September 20, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD MS Patients in UK Now Offered COVID-19 Booster Shots The U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) has started its COVID-19 vaccine booster program, offering a third shot — preferably with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — to at-risk populations, including people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The decision follows a recommendation by the country’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, or…
September 15, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Be Proactive in Managing Bladder, Bowel Problems, Nurses Advise Bladder and bowel problems, which affect more than half of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, should be assessed and monitored regularly to better adapt treatment plans and ultimately improve patients’ quality of life. That is among recommendations of Jane Young and Joan Bradley, two nurses with experience in MS care and…
September 13, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Pro-inflammatory Th17 Immune Cells Harm Myelin-producing Cells Pro-inflammatory T helper 17 cells, known as Th17 cells — a type of immune cell known to play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) — directly interact with myelin-producing cells, promoting their damage and death, according to a study in a mouse model of MS and in samples from…
September 10, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD T. Gondii Parasite May Protect Against Developing MS Toxoplasmosis, an infection by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, has a protective effect against the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a review study. Specifically, people who had been infected with the parasite were 32% less likely to develop MS than those who never had toxoplasmosis. While these findings support T. gondii…
September 9, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD National MS Society Invests $8.7M in Research, Clinical Trial Training The National Multiple Sclerosis Society invested more than $8.7 million over the summer to support 29 new training fellowships, early career research awards, and other initiatives aiming to advance multiple sclerosis (MS) research and care. Awarded research projects align with the society’s Pathways to Cures Roadmap: stopping disease activity and…
August 27, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Way Seen to Counter Blood-clotting Molecule That Blocks Myelin Repair Blocking a particular receptor protein of the BMP signaling pathway effectively promoted the maturation of myelin-producing cells and myelin repair in two mouse models of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study showed. Notably, these benefits, observed even after disease onset, took place in the presence of fibrinogen, a blood clotting…
August 23, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Top-line Data on NVG-291 in Healthy Volunteers Expected This Year NervGen Pharma announced that its Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety and pharmacological properties of NVG-291 — its lead therapeutic candidate for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurologic conditions — in healthy volunteers is going according to plan, with early top-line data expected later this year. “The…
August 19, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD MediciNova Planning Phase 3 Trial of Oral Ibudilast for SPMS MediciNova is planning to launch a Phase 3 clinical trial that will evaluate its investigational oral candidate ibudilast (MN-166) in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) without relapses. The company is actively engaging with potential partners that could help fund the study. “Over the past quarter, we…
August 18, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Collaboration Explores Therapies for Autoimmune Diseases Cytocom has joined forces with La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) to discover and develop new immune-modulating therapies targeting toll-like receptors (TLRs) for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), cancer, and infectious and chronic inflammatory conditions. TLRs are an important family of protein receptors found at the surface…
August 17, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Ocrevus Effective in RRMS Patients With Poor Responses to Prior DMTs Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) safely and effectively prevents relapses and disease progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients who responded poorly to other disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), final two-year data from the CHORDS Phase 3b clinical trial show. Notably, these benefits also were observed among patients who enrolled in the study…
August 10, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Trial Will Test Mavenclad for Advanced Progressive MS After some delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Phase 2/3 clinical trial evaluating whether Mavenclad (cladribine) can slow hand and arm function worsening in adults with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and very limited walking abilities, has recruited its first patient. The study, ChariotMS (NCT04695080), aims to…
August 3, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Trials Support NfL Levels as Marker of Disease Activity in Relapsing MS Larger declines with treatment in blood levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a marker of nerve cell damage, are associated with fewer brain lesions, less brain shrinkage, and lower relapse rates in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study reported. These results, based on a post-hoc analysis…
August 2, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Risk of Severe COVID-19 Not Raised by Immunosuppressive DMTs Exposure to multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), and particularly immunosuppressive DMTs, does not increase the risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19, or of dying from the disease, when adjusting for known risk factors, an Austrian registry-based study found. These findings add to data showing no…
July 30, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Reeve Foundation’s Paralysis Resource Center Given 5-year Grant The Administration for Community Living (ACL) reaffirmed its support for the work of the National Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) in aiding people with paralysis — either due to multiple sclerosis (MS), accidents, or other disorders — with a five-year grant. Under a collaborative agreement, the PRC — operated…
July 29, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Oral CKD-506 Lessens Symptoms, Demyelination in MS Mouse Model Chong Kun Dang (CKD) Pharmaceutical’s experimental oral therapy CKD-506 suppressed inflammation, myelin loss (demyelination), and lessened symptoms in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study reported. Notably, the therapy resulted in benefits generally comparable to those of Gilenya (fingolimod) in these mice. But it also…
