April 26, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD At-Home ‘Brain Training’ Program for MS Patients Reported to Improve Cognitive Skills by 29% Multiple sclerosis patients using a cognitive remediation computer training program, part ofĀ a controlled trial by researchers fromĀ NYU Langone Medical Center,Ā had greaterĀ improvements in cognitive function than those who used a placebo-training program, according to a presentationĀ at the recentĀ American Academy of NeurologyĀ annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada. Problems in attention, memory,…
April 25, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – MS Experts Agree on Benefits of Vitamin D Supplements, Despite Mostly Circumstantial Evidence A roundtable discussion, provided as a webinarĀ organized by theĀ Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC)Ā in advance of its June conference, considered the role of vitamin D in multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers concluded that, while evidence is only circumstantialĀ as to theĀ vitamin’s ability to prevent disease relapses, its multiple health benefits justify…
April 22, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Florida Atlantic University Researcher Awarded $540K NIH Grant to Research Collagen Degradation in Diseases Like MS A researcher atĀ Florida Atlantic University (FAU)Ā has been awarded a $540,250 grant from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, to support continued research into the collagen degradative processesĀ linked to connective tissueĀ diseasesĀ likeĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). Dr. Gregg Fields, a professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and…
April 22, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Biogen and AbbVie Present New Data Showing Zinbryta, an RRMS Drug Candidate, Aids Cognition Without Immune Depletion New data presented byĀ BiogenĀ andĀ AbbVieĀ at the recent 68th annual meeting of theĀ American Academy of Neurology (AAN) showed that ZinbrytaĀ (daclizumab high-yield process) improved cognitive outcome measures in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS). Additional results ā from post-hoc analyses of clinicalĀ trials ā also offer a better…
April 21, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Mayo Clinic Neurologist, Creator of MS Lesion Tissue Bank, Receives 2016 John Dystel Prize for MS Research Dr. Claudia Lucchinetti, chair of the Department of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic and the Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Professor of Neurosciences, hasĀ received the 2016 John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research, an honor jointly awarded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Academy of Neurology…
April 21, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Lymphoma Drug, Rituximab, Highly Effective in Treating Relapsing MS, Study from Sweden Reports Mabthera (rituximab), a widely approved drug for treating lymphoma and/or rheumatoid arthritis, is highly effective in treating multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers reported in an observational study in Sweden, where Mabthera is increasingly being used outside of its approved indications to treat relapsing-remitting MS patients. The study, published in the journal…
April 20, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD National MS Society Welcomes Mud-Loving Runners to Tramp Through Its 5K ‘MuckFest MS’ Fundraiser The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ and Event360Ā announced the openingĀ of the 2016 season of MuckFest MS, a 5K “mud run” and fundraiserĀ withĀ over 20 obstacles along its course to challenge and entertain people of all athletic levels. This year’s run will take place in 11 cities across the U.S., including a…
April 20, 2016 News by admin Biogen Releases New Data Showing Effectiveness of Tecfidera in Newly Diagnosed MS Patients at AAN 2016 BiogenĀ reported new data describing the effectiveness of TecfideraĀ (dimethyl fumarate) in newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients in a recent presentation at the 68th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). The conference, taking placeĀ in Vancouver, Canada, runs through April 21. Tecfidera is an…
April 20, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Sanofi Genzyme Presenting New Data on Lemtrada’s Beneficial Effects, Drawn from RRMS Extension Study, at AAN 2016 Sanofi GenzymeĀ is presenting promising data regarding brain volume and retinal nerve fibers in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients ā drawn from an ongoing extension study intoĀ the disease-modifying drugĀ alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) ā at the 2016 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting Ā taking place in Vancouver, Canada, through April…
April 19, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Promising Phase 1 Trial Results of Stem Cell Therapy in Progressive MS Patients Being Presented at AAN Meeting Potentially groundbreaking research byĀ the Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New YorkĀ (MSRCNY) will be presented on April 19 at the 68thĀ American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual MeetingĀ taking place in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Saud A. Sadiq, director and chief research scientist at the Tisch center, will present results of a…
April 19, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Antihistamine Aids in Reversing Visual Damage in MS Patients, Appears to Have Remyelination Properties, AAN Presentation Reports AĀ Phase 2 clinical trial testing the efficacy of a common antihistamine, clemastine fumarate, to treat optic nerve damage in peopleĀ with multiple sclerosis (MS) found the drug able to slightlyĀ reverse damage to their visual system. The Ā study, conducted by researchers at theĀ Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of California San…
April 18, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – Dr. Fred Lublin to Deliver Opening Lecture on MS Relapses and Their Impact on Patient Outcomes The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting will open with the John F. Kurtzke Memorial Lecture,Ā āDo Relapses Really Matter?ā,Ā by the renowned multiple sclerosis (MS) expertĀ Dr. Fred D. Lublin of Mount Sinai Medical Center. The June 1 lectureĀ offers a fresh view on recent evidence intoĀ the impact…
April 18, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Sanofi Genzyme Presenting New Data on Its Approved and Investigational Multiple Sclerosis Treatments at AAN Sanofi GenzymeĀ will present new data onĀ itsĀ approved multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments āĀ LemtradaĀ (alemtuzumab) and AubagioĀ (teriflunomide) ā at the 68thĀ annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), taking place in Vancouver, Canada, through April 21, as well asĀ data on investigational therapies in its pipeline. In total, the meeting…
