Ocrevus Use Still Growing in Europe But Challenges on Horizon, Spherix Reports
Prescriptions of Roche’s Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients initiating or switching a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) continue to…
Articles by Marta Figueiredo, PhD
Altering Gut Microbiota May Be Beneficial Prior to MS Onset, But Not After, Mouse Study Indicates
Changing the gut’s microbial community (microbiota) with antibiotics prevented the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), but not its progression…
Biogen’s Plegridy or Avonex Use Possible in Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, FDA Says
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) and Avonex (interferon beta-1a), both by Biogen, may be used — if necessary —…
CHMP Favors Zeposia (Ozanimod) as Oral Treatment for Active RRMS in EU
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended Zeposia (ozanimod) oral capsules to be approved in the…
Way of Getting Nerve Cells to Restore Myelin-like Abilities Seen as Possible
Researchers developed a way of reprograming cells to use synthetic materials — provided by the team — to create artificial,…
FDA Approves Zeposia (Ozanimod), Oral Therapy for All with Relapsing MS
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zeposia (ozanimod) oral capsules to treat adults with relapsing forms…
Risk of Faster Progression in PPMS Tied to Older Age and Active Disease
Older age at onset and evidence of active disease, like clinical relapses or inflammatory brain lesions, significantly increase the likelihood…
#ACTRIMS2020 – Ofatumumab Self-injection Pen May Be ‘Very Attractive’ Option for Relapsing MS
Monthly under-the-skin injections of Novartis’ investigational candidate ofatumumab show promise as a convenient, effective, and safe therapeutic option for…
#ACTRIMS2020 – EHP-101 Shows Promise in Early Studies; Phase 2 Trial Ahead
Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals’ investigational cannabidiol-derived EHP-101 continues to show potential to ease inflammation and myelin loss (demyelination) —…
MS Patients Needing Feeding Tubes May Live Longer if Given Before Age 50, Study Finds
Placing a feeding tube before age 50 in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with dysphagia, or difficulties swallowing, may extent…
New Imaging Agent of Myelin for Earlier MS Diagnosis, Myeliviz, Entering Clinical Testing
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to allow Myeliviz, an imaging agent of myelin — the protective layer…
Mayzent Approved in Europe as First Oral Treatment for Active Secondary Progressive MS
The European Commission has approved Novartis‘s Mayzent (siponimod) as the first oral treatment for adults with active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).
Almost Half of MS Patients Change or Stop DMT Due to High Financial Burden, Survey Shows
The high cost of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS), and the challenging process of insurance approval,…
MS Progression Affected by Degree of Relapse Recovery and Timing of DMT Use, Study Says
Recovering well after a first relapse and starting a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) immediately afterward considerably increases the likelihood of slowing…
Study Links FTO Gene Mutation to Obesity, Increased Disability in MS Patients
A common mutation in the fat-mass obesity (FTO) gene is associated with obesity and increased disability in people with…
Probiotics Show Potential to Prevent, Delay Development of MS, Study Finds
Probiotics show potential to prevent and delay the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) by changing immune and inflammatory responses,…
Pregnancy Does Not Change Long-term Course of MS, New Data Suggest
Pregnancy does not lead to long-term changes in the disease course of multiple sclerosis (MS), new research suggests. This work, which…
Long-term IFN-Beta Treatment Normalizes Immune Balance in RRMS, Study Shows
Long-term treatment with interferon beta (IFN-beta) corrects the defective immune balance characteristic of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a…
Specific FOXP3 Mutation Linked to Greater Likelihood of MS in Brazilian Women, Study Reports
A specific mutation in the FOXP3 gene, one already linked to multiple sclerosis in the Iranian population, was now also…
Unemployment Risk Factors in MS Vary with Age, Study Suggests
Physical symptoms and poorer coping mechanisms are major risk factors for unemployment in younger and older people with multiple…
Higher Intellectual Ability, Early-life Physical Activity May Protect Against Cognitive Impairment in MS, Study Suggests
Higher intellectual ability and physical activity during childhood and adolescence may help protect against the development of cognitive impairment in…
Endothelin-1 a Potential Biomarker of Severity and Recovery from Optic Neuritis in MS, Study Suggests
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) — a molecule with potent blood vessel-narrowing (vasoconstrictive) properties — may be used as a biomarker of…
Blocking LRP1 May Halt Inflammation, Promote Remyelination, Mouse Study Suggests
Blocking production of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) — involved in inflammatory and immune responses — specifically…
Inflammation Hijacks Myelin Repair Cells to Promote Immune Attacks, Study Shows
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.
Targeting Inflammatory Th17 Cells to Slow MS Disability Possible with Fewer Side Effects, Study Suggests
Scientists may have found a way to manipulate T-helper 17 (Th17) cells so as to lower their ability to trigger…
Persistent MS-related Fatigue Linked to Damage in Specific Brain Regions, Study Finds
Persistent fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with damage in specific areas of the brain,…
Phase 1 Study Finds T20K, Plant Protein-derived Compound for MS, Safe and Tolerable, Cyxone Says
A Phase 1 clinical trial found T20K, Cyxone’s investigational plant protein-derived treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), to be safe and…
Tysabri Seen to Improve Cognition in RRMS Patients Over 2 Years in Retrospective Study
Tysabri (natalizumab) was reported in a small retrospective study to significantly improve cognitive abilities in people with relapsing-remitting MS…
Spasticity Scales May Not Be Sufficiently Informative of Sativex Benefits in MS Patients, Small Study Suggests
Spasticity scales may be insufficient to reflect the actual benefits of Sativex (nabiximols) treatment on spasticity symptoms in people…
Tecfidera, Gilenya Equally Effective, But More MS Patients Stop Tecfidera, Real-World Study Shows
Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) and Gilenya (fingolimod) are equally effective in treating multiple sclerosis (MS), but Tecfidera shows higher rates of discontinuation,…