April 8, 2020April 8, 2020

Altering Gut Microbiota May Be Beneficial Prior to MS Onset, But Not After, Mouse Study Indicates

News

Changing the gut’s microbial community (microbiota) with antibiotics prevented the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), but not its progression after the disease was established, data from a mouse model of ... Read more

April 6, 2020April 8, 2020

Biogen’s Plegridy or Avonex Use Possible in Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, FDA Says

News

Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) and Avonex (interferon beta-1a), both by Biogen, may be used — if necessary — by women with relapsing multiple sclerosis who are pregnant or breastfeeding, the U.S. Food ... Read more

March 30, 2020April 7, 2020

CHMP Favors Zeposia (Ozanimod) as Oral Treatment for Active RRMS in EU

News, Zeposia

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended Zeposia (ozanimod) oral capsules to be approved in the European Union (EU) to treat adults with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis ... Read more

March 30, 2020April 2, 2020

Way of Getting Nerve Cells to Restore Myelin-like Abilities Seen as Possible

News

Researchers developed a way of reprograming cells to use synthetic materials — provided by the team — to create artificial, working structures within or about the cells. This approach ... Read more

March 26, 2020May 27, 2020

FDA Approves Zeposia (Ozanimod), Oral Therapy for All with Relapsing MS

Covid-19, News, SPMS, Zeposia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zeposia (ozanimod) oral capsules to treat adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS),  active secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and ... Read more

March 24, 2020March 24, 2020

Risk of Faster Progression in PPMS Tied to Older Age and Active Disease

News

Older age at onset and evidence of active disease, like clinical relapses or inflammatory brain lesions, significantly increase the likelihood of  faster disability progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis ... Read more

March 13, 2020March 13, 2020

#ACTRIMS2020 – Ofatumumab Self-injection Pen May Be ‘Very Attractive’ Option for Relapsing MS

News

Monthly under-the-skin injections of Novartis’ investigational candidate ofatumumab show promise as a convenient, effective, and safe therapeutic option for people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Data from the ASCLEPIOS and APLIOS ... Read more

March 3, 2020March 3, 2020

#ACTRIMS2020 – EHP-101 Shows Promise in Early Studies; Phase 2 Trial Ahead

News

Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals’ investigational cannabidiol-derived EHP-101 continues to show potential to ease inflammation and myelin loss (demyelination) — a hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) — according to data from ... Read more

February 13, 2020February 13, 2020

MS Patients Needing Feeding Tubes May Live Longer if Given Before Age 50, Study Finds

News

Placing a feeding tube before age 50 in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with dysphagia, or difficulties swallowing, may extent their life by more than two years, a study suggests. These findings ... Read more

January 29, 2020February 4, 2020

New Imaging Agent of Myelin for Earlier MS Diagnosis, Myeliviz, Entering Clinical Testing

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to allow Myeliviz, an imaging agent of myelin — the protective layer that covers nerve fibers and is damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS) — to be ... Read more

January 21, 2020January 24, 2020

Mayzent Approved in Europe as First Oral Treatment for Active Secondary Progressive MS

News, SPMS

The European Commission has approved Novartis‘s Mayzent (siponimod) as the first oral treatment for adults with active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Active SPMS is defined by the presence of evident relapses or the ... Read more

January 15, 2020January 15, 2020

Almost Half of MS Patients Change or Stop DMT Due to High Financial Burden, Survey Shows

News

The high cost of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS), and the challenging process of insurance approval, lead to treatment gaps or alterations, increased symptoms, and sacrifices in ... Read more

January 14, 2020January 14, 2020

MS Progression Affected by Degree of Relapse Recovery and Timing of DMT Use, Study Says

News

Recovering well after a first relapse and starting a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) immediately afterward considerably increases the likelihood of slowing progression in multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests. Its findings ... Read more

January 8, 2020January 8, 2020

Study Links FTO Gene Mutation to Obesity, Increased Disability in MS Patients

News

A common mutation in the fat-mass obesity (FTO) gene is associated with obesity and increased disability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a Kuwaiti study. The data, which ... Read more

January 7, 2020April 28, 2020

Probiotics Show Potential to Prevent, Delay Development of MS, Study Finds

News

Probiotics show potential to prevent and delay the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) by changing immune and inflammatory responses, according to a review study. Data further support the link ... Read more

November 20, 2019November 20, 2019

Pregnancy Does Not Change Long-term Course of MS, New Data Suggest

News

Pregnancy does not lead to long-term changes in the disease course of multiple sclerosis (MS), new research suggests. This work, which emphasizes the importance of careful data analysis, supports studies disputing ... Read more

