News

Lemtrada to Treat Relapsing MS Now Part of New Brunswick, Canada, Drug Program

The Government ofĀ New Brunswick added Ā Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), byĀ Sanofi Genzyme,Ā to the New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program (NBPDP) through special authorization for eligibleĀ patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). New BrunswickĀ joins other Canadian provinces, includingĀ Ontario, Saskatchewan,Ā Quebec, and Manitoba, in making this treatment available to RRMS patients, ages 18 andĀ older,Ā who have had…

Gilenya-like Therapy Shows Benefit in Secondary Progressive MS Patients in Phase 3 Trial

Patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) who were treated with BAF312 (siponimod), a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) inhibitor, in a Phase 3 clinical trial showed aĀ Ā significantly reduced risk for disability progression compared to placebo,Ā NovartisĀ recently announced. BAF312 is a selective modulator of specific types of the S1P receptor. This receptor is…

Teva’s New Copaxone Formulation for RRMS Approved by Health Canada

Health Canada has approved Teva Canada Innovation‘sĀ three-time weekly 40 mg/mL injection of Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) that allows less frequent dosing forĀ patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The approval wasĀ grounded primarily on data resulting from the Phase 3 Glatiramer Acetate Low-Frequency Administration (GALA) study, the largest Copaxone clinical…

Hemoglobin Variant A2 May Protect MS Patients Against Neural Injury

Multiple sclerosis seems to be less severe in people with higher levels of the minor adult hemoglobin variant A2 (HbA2) in their blood, according to a team of Turkish researchers. This could be due to this variant having a higher protective effect on the red blood cell membrane. The authors speculate that HbA2 could therefore be playing a role in reducing long-term neural injury in MS.

RebiSmart Device Seen to Improve Adherence to Therapy in RRMS Patients

People with relapsing multiple sclerosis who use a device called RebiSmartĀ (Merck Serono) to self-inject medications like RebifĀ (interferon [IFN] beta-1a)Ā areĀ more likely to take their therapies on a regular schedule and adhere to that schedule, resulting in fewerĀ relapsesĀ than those not using the device, according to a retrospective study byĀ  researchers…

MS Hugs Me, Hugs Me Not

In the two years following my diagnosis, I had many bouts of chest pain, breathing difficulties, and sharp stomach pains. I worried that some other terrible illness was right around the corner. Four EKGs, three ultrasounds, two pulmonary function tests, and one colonoscopy later I had a surprisingly good bill…

Only 47% of Primary Care Doctors in England ‘Confident’ in Treating MS Patients

General practitioners (GPs) in England lack confidence in initially assessing and referring onward people withĀ neurologicalĀ symptoms, especially those with multiple sclerosis, and believe they could benefit from betterĀ training in identifying and managing neurologicalĀ patients. One result, according toĀ a report published by theĀ Neurological Alliance,Ā titled “Neurology and primary care: improving the…

Blood Test Seen to Distinguish MS from Other Neurological Conditions

Researchers at Michigan State University suggest that a blood test can distinguish patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) from people with other neurological conditions, according to a recent study published inĀ EBioMedicine. ResultsĀ from the study,Ā “An In Vitro Diagnostic for Multiple Sclerosis Based on C-peptide Binding to Erythrocytes,”…

MS Progression Slower in People Who Begin Betaseron Therapy at First Signs of Disease, 11-Year Study Says

Relapsing multiple sclerosis patients who begin taking Betaferon/Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) immediately after the first MS-related neurologic symptoms appear mayĀ realize slower disease progression thanĀ those who delay treatment, according to aĀ study evaluating the therapy’sĀ effects over a decade in patients enrolledĀ inĀ aĀ Phase 3 clinical trial. The study, “The 11-year long-term follow-up…

Treating MS Soon After Symptoms Appear Can Delay Relapses, Study Says

A long-term study underscoresĀ the potentialĀ benefits, especially in terms of relapses,Ā ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients beginning treatment as soon as possible after symptomsĀ appear ā€” even before the disease is definitely diagnosed.Ā ā€œThe 11-year long-term follow-up study from the randomized BENEFIT CIS trialā€ was published in the journal Neurology. Researchers in…

Researchers Reveal Mechanism of Action for Tecfidera, an MS Therapy

Researchers found the molecular target of the multiple sclerosis (MS)-approved drug Tecfidera, (dimethyl fumarate or DMF), unveiling the mechanism associated with the drug’s anti-inflammatory action. The study, ā€œDimethyl fumarate blocks pro-inflammatory cytokine production via inhibition of TLR induced M1 and K63 ubiquitin chain formation,ā€ was…

Pilot Study Finds Fatigue, Mood in MS Patients Improved by Low-Fat, Plant-Based Diet

Though approved therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) exist,Ā the disabling disease remains currently incurable leading to greater interestĀ for promoting healthier lifestyles that could ease or slow disease impacts such asĀ hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease which increase progression of disability, brain injury, and atrophy. In fact,…

Improving Confidence of RRMS Patients May Enhance Quality of Life, Decrease Depression, Study Finds

Increasing a person’s confidence that they can complete tasks and reach goals in specific situations may benefit patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). In a new study, researchers used an intensive three-day social cognitive treatment, called Can Do, to increaseĀ patients’ self-efficacy, which resulted in long lasting improvements in their health-related…