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.

September 18, 2020September 18, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Fatigue Tops Survey About Relapsing MS Symptoms

News

Fatigue is the most impactful symptom on daily functioning in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and is more severe in patients with relapse, pain, depression, and sleep disorders, ... Read more

September 17, 2020September 17, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Masitinib Delays Disability Progression in PPMS, Non-active SPMS

News

AB Science’s lead candidate masitinib safely and effectively delays disability progression in people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and non-active secondary progressive MS (SPMS), according to top-line data from a clinical trial. The ... Read more

September 17, 2020September 18, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Early Use of Ocrevus Slows Thalamic Atrophy in Relapsing MS and PPMS

News

Early use of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) significantly slows shrinkage of the thalamus — a brain region involved in sensory and motor functions — in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive ... Read more

September 16, 2020September 16, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Pediatric MS Patients May Do Best on Intravenous DMTs, Study Finds

News

Most children and adolescents with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS), especially those treated intravenously with a disease-modifying therapy (DMT), achieve no evidence of disease activity within two years of diagnosis, according ... Read more

September 15, 2020September 15, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Remyelination Mainly Conducted by Pre-existing Myelin-producing Cells, Study Finds

News

Remyelination — or the restoration of lost myelin, the protective sheath surrounding nerve cell fibers — in multiple sclerosis (MS) depends mainly on pre-existing oligodendrocytes (myelin-producing cells), rather than ... Read more

September 14, 2020September 17, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Cardiovascular Risk Factors Linked to Brain Shrinkage

News

In people with multiple sclerosis (MS) under age 50, the presence of cardiovascular risk factors is associated with a greater loss of brain volume, including white and grey matter, ... Read more

September 14, 2020September 14, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Early Intensive DMT Use in RRMS Appears More Effective Than Escalation

News

Early use of high efficacy disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) is more effective than the traditional approach — that of an escalating treatment regimen — at delaying disability progression in people ... Read more

September 11, 2020September 11, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Roche Launches Phase 3 Clinical Program to Test Fenebrutinib

News

Roche has launched a Phase 3 clinical trial program to evaluate fenebrutinib, its investigational oral BTK inhibitor, in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive ... Read more

September 11, 2020September 11, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Novartis to Present Latest Data on Kesimpta, Mayzent and Gilenya

News

Novartis will present the latest clinical data on three of its approved multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies — Kesimpta (ofatumumab), Mayzent (siponimod), and Gilenya (fingolimod) — at the  MSVirtual2020 meeting ... Read more

September 10, 2020September 10, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Ponesimod Superior to Aubagio in Delaying Disability Progression in Relapsing MS, Trial Data Show

News

Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ investigational oral therapy ponesimod is superior to Sanofi’s Aubagio (teriflunomide) in delaying disability progression in adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to exploratory analyses of OPTIMUM ... Read more

September 9, 2020September 9, 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic Had Minimal Emotional Impact in Progressive MS Patients, Survey Finds

Covid-19, News

While the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the psychological well-being of people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), it led to minimal changes in depression, anxiety, and quality of ... Read more

September 9, 2020September 10, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 — No Evidence of Disease Activity Seen in Most RRMS Patients After Switching to Ocrevus, Data Show

News

Switching to Genentech’s Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) following suboptimal treatment responses significantly lessens symptoms and leads to high rates of no evidence of disease activity in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to ... Read more

September 4, 2020September 4, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Meeting Focus Is on Advances in MS Research, Diagnostics, and Technology

News

The upcoming MSVirtual2020 meeting, the largest international conference dedicated to multiple sclerosis (MS) research, will focus on advances and breakthroughs made in MS causes and risk factors, diagnostic tools, treatment ... Read more

September 3, 2020September 4, 2020

#MSVirtual2020 – Zeposia Still Prevents Relapses in Relapsing MS Patients After 3 Years, Trial Data Show

News, Zeposia

Zeposia (ozanimod) oral capsules continue to safely and effectively prevent relapses and disability progression in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to three-year data from a ... Read more

September 2, 2020September 2, 2020

Migraine Present in 30% of MS Patients, Review Study Finds

News

Migraine occurs in one third of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and is more common among American and African patients, according to a review study. The data support previous ... Read more

August 28, 2020August 28, 2020

Gut Bacteria Working in Concert May Promote MS, Early Study Suggests

News

Two specific bacteria present together in the gut led to more immune attacks on myelin and harsher symptoms in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). These findings add to existing evidence supporting ... Read more

August 26, 2020August 26, 2020

Infection Risk Higher for Ocrevus Than Rituximab, But Cancer Risk Lower

News

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), a second-generation anti-CD20 antibody, may be associated with a greater risk of infections. But it carries a lower risk of cancer and immune reactions than first-generation rituximab ... Read more

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020

Cashew Molecule Promotes Remyelination, Halts Disease Progression in MS Mice

News

Anacardic acid, a compound found in cashew nuts, promoted myelin regeneration and eased neuronal damage and disability in two mouse models of multiple sclerosis (MS). These protective effects were associated with maturation ... Read more

August 17, 2020August 17, 2020

Blocking Protein, Reelin, Seen to Protect Immune System From Inflammation

News

Lowering levels of a protein called reelin — which regulates how permeable blood vessels are to immune cells — reduced infiltration of these cells into the central nervous system (CNS), preventing ... Read more

August 13, 2020August 13, 2020

Breastfeeding Appears Safe While Being Treated for Postpartum Relapse

News

The corticosteroid methylprednisolone is detected at low, safe levels in the breast milk of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) during and after intravenous (into-the-vein) treatment for a postpartum relapse, according to a ... Read more

August 11, 2020August 13, 2020

Rituximab More Effective Than Gilenya, Tecfidera, and Comparable to Tysabri, Study Finds

News

Rituximab is more effective and leads to fewer treatment discontinuations in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than Gilenya (fingolimod) and Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), according to real-world data based on two years ... Read more

July 31, 2020August 3, 2020

Order Seen in Motor Skills Affected by MS, With Walking Taking First Hit

News

Walking abilities decline earlier and faster than arm and hand function in people recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly those with progressive MS (MS), a study showed. These findings, which ... Read more

July 30, 2020July 31, 2020

Healthy Diet May Lower Risk of Relapse After 1st Myelin Attack, Study Suggests

News

A “prudent” diet rich in fresh fruit, non-fried fish, whole grains, vegetables, and nuts may lower the likelihood of a relapse in people with a first demyelinating event, a ... Read more

July 22, 2020July 23, 2020

Way of Identifying Neurons Essential to Walking, Other Abilities Found

News

Researchers developed a way of using machine learning to identify those cells most important for a given function or task, such as movement, and for evaluating how they respond ... Read more

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals’ Lead Candidate, EmtinB, Shows Promise in Preclinical Model of MS

News

NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals (NSB)’s lead candidate EmtinB induces significantly greater myelin regeneration in a cellular model of multiple sclerosis (MS) than the market-leading therapy Copaxone, the company announced. “These results represent a potential breakthrough in ... Read more

July 7, 2020July 8, 2020

Study: Mavenclad Shows Long-term Effectiveness at Preventing MS Relapses, Disease Progression

News

Mavenclad (cladribine) prevents relapses and disease progression in more than half of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) for at least five years after the last dose, according ... Read more

July 6, 2020July 6, 2020

Tecfidera Safe and Effective in Hispanic/Latino MS Patients, Real-world Data Show

News

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) is as safe and effective in Hispanic/Latino multiple sclerosis (MS) patients as it is in their non-Hispanic and non-Latino peers, three-year data from a real-world study show. These interim ... Read more

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, 2020July 13, 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, 2020August 4, 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