September 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Parents of Youngsters with MS Voice Needs and Frustrations in Study A study exploring the difficulties parents experience when their childĀ develops multiple sclerosis (MS) foundĀ that more support and education ā from healthcare and school staff, as well as by parents themselves ā is key to easing the burden of a child or teenager with this disease. The study, āParentsā…
September 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Young MS Researchers Invited to Apply for Marilyn Hilton Award The Conrad N. Hilton FoundationĀ announced thatĀ nominations are now being accepted for the Marilyn Hilton Award for Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Research.Ā The award aims to stimulate newĀ and potentially groundbreaking research intoĀ progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), Ā and the Foundation expects to distributeĀ to $4 million in grants over five years, supporting the…
September 2, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS, Spinal Injuries Highlighted at Paralyzed Veterans of America Summit Paralyzed Veterans of AmericaĀ recently held its annual health conference, calledĀ 2016 Summit + EXPO, focused on the latest research and discoveries in patient care for diseases that spanĀ multiple sclerosis andĀ spinal cord injuryĀ orĀ disease toĀ Ā amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This year was the sixth such summit, held Aug. 30āSept. 1 in Orlando, Florida,…
September 2, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Inflammation Fighters in Blood Cells Seen to Attack in Entirely New Way To reach tissues infected with foreign agents, neutrophils, the body’s first line of defense, need toĀ travel through vessel walls ā and do so by switching on a class of adhesion receptors, called integrins, that bind to other adhesionĀ molecules at the surface of the capillary walls.Ā Now, in a recent paper published…
September 1, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD 900 Cyclists Raise Nearly $1.2M for Multiple Sclerosis in Quebec Fundraiser More than 900 peopleĀ biked through the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, late last month,Ā raising money for theĀ Quebec Division of the Multiple Sclerosis Society ofĀ CanadaĀ (MSSC) and awareness forĀ multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā all-around. The 27thĀ Medavie Blue Cross MS Bike,Ā Ā the largest cycling-related fundraising event in North America, was an outstanding success āĀ Ā surpassing…
September 1, 2016 News by Malika Ammam, PhD MS Treatments May Lower Levels of Immune White Blood Cells Multiple sclerosis patients are at risk ofĀ developing lymphopenia, or abnormally low levels of immune defense white blood cells, called lymphocytes, according to a study that investigatedĀ lymphocyte counts in people with relapsing MS both before and after the start of treatment. The study, āLymphopenia in treatment-naive relapsing multiple…
August 31, 2016 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Lifestyle May Impact MS Disability, Study Suggests Previous studies have pointed toward certain lifestyle factors such as nutrition, sedentary behavior, and stress as possible key determinants in multiple sclerosis (MS) progression but few studies have been dedicated to learning more about theĀ impact of lifestyle risk factors on patient disability and disease progression. AĀ recent study supports the…
August 31, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD RegeneRx to Receive EU Patent for Molecule That May Lead to MS Remyelination Therapy RegeneRx BiopharmaceuticalsĀ announced that it has received anĀ Intent to Grant notice from the European Patent Office (EPO) regarding a patent for itsĀ proprietary molecule Thymosin beta 4 (TĪ²4), aĀ potential therapyĀ forĀ multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā designed to promote remyelination. The patent will cover the use of TĪ²4 in a composition for treating or reducing…
August 30, 2016 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Potential Relapsing MS Therapy, RHB-104, to Get New European Patent The European Patent Office has releasedĀ a Notice of Intention to Grant a new patent to support RHB-104 as a therapyĀ for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). RHB-104 is being developed Ā byĀ RedHill Biopharma. Patents covering the use of RHB-104 exist in over 25 countries, including the U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, and in…
August 30, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD TG Therapeutics’ Potential Neuromyelitis Optica Treatment Named Orphan Drug by FDA TheĀ U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationĀ (FDA) has designated TG-1101Ā (ublituximab), aĀ glycoengineered anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody byĀ TG Therapeutics, anĀ orphan drugĀ to advance its development. The drug is a potentialĀ treatment for neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), two relapsing-remitting autoimmune diseases with similarities to multiple sclerosis. Currently, there are…
August 29, 2016 Columns by admin MS Patientās Pick of the Weekās News: Umbilical Cells, Early Drugs, REAL Research, Hemoglobin, and Fatigue Hereās my Pick of the Weekās News, as published by Multiple Sclerosis News Today. Umbilical Cord Blood-derived Cell Therapy Promotes Remyelination in Mice Now this is different, using umbilical cord stem cells. A cell therapy product derived from human umbilical cord blood cells may be…
