Posts by: Vijaya Iyer

Vijaya Iyer

April 25, 2019

Aubagio Lowers Relapse Rate in RRMS Patients, Real-world Observational Study Shows

News

In clinical practice, relapse events dropped by roughly half over a four-year period in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients treated with Aubagio (teriflunomide), a real-world study reports. The study, “Real-life outcomes of ... Read more

February 21, 2019February 27, 2019

FDA Warns Against Plasma Transfusions from Young Donors Being Used to Treat MS and Other Diseases

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against the use of plasma transfusions from young donors to alleviate or treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis or other diseases, noting such ... Read more

February 7, 2019February 7, 2019

Innovation Challenge Invites Applications from Entrepreneurs Affected by MS

News

A collaborative initiative between Lyfebulb and Celgene — called “Addressing Unmet Needs in MS: An Innovation Challenge” — is inviting applications from U.S.-based entrepreneurs who have multiple sclerosis (MS), or who have been ... Read more

January 4, 2019January 11, 2019

Cooling Therapy Before Exercise Can Increase Physical Activity in MS Patients

News

Lowering body temperature helps to improve exercise and functional capability in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by preventing disease worsening, researchers in  Greece report. The study with that finding, “Impact of ... Read more

November 16, 2018November 28, 2018

Celgene and Lyfebulb Partner on ‘Innovation Challenge’ for Entrepreneurs Affected by MS

News

Lyfebulb announced that it has joined with Celgene in launching an innovation challenge for entrepreneurs with or impacted by multiple sclerosis (MS) to develop user-driven solutions that might make daily life ... Read more

November 2, 2018November 2, 2018

NICE Postpones Final Opinion on Adding Ocrevus to Public Health System for PPMS Patients in UK

News

A final and weighty opinion regarding whether Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) will be among treatments available at low or no cost to primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) patients in England and Wales — ... Read more

October 26, 2018October 31, 2018

Stanford Researchers Open Medical Cannabis Company with Oral Therapy for MS Pain, Spasticity as Initial Goal

News

A new medical cannabis company called Katexco Pharmaceuticals aims to develop oral therapies that harness the brain’s endocannabinoid and nicotine receptors to treat inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Co-founded by ... Read more

September 20, 2018September 20, 2018

Rapamycin, Approved for Other Indications, Potentially Effective for MS, Study Suggests

News

Treatment with Rapacan (rapamycin) decreased the size and volume of brain lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), an Iranian study reports. The study, “Promising effect of rapamycin on ... Read more

August 28, 2018August 28, 2018

MMJ International Asks FDA to Approve Studies of Cannabis-based Therapies

News

MMJ International has filed two applications with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting permission to begin clinical studies testing its pharmaceutical grade cannabis-based therapies in easing symptoms ... Read more

August 9, 2018August 14, 2018

MedChew RX Shows Stability and Potential for Effectiveness in Early Tests, Company Reports

News

AXIM Biotech announced that tests done on its cannabinoid-based chewing gum — MedChew Rx — showed both product stability and effective release of medicinal molecules, with a high percentage of its pharmaceutical ingredients available. These ... Read more

July 30, 2018August 1, 2018

New Therapy Candidates Could Provide Basis for Regenerative Medicines to Treat MS, Study Suggests

News

Therapy candidates that block enzymes responsible for making cholesterol can promote myelin regeneration, a discovery that could lead to new regenerative medicines capable of treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and ... Read more

July 25, 2018July 27, 2018

Despite Increased Lesions, No Brain Atrophy Seen in RRMS Patients After Childbirth, Study Reports

News

In women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), there is a significant increase in brain lesion volume after pregnancy, but it is not accompanied by a loss of brain cells, a ... Read more

July 18, 2018July 24, 2018

Other Conditions’ Symptoms May Foretell Onset of MS, Canadian Data Suggest

News

Many patients report a history of other conditions such as migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and mood and anxiety disorders, before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). According to ... Read more

July 13, 2018July 18, 2018

Inability to Express or Process Emotions Also Prevalent in MS Patients, Study Reports

News

A significant number of multiple sclerosis patients show signs not only of depression and anxiety, but also of alexithymia — an inability to describe or process emotional responses, a research group ... Read more

July 11, 2018July 11, 2018

Touchscreen-based Cognitive Testing is Effective in MS Care, Study Finds

News

Cognitive impairment is common among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and can be assessed through touchscreen cognitive tests in clinical care, a British study reports. The study “Investigating Domain-Specific Cognitive ... Read more

July 3, 2018July 4, 2018

NICE Opposes Ocrevus as PPMS Treatment in UK’s Public-funded Health System

News

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, known as NICE, has decided against recommending that Ocrevus be part of public-funded treatments for adults with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). The ... Read more

June 29, 2018July 2, 2018

Sativex Relieves Pain in MS Patients, Italian Study Confirms

News

Researchers confirmed that Sativex spray is beneficial in alleviating pain in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and also improved their pain sensitivity to cold temperatures. The study reporting the ... Read more

June 28, 2018June 28, 2018

Laquinimod, Potential PPMS Therapy, Seen to Ease Damage to Vision in Mouse Model

News

Treating mice in a model of multiple sclerosis (MS) with laquinimod before the onset of symptoms eased inflammation so as to help preserve their vision — lessening damage to the ... Read more

June 26, 2018July 3, 2018

1st Patient Enrolled in Study of Electrical Stimulation in Treating Brain Injury

News

A first patient has been enrolled in a single-site trial to evaluate the potential of electrical stimulation, called  Electroceutical Therapy, in reducing brain injury, Endonovo Therapeutics, the therapy’s developer, announced. Electroceutical ... Read more

June 25, 2018August 9, 2018

Axim Biotech Given Patent for Method of Making Medical Cannabis Compound

News

Axim Biotech announced that its way of extracting and purifying THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) — an active compound in medical cannabis — has been approved to receive a patent. The notice of ... Read more

June 18, 2018June 21, 2018

First Clinical Trial to Focus on Improving Hand Function in PPMS Patients Announced

News

A new clinical trial will be the first in the world to recognize the importance of retaining hand function for wheelchair-bound patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS), according to ... Read more

June 14, 2018June 14, 2018

Obesity and Smoking in Teen Years Could Speed Adult’s Progression to SPMS, Study Reports

News

Young adults at age 20 who are obese and smoke are not only at a higher risk of developing relapsing multiple sclerosis — those who become MS patients after ... Read more

June 13, 2018June 13, 2018

Effectiveness of Gilenya and Tecfidera Compared in Real-World Study in Italy

News

Gilenya (fingolimod) and Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) are equally effective as first-line treatments in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), but Gilenya may be of slightly more benefit to those who ... Read more

June 12, 2018June 12, 2018

Gilenya Seen to Particularly Benefit Young Adults with Higher Relapse Rates, Trial Data Show

News

Young adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) have higher relapse rates and respond better to Gilenya treatment compared to the overall MS population, data from a post hoc analysis of three ... Read more