March 8, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Walk MS 2017 Events Expected to Bring Total Fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis Past $1 Billion This year’s annualĀ Walk MS event will bring cumulative fundraising for multiple sclerosis (MS) and the National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ (NMSS) since 1988 to more thanĀ $1 billion, say organizers. āWalk MS is a joyous gathering with a wonderful ‘we’re in this together’ feeling,ā NMSS President and CEO Cyndi ZagieboyloĀ said…
March 8, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD National MS Society Forms Coalition With 10 Other Groups on Obamacare Reform As Republicans in Congress prepare to repeal and replaceĀ the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ andĀ 10 other nonpartisan patient groups are urging lawmakers in Washington to keep health insurance affordable, accessible, adequate and understandable for all Americans. The 11 organizations will evaluate all proposed changes to the…
March 7, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Horseback Riding Helps People with Movement Disabilities, Review of 16 Studies Concludes Riding and other activities with horses can help adults and children with the balance, gait, and psychomotor disorders that are hallmarks of multiple sclerosis, according to review of 16 studies. The review, āTherapeutic Effects of Horseback Riding Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis,ā was published in theĀ …
March 7, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Older SPMS Patients More Likely to Suffer from Fatigue, Limited Leg Function, Study Says People with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS)Ā are more likely to feel exhausted and haveĀ limited leg function than those without progressive MS as they age, a preliminary study suggests. The findings will be presented atĀ the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 69th Annual Meeting, set for April 22-28 in Boston.
March 6, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Altered Immune Response in MS Is What May Allow Infections to Kill, Mouse Study Suggests It is no coincidence that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are prone to airway infections, according to research showing that MS disease processes allow suppressive immune cells to travel to the lungs and block inflammatory responses against invading viruses. The study may offer guidance on how vaccines should be used to…
March 6, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Innate to Complete Phase 2b Trial for MIS416 Therapy in Secondary Progressive MS Patients Australia’sĀ Innate Immunotherapeutics confirmed that its Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating the drug MIS416 in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) will wrap up by April 30, as scheduled, and data is expected to be release in the fall. MIS416 is a biologically derived new immune modulator that can…
March 3, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Organizations Join #MySupportHero Initiative to Help Patients Salute Those Who Care A number of multiple sclerosis organizations have joined BiogenĀ in the second year of the #MySupportHero initiative. The social media campaign is a way forĀ people with multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā Ā toĀ thank those who give them the care, Ā encouragement, attention, and strength they need. The initiative runs through the end ofĀ March, which…
March 2, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD MS Focus Interview on ‘Mind & Mobility’ Festival, Set for March 12, and Benefits of Yoga The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (or MS Focus)Ā is holding its first Mind & Mobility festivalĀ this month, an event that includes yoga and meditation, talks, information booths on health and support services, and adaptive sessions for those disabled byĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). The series kicks off with a full day…
March 2, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MSAA Releases Promotional Video to Mark Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month On a Monday in July, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) gave Kathy, who loves to hike in the woods, a cooling vest that reduces heat stress ā a common issue for people with multiple sclerosis (MS).Ā On a Wednesday in October, the nonprofitĀ funded an MRI for Sarah,…
March 1, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD People with MS Are Three to Six Times More Prone to Seizures Than Others, Study Reports People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are three to six times more likely to develop epilepsy than the general population, a study says. Researchers believe the loss of myelin in certain neurons — a hallmark of MS — is what causes the seizures. The study was published in the journal…
March 1, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Acthar Gel of Dubious Value in Treating MS Despite its $34,000-Per-Vial Cost, Study Finds Medicare spent moreĀ $650 million in 2013 and 2014 on one singleĀ medication ā H.P. Acthar Gel āā that was prescribed by fewer than 1 percentĀ of clinicians to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), with questionable results. That’s the conclusion of new research byĀ Oregon Health and Science University (OSHU), which presented its…
February 28, 2017 News by Laura Kolaczkowski #ACTRIMS2017 – MS, the Gut and Probiotics Harold Weiner, MD, believes in using probiotics to help treat multiple sclerosis.Ā He is such a believer that he did a presentation on the subject ā “Probiotics in Multiple Sclerosis” ā at the just-concluded Americas for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) 2017 Forum in Orlando. The event…
February 28, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD ‘Ocrevus Has the Potential to Change How MS Is Treated,’ Genentech’s Peter Chin Says in Interview March 28, at the latest, may be a historic date for the multiple sclerosis (MS) community ā patients, families, caregivers, researchers, and physicians alike. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will have its say about the marketing approval forĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab). The drugĀ willĀ be the first to offerĀ benefit to…
February 28, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Full Transcript of Interview with Genentech’s Medical Director, Peter Chin, on Ocrevus BelowĀ is a transcript of theĀ Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ interview with Dr. Peter Chin ā principal medical director at Genentech ā about the importance of the pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a Biologics Licensing Application (BLA) for Ocrevus (ocrelizumab). An an indepth article on this interview,Ā lookingĀ Ocrevus…
February 27, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Smoking Significantly Worsens Quality of Life for MS Patients, Study Shows Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who smokeĀ have a significantly worse quality of life than non-smoking MS patients, concludes a new study. Researchers presented the study,Ā āSmokers with MS have greater decrements in quality of life and disability than non-smokers,ā at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in…
