January 5, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Immunosuppressive Therapy, Cell Transplantation Offers Promising Treatment for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Immunosupressive therapy in combination with hemotopoietic cell transplant was found to induce remission of Multiple Sclerosis activity for up to 3 years. The new findings could usher in a new mode of effective treatment for MS that could greatly improve quality of life for those with the disease and…
December 31, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Top 14 Multiple Sclerosis Stories of ’14 Given the fact that MS isĀ aĀ chronic, progressive, and disabling disease for which there is no cure, the multiple sclerosis community is always looking forward to the latestĀ news regarding new therapies, devices or scientific findings about treating and curing the disease. TheseĀ are the top 14 news stories of 2014 from…
December 30, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD New MS Study Seeks To Understand How Inflammation Causes Neuronal Damage in Multiple Sclerosis A team of researchers from Italy recently examined if p53 genetic variants influence synaptic and toxic effects of cytokines in the neurodegenerative processes that occurs in Multiple Sclerosis. The study, entitled āInterleukin-1Ī² causes excitotoxic neurodegeneration and multiple sclerosis disease progression by activating the apoptotic protein p53,ā was recently published…
December 29, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Receptos Begins RMS Patient Enrollment in SUNBEAM and RADIANCE Trials Biopharmaceutical company Receptos, Inc. is enrolling the first patient in theirĀ SUNBEAM phase 3 trial to evaluateĀ the company’s investigational therapy for the treatment ofĀ patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) and ulcerative colitis (UC), calledĀ RPC1063. In addition, Receptos has recently started its phase 3Ā …
December 26, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD British Columbia Agrees To fund AUBAGIO RRMS Therapy British Columbia’sĀ PharmaCare drug program has announced thatĀ it will fundĀ AUBAGIO, a therapy developed byĀ GenzymeĀ for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.Ā AUBAGIO (teriflunomide) 14 mg has been officially added toĀ PharmaCare’s provincial formulary as a first-line oral agent for patients suffering from relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). As…
December 22, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Icometrix Uses Novel Brain Measurement Software in Major MS Study Icometrix, a biotechnology company focused onĀ unique projects for diagnosing and treatingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, has designed new software for the measurement of brain lesions and brain volumes and their changes overĀ time. MS, aĀ chronic and neurological condition that affects about 2.5 million people throughoutĀ the world,Ā is often first detectedĀ in patients at…
December 19, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Mapi Pharma Treats First RRMS Patient with Once-A-Month GA Depot Mapi Pharma Ltd.,Ā a development stage pharmaceutical company specializingĀ in the development of high-barrier to entry and high-added value generic drugs, announced it has treated the first patient in theĀ Phase IIa study of GA Depot forĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Lead investigatorĀ ProfessorĀ Ariel Miller, M.D., Ph.D., Head of the Multiple Sclerosis & Brain…
December 18, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Vaccinex’s Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Drug Effectively Treats Demyelination in Animal Study A new study on the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to treat neuroinflammatory and demyelinating disease entitled āSEMA4D compromises bloodābrain barrier, activates microglia, and inhibits remyelination in neurodegenerative diseaseā was published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease by Ernest S. Smith part of…
December 17, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Virtual Reality System a Fun, Immersive Tool for MS Physical Therapy Scientists from Amsterdam-based Motek MedicalĀ developed an innovative virtual reality system that allows clinicians to see and analyze a patient’s balance, locomotion, and coordination – a tool that could reshape rehabilitation and clinical studies, as the system allows the patient to experience challenging and dynamically changing physical…
December 15, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Can Multiple Sclerosis Be Treated with Video Games? A team of researchers from Ohio State University received a $44,000 grant from theĀ National Multiple Sclerosis Society to fund the development and testing of an interactive video game designed to promote and supplement physical therapy among patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS), an…
December 12, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Key Philly-Area Multiple Sclerosis Center Adds MS Specialist To Its Team Dr. Nataliya Ternopolska Pennsylvania-basedĀ Abington HealthĀ Ā has announced that it has named Nataliya Ternopolska, M.D. as the new associate medical director of their Multiple Sclerosis Center. Ternopolska will not only take over theĀ leadership position, but will also join The Neurology Group at the facility. Abington Health is an organization…
December 10, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Nursing School Researchers Create 24-Week Exercise Program for MS A team of researchers from theĀ Case Western Reserveās Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing has designed a 24-week exercise program tailored specifically for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā in varying states of disease progression. The program drew inspiration and structure from a series of informational pamphlets…
December 9, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD 3 Times a Week Dose Copaxone for Relapsing MS Receives Positive Outcome in Europe Israel-based biopharmaceutical companyĀ Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced last week that its thrice-weekly COPAXONEĀ® (glatiramer acetate) 40mg/ml treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) has received positive results in a decentralized procedure. The favorable outcome proceeds aĀ Positive Assessment Report from the United Kingdom, the Reference Member…
December 9, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Madeleine Stowe Continues US Multiple Sclerosis Tour to Share Her Family Story Actress and star of the ABC show “Revenge”,Ā Madeleine Stowe,Ā recently shared her personal story of living in a family with someone who suffers from Ā multiple sclerosis (MS). Her father lived for many years with the disease. The actress has decided to help not only MS patients but…
December 4, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD GeNeuro and Servier to Co-Develop Breakthrough Multiple Sclerosis Drug Neurology and autoimmune therapeutics companyĀ GeNeuro SA has just announced the formation of a partnership with independent French pharmaceutical companyĀ ServierĀ for the co-development and marketing of GNbAC1 for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It is the first humanized monocloncal antibody treatment formulated to address one of this disease’s causal factors, making it…
