May 15, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD At 2017 BIO Convention, Former Mass. First Lady Ann Romney Will Discuss Living with MS Former Massachusetts First Lady Ann Romney,Ā global ambassador for Boston’sĀ Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Womenās Hospital,Ā will deliver a keynote address at theĀ Biotechnology Innovation Organizationās (BIO) International Convention in San Diego. Romney, who is scheduled to speak June 21, will talkĀ about how her multiple sclerosis (MS)…
May 12, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MSAA’s Dr. Jack Burks Responds to Readers’ Questions About Ocrevus and Its Use Recently approved, Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) should now be available nationwide for patients prescribed the therapy. But as with any new treatment, concerns about safety and practical issues are on many patientsā minds. Multiple Sclerosis News Today asked Dr. Jack Burks ā a neurologist and researcher who servesĀ as chief…
May 12, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Loss of Spinal Cord Neurons May Not Be a Good Predictor of MS Disability, British Study Finds Loss of spinal cord neurons may not be a reliable tool to predict disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), contrary to what was originally thought, according toĀ researchers at Queen Mary University of London. Their study, āAxonal loss in the multiple sclerosis spinal cord revisited,ā appeared in the journal…
May 11, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD National Multiple Sclerosis Society Commits to $17 Million for 43 Research Projects The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ is pumping $17 million intoĀ 43 research projectsĀ that represent almost half of its $40-million research funding commitment in 2017. Among the projectsĀ are trials evaluating intermittent fasting as a way to harness inflammation and stem cell research. A growing number of studies indicate thatĀ stem cells can slow…
May 11, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD NMSS, British Partners to Launch Phase 3 Trial to Determine Efficacy of Simvastatin in SPMS Patients The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ (NMSS), together with its British partners, plans to launchĀ a Phase 3 trial in the next few months to investigate whether simvastatin ā a cheap drug that controls cholesterol levels ā may be a suitable treatment for people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). The trial,…
May 10, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Increased Risk of Autoimmune Diseases Linked to Malaria-resisting Gene Variation A variation in a gene that likely promoted resistance to malaria in Sardinia may have increased the risk of people there developing autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study, āOverexpression of the Cytokine BAFF and Autoimmunity Risk,ā was published in The…
May 10, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Exposure to Sunlight During Pregnancy Has No Influence on MS Risk in Children, Polish Study Finds The risk of childrenĀ developingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life has no link to how much sunlight their mothers were exposed to during pregnancy, a Polish study found. The study, āMonth of birth and level of insolation as risk factors for multiple sclerosis in Poland,ā appeared in the journal…
May 9, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Laquinimod Fails to Meet Primary Clinical Trial Goal of Slowing Progression of RRMS LaquinimodĀ failed to meet its primary Phase 3 clinical trial objective of slowing the progression ofĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) after three months, according to its developers,Ā Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Active Biotech. That has prompted the partners to abandon their quest to use the therapy to treat RRMS. Laquinimod…
May 9, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MedDay’s New Phase 3 Trial and Belief in Biotin’s Potential to Treat Progressive MS: An Interview with Dr. FrĆ©dĆ©ric Sedel A global Phase 3 clinical trial assessingĀ MD1003 ā also known as high-dose biotin ā for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) might lead to the approval of one of the first treatmentsĀ helping selectĀ progressive patients to improve. The trial aims to prove that high-dose biotin can reverse disability in non-active progressive MS.
May 8, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Pregnant Women with Relapsing MS Can Use Copaxone Without Harming Baby, Study Indicates Babies of women with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) who receive daily injections ofĀ Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) while pregnant carry the same risk of developing birth defects as babies as a whole, according to a study by the therapy’s developer,Ā Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. The findings can help doctors counsel and treat…
May 8, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD United Spinal’s ‘Roll on Capitol Hill’ to Push for Better Access to Complex Rehab Technology People with multiple sclerosis (MS) and others with spinal cord injuries and disorders will speak at theĀ United Spinal Association’sĀ upcoming 6thĀ AnnualĀ Roll on Capitol Hill, which takes place June 11-14 inĀ Washington, D.C. Andrea Dalzell, Ms. WheelchairĀ New YorkĀ 2015, will be among those advocating for greater access to complex rehabilitation technology.