February 27, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Study Reports Possible Link Between Viral Infections, Vitamin D, and Risk for MS In a U.S. nationwideĀ case study, a team of researchers found evidence forĀ a potential link between viralĀ infections during childhood, vitamin D deficiency, and the risk of developingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, āEnvironmental risk factors associated with pediatric MS: The role of remote viral infections and vitamin D revisited,ā was recently…
February 27, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – 60-year Follow-up Study of MS Patients Looked at Risks, Causes of Death A 60-year follow-up study of nearly 1,400 Norwegian patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) analyzed their survival and risk of dying starting with theĀ onset of the disease through its progression. The study, āA 60- year follow-up on survival and cause of death in multiple sclerosis in Western Norway,ā was recently…
February 27, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Ocrevus Significantly Decreases Disease Activity in MS Patients, Study Shows Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), an investigational monoclonal antibody, significantly decreases disease activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and is associated with a higher proportion of patients reaching no evidence of disease activity (NEDA), according to a new analysis. The study,Ā āNEDA analysis by epoch in patients with relapsing multiple…
February 27, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Novantrone Lowers Relapse Rates over Long Term, But Carries Cancer Risk Ten years after completingĀ treatment with Novantrone (mitoxantrone), a chemotherapy drug, multiple sclerosis (MS) patients showed evidence of markedly lowerĀ annualized relapse rates, but the therapy’s effects began to wane after five years, a studyĀ presented atĀ ACTRIMS 2017 ForumĀ reported. The study also assessed howĀ Novantrone affects disease progression in primary and secondary progressive…
February 27, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Epigenetics’ Role in Myelin Renewal Is Focus of Research The absence of epigenetic factors in myelin-producing oligodendrocyte cells make sure that myelin production is switched off in the adult brain. Targeting these factors may be a way of triggering myelin regeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS), and a step towardĀ personalized medicine for this disease, Dr. Patrizia Casaccia said in aĀ talk…
February 24, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – There is Increased Evidence Linking Viruses to MS Risk Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be caused by genetic factors, but environmental cues are increasingly recognized to have an impact on disease onset and development. One environmental factor suggested to play a role in MS is infectious agents, such as viruses. Now, different teams of scientists have explored the…
February 24, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Sex Hormones and Chromosomes Lead to Gender Differences in MS, Studies Report Sex hormones, and genes in the two sex chromosomes, impact the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in men and women differently, and lead to differences in the course of the disease between the sexes, according to two studies. Two speakers at the ACTRIMS 2017 ForumĀ highlighted the role of sex…
February 24, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – High Salt Diet Seen as Potential Risk Factor for MS in New Study New evidence strengthens the link betweenĀ a diet high in salt and multiple sclerosis (MS) development, researchers show. The study,Ā āSodium Chloride Intake and MS,ā was presented on Feb. 24 at the ACTRIMS) 2017 ForumĀ being held in Orlando, Florida, by Dr. David Hafler with theĀ Yale School of Medicine. The…
February 24, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – 3 Trials Show MS Patients Receiving Ocrevus Had No Elevated Infection Risk A detailed analysis ofĀ relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the three Phase 3 trials of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) showed that the treatment did not significantly increase their risk of infections ā serious or otherwise. Certain infections, including common colds and influenza, were numerically more common among Ocrevus-treated patients,…
February 24, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Some Fatty Acids in Diet Help, Others Hurt Immune System, Study Reports Short-chain dietary fatty acids, such as propionate, drive the production of regulatory immune T-cells in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), while long-chain acids promote T-cells that are involved in inflammatory processes. Since the beneficial fatty acids are safe and can be obtained as over-the-counter dietary supplements, researchers suggest they could…
February 24, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Sun Exposure May Lower Fatigue, Slow Disability Progression in MS Spending more time in the sunshineĀ could make people with multiple sclerosis (MS) feel more energetic, though dietary vitamin D intake’s effect is mixed, depending on what type of MS a particular patient has. That’s the conclusion of a study āĀ “Dietary intakes of vitamin D, sunshine exposure, EDSS and fatigue…
February 23, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Lemtrada Maintains Durable Positive Effects in MS Without Additional Treatment Two Phase 3 clinical trials investigating the long-term effects of Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients showed the drug maintained improved outcomes, even in the absence of further treatment. Both studies were presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) 2017 Forum, held…
February 23, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – No Evidence of Progression More Likely Among PPMS Patients on Ocrevus Genentechās Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) increased the proportion of patients with no evidence of progression (NEP) in the recently concluded ORATORIO Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). The evaluation of NEPĀ ā a combined measure of three disability assessments ā was a secondary exploratory endpoint of…
February 23, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Early MS Evidence Found in Asymptomatic First-degree Relatives of Patients First-degree relativesĀ of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients may develop asymptomatic disease, suggesting the need to further evaluate family members to develop timely prevention strategies. The study,Ā āInvestigating early evidence of multiple sclerosis in a prospective study of high risk family members,ā was presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and…
February 23, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Airway Infections May Be More Common in MS Due to Altered Immune Response in Lungs Disease processes in multiple sclerosis (MS) likely contribute to the increased sensitivity to airway infections seen in MS patients,Ā a series of experiments in mice demonstrated. The study, presented at theĀ ACTRIMS 2017 Forum, showed that suppressive immune cells travel to the lungs and prevent an essential inflammatory reaction to viral…