August 29, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD 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…
August 29, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD 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…
August 26, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD 900 Cyclists to Raise Money for MS in Biking Event in Quebec This Weekend The Quebec Division of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (MSSC)Ā announced that this year’sĀ 27th Medavie Blue Cross MS Bike, a fundraising bike ride on roads alongside St. Lawrence River, will take place Aug. 27 and 28Ā in the Mauricie region. A total of 900 cyclists are setĀ toĀ participate in…
August 26, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Can Diet Ease MS Fatigue? Clinical Trial, Now Recruiting, Wants to Find Out The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ announced that itĀ has dedicatedĀ more than $1 millionĀ to support a clinical study at the University of Iowa that will compareĀ two types ofĀ diet and their effectiveness in easing fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). “The National MS Society is committed to identifying wellness solutions to…
August 25, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD 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…
August 25, 2016 News by Charles Moore Patient-led Study, REAL MS, Invites Adults to Help Advance and Direct MS Research An innovation in multiple sclerosis (MS) research has been launched byĀ the iConquerMSĀ initiative ā a longitudinal, prospective study called “REAL MS,” an acronym for “Research Engagement About Life with Multiple Sclerosis,” with aĀ goal of accelerating research into personalized treatments for MS patients. This type of study collects repeat…
August 25, 2016 News by Ćzge Ćzkaya, PhD 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.
August 24, 2016 News by admin 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…
August 23, 2016 News by Judy Lynn 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…
August 23, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Video Series Helps to Guide MS Patients in US with Legal and Planning Issues A new video series for multiple sclerosis patients in the U.S. looks to help them better understand the complex legal and planning issues they face. The series, put together by theĀ National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)Ā andĀ Stetson University College of Law,Ā in consultation withĀ theĀ National Multiple Sclerosis Society, is…
August 23, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD 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…
August 22, 2016 Columns by admin MS Patient’s Pick of the Week’s News: Blood Tests, Marijuana, Cameras, and More Hereās my Pick of the Weekās News, as published in Multiple SclerosisĀ News Today. Blood Test Seen to Distinguish MS from Other Neurological Conditions A faster way to tell the difference between neurological diseases could mean earlier access to treatment for MS patients. Researchers atĀ Michigan State…
August 22, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD A&W Hosts ‘Burgers to Beat MS’ Fundraiser on Aug. 25 Across Canada A&W Food Services of CanadaĀ is celebrating its āBurgers to Beat MSāĀ dayĀ onĀ Thursday, Aug. 25, and for an 8th yearĀ will donate $1 for each Teen Burger sold at any of its 860 restaurants nationwideĀ to theĀ Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (MSSC). Through such campaigns, A&WĀ hasĀ Ā raised over $8 million since 2009…
August 22, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Umbilical Cord Blood-derived Cell Therapy Promotes Remyelination in Mice A cell therapy product derived from human umbilical cord blood cells may be a promising treatment approach for patients with demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or leukodystrophy, according to a recent study developed at theĀ Duke University Medical Center. The study, “A cord blood monocyteāderived cell…
August 19, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD 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,”…
August 19, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD 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…
August 18, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD What to Ask Before Participating in a Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Trial There are several key questionsĀ that a participant willĀ wantĀ answeredĀ before enrolling in aĀ clinical trial. ManyĀ are listed here, but patients should feel free to ask study coordinators any additional questions they may have so their concerns are well addressed before the trial starts. It is important for a study participant to learn as…
August 18, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Specific Definition of Fatigue in MS Proposed as Way to Advance Research into Symptom Researchers from Colorado State University propose a new model of fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS), designed to overcome the lack of a unified definition of fatigue that can be objectively tested using experimental approaches. With this model, the authors behind the article,Ā “Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: Misconceptions…
August 18, 2016 News by Ćzge Ćzkaya, PhD Advances in MS Research and Treatment Focus of ECTRIMS 2016, Opening in September The 37th annual congress of The European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) will take place in London between 14 ā 17 September 2016.