May 5, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Switching from Rituxan to Ocrevus: An Interview with Dr. Timothy Vollmer on Both MS Treatments A multiple sclerosis (MS) trial now underway in Colorado is assessing the safety and tolerability ofĀ switching fromĀ Rituxan (rituximab)Ā toĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab),Ā and its lead investigator, Dr. Timothy L. Vollmer, largely expects no problems. The neurologist believes the two GenentechĀ therapies āĀ both antibody-based drugsĀ that target the CD20 molecule on B-cells ā…
May 5, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Burden of Multiple Sclerosis Relapses Is Underappreciated, Study Says The burden of moderate-to-severe relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is underappreciated, according to a study sponsored by the pharmaceutical companyĀ Mallinckrodt. Researchers discussed the findings at the American Academy of Neurology’s 69th annual meeting in Boston, April 22-28. The title of the presentation was āThe Economic Burden Of…
May 4, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Cladribine Tablets Reduce Risk of MS Progression and Relapse, Clinical Trial Shows Cladribine tablets reduce the risk of disability progression and relapse in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), the CLARITY clinical trial indicates. The treatment was also well-tolerated and had a good safety profile, according to a presentationĀ at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN)Ā in Boston,…
May 4, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Cytomegalovirus Infection Worsens Multiple Sclerosis, Study in Mice Shows A cytomegalovirus infection triggers an increase in inflammatory and cytotoxic immune cells in mice with multiple sclerosis (MS), which leadsĀ to enhanced inflammation and loss of nerve-protecting myelin. The study, āCytomegalovirus infection exacerbates autoimmune mediated neuroinflammation,ā was published in the journal Scientific Reports. A cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection…
May 3, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Axim Signs Deal to Advance Clinical Trials of Cannabis-based MedChew Rx Gum to Treat MS Pain Axim BiotechnologiesĀ recently announced that its U.K. partner, Quay Pharmaceuticals,Ā has secured licenses from the British Home Office to continue developing and importing its medicalĀ cannabinoid product MedChew Rx ā a potential treatment forĀ pain andĀ spasticityĀ in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), among other illnesses. MedChew Rx is a gum…
May 3, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Smoking Reduces Levels of Circulating Immune Cells that Protect Against MS, Other Autoimmune Diseases Smoking can killĀ off the immune cells that commonly protect people from multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases, say researchers at the University of CopenhagenĀ ā a finding that may lead to new ways of treating such illnesses. TheirĀ study, āSmoking reduces circulating CD26hiCD161hi MAIT cells in healthy…
May 2, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Two Proteins Play Key Roles in Regulating Brain Inflammation, MS-related Study Shows Neuroinflammation is an essential process in the development and progression of several neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimerās and Parkinsonās. Researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have discovered that proteins known as NLRC4 and NLRP3 play key roles in regulating mechanisms involved in brain…
May 2, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Remyelination Candidate Opicinumab Failed in Phase 2 Trial in MS, But Biogen Won’t Give Up Although a Phase 2b trial of the remyelination drug candidate opicinumabĀ (also known as anti-LINGO-1 and BIIB033) failed to meet its primary goal of improving disability in relapsing and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers believe the drug did cause āfairly strongā improvements. The trial evaluated four doses of the…
May 1, 2017 News by Janet Stewart, MSc Canadian Parliamentarians Helping Kick Off MS Awareness Month Members of Parliament are helping theĀ Multiple Sclerosis Society of CanadaĀ commemorate May asĀ MS Awareness Month. The lawmakers will be meeting with society representatives and other members of the MS community in the capital of Ottawa, May 1-3. MS Awareness Month is a run-up to World MS Day on May…
May 1, 2017 News by Charles Moore #CMSC17 – Experts to Focus on MS Patient Care at CMSC Annual Meeting in New Orleans The 31st Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) will take placeĀ May 24-27 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Typically hosting more than 2,000 attendees and 70 exhibitors, this event is the premier North American educational conference for international clinicians and scientists…
May 1, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Patients Struggle with Misdiagnosis and Ineffective Treatments, Survey Finds A significant percentage of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients struggle with improper diagnoses and ineffective treatments, a national survey of more than 5,300 patients found. The fifth annual survey, āMS in America 2017,ā was conducted by Health Union between Jan. 25 and March 1, 2017. ItĀ was released through the…
April 28, 2017 News by Larry Luxner Two Women with Different Forms of Multiple Sclerosis Call Ocrevus a Lifesaver Pamela Arterbridge noticed something was wrong back in 2013 when she woke up one morning, and her legs and feet were tingling. Two years later, Lorraine Lee knew she had a problem when her right leg became extremely fatigued after every workout. Neither realized their eventual diagnosis would be multiple…
April 28, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Siponimod Slows Progression of MS Disability, Phase 3 Clinical Trial Shows SiponimodĀ slows the progression of multiple sclerosis patients’ disability, a Phase 3 clinical trial indicates. The therapy reduced the risk of disability progression in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) by 21 percent over three months, researchers said. At six months, the reduction was 26 percent, they said. Researchers…
April 28, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Lemtrada Might Outperform Ocrevus in Preventing MS Relapses, Italian Researchers Say Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) may be more effective in preventing relapses in multiple sclerosis patients than the newly approved Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), according to a study presented April 28Ā atĀ the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2017 Annual MeetingĀ in Boston. TheĀ study, supported by Sanofi Genzyme and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, compared…
April 27, 2017 News by Maria Verissimo, MSc MS Patients Seem to Present Earlier Symptoms of Disease Before Diagnosis Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be developing the disease for up to five years before the first clinical diagnosis is made, a study has found. The study, “Health-care use before a first demyelinating event suggestive of a multiple sclerosis prodrome: a matched cohort study,” was published…
April 27, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Genentech Highlights Rapid Actions of MS Therapy Ocrevus at AAN Meeting Within the first two months of treatment, Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) reduced relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by more than half compared to those on Rebif, and almost completely prevented new brain lesions, according to data underscoring the drug’s rapid effects. Researchers from San Francisco-basedĀ Genentech and its Swiss parent…
April 26, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Sanofi Genzyme to Present New Data on MS Treatments Lemtrada and Aubagio Sanofi Genzyme will present new results on follow-up studies of its products Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) and Aubagio (teriflunomide), both of which have been approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The new data will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual MeetingĀ taking…
April 26, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Bioinformatics Approach Identifies Potential Therapies Targeting TNF, a Factor in MS, Other Diseases Greek researchers have developed a new bioinformatics tool to identify potential therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases. Using this approach, theyĀ identified and confirmed the therapeutic potential of two small molecules to target a protein called TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) that is active in Ā multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases. Their…
April 25, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Latest Tecfidera and Tysabri Data Suggest Treatments Improve MS Outcomes When Used Early Real-world data of treatment with Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) and Tysabri (natalizumab) in relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) patients suggest that treatment at early disease stages improves outcomes and prevents disability development. The studies, presented by Biogen at the American Academy of Neurology 2017 Annual MeetingĀ in Boston, might challenge the…