December 4, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD CreateWriteNow Launches Journaling Challenge that May Help MS Patients Cope with Disease Keeping a journal may help patients suffering from severe and chronic diseases deal with their conditions, as well as with the stress and emotions that accompany symptoms. In a real-life testament to this,Ā Mari L. McCarthy, who suffers from multiple sclerosis andĀ started using journaling to cope with it, is launching…
December 3, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD CMSC and Syandus Launch Virtual Support Group for Multiple Sclerosis Patient education, support and self-management of multiple sclerosis (MS) has just become easier through the joint efforts of theĀ Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC)Ā and theĀ leader in simulation-based learning platforms for healthcare and the creators of the ALIVE Med delivery platform,Ā Syandus. Together they…
December 2, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Aubagio for Relapsing-Remitting MS Now Funded in Alberta Genzyme, a Sanofi company with over 30 years of dedication to researching and developing novel treatments for rare and orphan diseases, has just announced the Alberta Drug Program has finally decided to include AubagioĀ® (teriflunomide) 14mg in the provincial drug formulary, indicated for the first-line…
December 1, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD FDA Delays Ruling on Teva Petition Against Generic Copaxone for MS Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the company behind multiple sclerosis drugĀ COPAXONEĀ® (glatiramer acetate injection), has been pursuing the US Food and Drug Administration‘s decision against approving a generic version of the drug, by Mylan, Inc.Ā Teva’s petition has been turned down several times,…
November 28, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Diagnostic System by Luoxis Can Detect Oxidative Stress in MS Luoxis Diagnostics, Inc. recently presented three clinical and preclinical findings that feature the company’s proprietaryĀ RedoxSYSā¢ Diagnostic System as a comprehensive, groundbreaking tool for research capable of assessing a patient’sĀ oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) in the event ofĀ injury, illness, or stress.Ā The findings were presented as peer-reviewed posters during the recently concludedĀ …
November 26, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Rare Brain Infection Death Spurs FDA To Update Warning Label for MS Drug The US Food and Drug Administration has just issued a report warning the general public and healthcare providers dealing with multiple sclerosis that one of theĀ leading medications for the disease, Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), has been identified a possible factor in the death of an MS patient,…
November 24, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Experimental Drug for RRMS, SPMS Enters Phase 2 Trial Lexington, MA-based biopharmaceutical companyĀ Xenetic Biosciences, Inc.Ā has just announced its new license partnerĀ Pharmsynthez has completed dosing in its ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial with pipeline product MyeloXenā¢ forĀ relapsing remitting and secondary progressive (SPMS) multiple sclerosis. The MyeloXen trial is currently underway in Russia with…
November 21, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Major MS Cognitive Rehabilitation Trial Funded by British Health Service TheĀ Cognitive Rehabilitation for Attention and Memory trial (CRAMMS), a major study to be conducted on patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, was recently awardedĀ Ā£1,167,000 ($1,828,000) by the British National Health ServiceĀ (NHS), through its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Program. The study, which is expected to be the largest trial of its…
November 21, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Individualized Multiple Sclerosis CE Plan Wins Excellence Award The Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions, an international membership association of healthcareĀ education professionals, has just selected the winner for theĀ 2015 Outstanding CE Enduring Material by the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions. The winner is a joint CE activity entitled, “Confronting Current Challenges…
November 20, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Alliance for Childrenās Therapeutics Expands Research to Include MS The Alliance for Childrenās TherapeuticsĀ recently announced its plans to broaden its scope of research programs to include several diseases, namely, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), asthma, and multiple sclerosis (MS) ā a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that is estimated to affect 300,000…
November 18, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Home Exterior Company Remodels and Repairs MS Patient’s Home for Free For those with Multiple Sclerosis, the progressive manner in which the disease slowly deteriorates motor function, balance, and coordination can make home maintenance an impossibility. Add to this the well-documented issues that MS patients have with finding and keeping jobs and very quickly the cost and effort to maintain…
November 18, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Neurologist Recommends MS Approach Based on Alternative Medicine Unconventional medical approaches and lifestyle changes may help patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) improve their health and well-being, according toĀ Allen Bowling, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized neurologist and specialist in alternative medicine. The physician has designed a seven-step method based on his expertise, which is presented on his…
November 17, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Teva Pursues Regulatory Approval in Japan for MS Drug Copaxone Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the company that developed the injectable multiple sclerosis treatment Copaxone (Glatiramer acetate), Ā has announced their pursuit of regulatory approval in Japan. This development comes a year after signing an agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. According to a…
November 13, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Multiple Sclerosis Association of America Launches New Patient Support Website One of the country’s leading non-profit multiple sclerosis organizations, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA), has just launched a new patient support website called, My MS Journey. It is a comprehensive online resource designed to answer the specific and varied needs of MS patients, whether they have…
November 12, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Inability to Recognize and Convey Emotion a Symptom of MS What may be overlooked in relating to and caring for patients with multiple sclerosis is the fact that the neurodegenerative disease sometimes affects a person’s ability to properly convey and perceive emotion. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), while there is not…