November 12, 2019November 12, 2019

Long-term IFN-Beta Treatment Normalizes Immune Balance in RRMS, Study Shows

News

Long-term treatment with interferon beta (IFN-beta) corrects the defective immune balance characteristic of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a study has found. The study also identified more than 200 genes ... Read more

November 6, 2019November 6, 2019

Specific FOXP3 Mutation Linked to Greater Likelihood of MS in Brazilian Women, Study Reports

News

A specific mutation in the FOXP3 gene, one already linked to multiple sclerosis in the Iranian population, was now also seen to increase the risk of MS in Brazilian women, a ... Read more

October 30, 2019October 30, 2019

Unemployment Risk Factors in MS Vary with Age, Study Suggests

News

Physical symptoms and poorer coping mechanisms are major risk factors for unemployment in younger and older people with multiple sclerosis (MS), while psychological problems have the greatest impact in ... Read more

October 25, 2019October 25, 2019

Higher Intellectual Ability, Early-life Physical Activity May Protect Against Cognitive Impairment in MS, Study Suggests

News

Higher intellectual ability and physical activity during childhood and adolescence may help protect against the development of cognitive impairment in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), an Italian study suggests. ... Read more

October 22, 2019October 22, 2019

Endothelin-1 a Potential Biomarker of Severity and Recovery from Optic Neuritis in MS, Study Suggests

News

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) — a molecule with potent blood vessel-narrowing (vasoconstrictive) properties — may be used as a biomarker of severity for optic neuritis in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), ... Read more

October 10, 2019October 10, 2019

Blocking LRP1 May Halt Inflammation, Promote Remyelination, Mouse Study Suggests

News

Blocking production of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) — involved in inflammatory and immune responses — specifically in myelin repair cells halts neuroinflammation and promotes myelin repair, a ... Read more

September 9, 2019September 10, 2019

Inflammation Hijacks Myelin Repair Cells to Promote Immune Attacks, Study Shows

News

Brain inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) hijacks immature myelin repair cells, not only preventing myelin restoration but also promoting sustained inflammation and immune attacks against myelin, a preclinical study shows. The ... Read more

September 4, 2019September 4, 2019

Targeting Inflammatory Th17 Cells to Slow MS Disability Possible with Fewer Side Effects, Study Suggests

News

Scientists may have found a way to manipulate T-helper 17 (Th17) cells so as to lower their ability to trigger inflammation, delaying the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a mouse ... Read more

August 26, 2019September 3, 2019

Persistent MS-related Fatigue Linked to Damage in Specific Brain Regions, Study Finds

News

Persistent fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with damage in specific areas of the brain, regardless of depression symptoms, a study shows. The study, “Microstructural fronto-striatal ... Read more

August 6, 2019August 6, 2019

Phase 1 Study Finds T20K, Plant Protein-derived Compound for MS, Safe and Tolerable, Cyxone Says

News

A Phase 1 clinical trial found T20K, Cyxone’s investigational plant protein-derived treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), to be safe and well-tolerated in healthy men, and raising the possibility that it might work ... Read more

September 6, 2018September 6, 2018

Tysabri Seen to Improve Cognition in RRMS Patients Over 2 Years in Retrospective Study

News

Tysabri (natalizumab) was reported in a small retrospective study to significantly improve cognitive abilities in people with relapsing-remitting MS patients (RRMS) over two years of use. The study, “Improvement in Cognitive ... Read more

September 4, 2018September 6, 2018

Spasticity Scales May Not Be Sufficiently Informative of Sativex Benefits in MS Patients, Small Study Suggests

News

Spasticity scales may be insufficient to reflect the actual benefits of Sativex (nabiximols) treatment on spasticity symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a small case series ... Read more

August 30, 2018September 3, 2018

Tecfidera, Gilenya Equally Effective, But More MS Patients Stop Tecfidera, Real-World Study Shows

News

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) and Gilenya (fingolimod) are equally effective in treating multiple sclerosis (MS), but Tecfidera shows higher rates of discontinuation, according to a real-world study. The study, “Discontinuation and comparative effectiveness ... Read more

August 17, 2018August 24, 2018

Most MS Patients OK With Intravenous Treatment Conditions, Study Suggests

News

Most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are satisfied with the conditions of their intravenous therapy (administered directly into the bloodstream) and are very aware of the therapy’s safety, according to ... Read more

August 3, 2018August 7, 2018

Blood Levels of IgG3 Antibodies May Predict Faster Shift to MS in Clinically Isolated Syndrome Patients, Study Says

News

Higher-than-usual levels of specific antibodies in the blood of patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) may predict a faster progression to multiple sclerosis, an Australian study reports. The specific antibody is known ... Read more