July 27, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Targeting Ion Channel Piezo1 in T-cells Eased MS in Mice Removing an ion channel called Piezo1 from immune T-cells lessened disease severity in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study showed. Notably, these beneficial effects were associated with an expansion of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) — a type of immune cell that typically dampens immune and inflammatory responses —…
July 21, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD MS-related Fatigue Identified as Main Factor Affecting Work Ability Fatigue, whether alone or in combination with depression or anxiety, is the main influencing factor of self-reported working ability among people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and mild disability, according to a study in the Netherlands. Notably, contrary to the researchers’ expectations, personality traits were found to have…
July 14, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Kesimpta for RRMS Now Available in Scotland at Low or No Cost Adults in Scotland with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) will now have access at low or no cost to Kesimpta (ofatumumab), the first self-administered, at-home B-cell-targeting therapy for people with the neurodegenerative disease. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) recommended that the Novartis therapy be available through the…
July 14, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Biogen Strikes Deal for Orelabrutinib, Now in Phase 2 Trial Biogen has signed a deal with InnoCare Pharma to acquire global commercialization and licensing rights to orelabrutinib, an experimental oral BTK inhibitor (BTKi) now being tested in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in a Phase 2 clinical trial. Under the terms of the agreement, Biogen will have…
July 6, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Scientists ID 2 Brain Cells Likely Involved in Nerve Cell Repair Researchers have identified a molecular switch that awakens stem cells in a specific region of the mouse brain — and with their activation, two new types of glia, non-neuronal cells that play critical roles in brain function, also were discovered. Notably, the development of these new glial cell types also…
June 28, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Scientists Working on More Efficient Way to Deliver CBD A team of scientists is working on a new delivery method that would use tiny capsules for getting cannabidoil, or CBD, to the brain. According to a study in mice, microcapsules containing cannabidiol can be combined with vesicles carrying a bile acid — an acid found in the gut —…
June 22, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD MS-related Fatigue Strongly Affects Youngsters’ Functioning Multiple sclerosis and its associated fatigue negatively affect school performance, mental health, and physical and social functioning in children and adolescents with the disease, according to a review study. Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) also was associated with negative effects on social functioning, mental health, and quality of life in…
June 18, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Brainstorm Secures NurOwn-associated Patents in Several Markets In the past year, BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics was granted four patents and is waiting for a fifth, already accepted, meant to provide protection for its NurOwn cell therapy and technology in territories around the world. NurOwn is being tested in clinical trials as a potential treatment for…
June 8, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Robotic Exoskeleton Intervention Improves Motor, Cognitive Function Four weeks of robotic exoskeleton-assisted exercise rehabilitation, called REAER, worked better than conventional gait training in improving mobility and cognitive function in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with substantial walking difficulties, according to a small trial. A robotic exoskeleton consists of an externally worn device that encases a user’s hips, back,…
June 2, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Qynapse Announces Research Collaborations for World MS Day Qynapse, a company that combines artificial intelligence with neuroimaging technology, is reaffirming its commitment to help advance multiple sclerosis (MS) research and care in recognition of World MS Day. World MS Day is officially celebrated on May 30, with global events and activities designed to raise disease awareness.
June 1, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Walk MS Fundraising Events To Be ‘Virtual Experience’ in 2021 Due to the ongoing COVID-19-associated restrictions, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is inviting supporters of its Walk MS events to connect, celebrate, and fundraise for the fight against multiple sclerosis (MS) through a virtual platform. “The National MS Society creates Walk MS celebrations in every state so participants can…
May 28, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD At-home Brain Stimulation Program Now Available New York University (NYU) Langone Health has launched an at-home, therapeutic program of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) — a type of non-invasive brain stimulation — to reduce cognitive, motor, speech, or mood symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other brain disorders. A first of its kind, the…
May 27, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Mayzent, Zeposia May Lose Ground in Canada, Report Finds Mayzent (siponimod) and Zeposia (ozanimod), the two sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators most recently approved in Canada for treating multiple sclerosis (MS), showed strong launches in the country, according to the latest Spherix Global Insights’ report. However, due to several internal and external factors, sustained relevance of these…
May 24, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD MS May Not Affect Breast Cancer Survival, Study Suggests Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosed with breast cancer are not at a higher risk of dying from cancer than women without the neurodegenerative disorder, according to a Canadian population-based study. However, 10 years after their breast cancer diagnosis, women with MS were 28% more likely to die from any…
April 20, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD #AANAM – Blacks, Whites Respond Differently to B-cell Targeting Therapies 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. Common B-cell depleting therapies, such as rituximab and Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), may result in shorter duration B-cell depleting effects in…