April 18, 2016 News by Bionews Staff #CMSC16 – An Interview with June Halper, the Consortium’s CEO and an MS Nurse Practitioner When the 2016 annual meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) opens June 1, marking the organization’s 30th anniversary, at its head will be its executive director, June Halper. The honor is fitting. Halper, a nurse practitioner with a specialty in multiple sclerosis (MS) since 1978, has…
April 15, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Innate Immunotherapeutics Fully Enrolls Phase 2 Study of Drug Candidate to Treat SPMS Innate Immunotherapeutics, Ltd., announced that it hasĀ completed patientĀ enrollment inĀ its ongoingĀ Phase 2B, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of theĀ drugĀ MIS416Ā as a once-weekly treatment forĀ secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). MIS416 is a biologically derived immune modulator that targets myeloid cells, a subset of innate immune cells that can…
April 15, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Teva to Present Pipeline Data on MS Treatments at Ongoing AAN Annual Meeting Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., announced that new data on four of its products, including an approved and a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis, will be presented atĀ the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), running through April 21 in Vancouver, Canada. The data, to be…
April 14, 2016 News by admin Array of Multiple Sclerosis Trial Data to Be Presented by Biogen at 2016 AAN Meeting A rangeĀ of new multiple sclerosis (MS) data from Biogen will be revealedĀ atĀ the 68th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Vancouver, Canada, on April 15ā21. Presentations will include studies on TecfideraĀ (dimethyl fumarate),Ā one of the most frequently usedĀ oral MS treatments worldwide, as well as several other…
April 14, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Genentech to Present New Data from Phase 3 Trials of Ocrevus in MS Patients at AAN Annual Meeting GenentechĀ announced that it will present new data from three Phase 3 clinical trials ofĀ its experimental multiple sclerosis (MS) therapyĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) at the 68th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) being held in Vancouver, Canada, from April 15ā21, 2016. Additionally, results of a new endpoint for…
April 13, 2016 News by admin Study Associates Obesity in Youth, Low Vitamin D Levels with MS Onset and Progression A systematic review of existing medical literature on multiple sclerosis (MS) could shed light on MS causes and predictors for diseaseĀ progression, and on lifestyle changes ā ranging from vitamin D intake to weight loss ā that might reduce a person’s risk. The report,Ā “Factors associated with onset, relapses…
April 13, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Urinary Tract Symptoms Found to Affect 70% of MS Patients in Study and Contribute to Disability Urinary tract symptoms affect a large proportion of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), yet their extent and type is not well-known. A study reported that among a cohort of people with the disease, almost 70 percent had urinary tract problems, adding to the extent of their disability. The study,…
April 12, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MedDay Raises $38.5M to Finance Phase 3 Trial Targeting Progressive MS MedDay SASĀ recently announced that it has raised ā¬34 million, about $38.5 million, in a Series B financing round. The moneyĀ will enable the company to lead a confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial, called SPI2, in the United StatesĀ toĀ assess itsĀ lead candidate, MD1003, as a treatment for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). MedDayĀ concluded…
April 11, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc PathMaker Launches Clinical Trial of MyoRegulator to Treat Spasticity, Common in MS PathMaker Neurosystems, Inc.,Ā recently announced the launch of anĀ Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approvedĀ clinical trial, in partnership with Northwell Health (formerly North Shore-LIJ Health System) andĀ The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research,Ā to evaluate the safety and efficacy ofĀ MyoRegulator for the treatment of spasticity, one of the most common symptoms in multiple sclerosis…
April 11, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Natalizumab (Tysabri) Targets Molecule Crucial for Type of B-Cell to Accumulate in the Brain Mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), were found to have milder symptoms if the target of natalizumab (Tysabri) ā VLA4 ā was absent on B-cells, preventing regulatory cells that might control immune processes from entering the brain. B-cells are increasingly thought to play…
April 8, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Smoking Appears Linked to Brain Abnormalities in People with MS-related Disease, Study Suggests AĀ team of researchers suggested thatĀ cigarette smokingĀ is associated withĀ adverse effects toĀ white matterĀ in the brain, and reportedĀ that smokingĀ may underlie the clinical course ofĀ clinically isolated syndrome, an early and potentially predictive symptom of aĀ progression to multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, āInfluence of cigarette smoking on white matter in patients with…
April 8, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD National MS Society Invests $25.3M to Support 60 New Research Projects, Train Clinicians TheĀ National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ announced that it has investedĀ $25.3 million to support nearly 60 new research projects aiming to better understand and treatĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), and seven clinical training awards as part of its strategic approach to eventuallyĀ curingĀ MS. This investment is part of the Society’s plan to commit a…
April 7, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Patients Asked to Take Part in Survey of Risk/Benefit Considerations in Choosing Treatments The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is funding a new survey to understand how people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) weigh risks against benefits when choosing MS therapies. The survey was developed by Dr. Robert Fox, a neurologist, working with colleagues at the Cleveland Clinic and the MS patient…
April 7, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Doctors Study Possible Link Between Dimethyl Fumarate (Tecfidera) and Shingles A case report of a woman with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who developed shingles while being treated with dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera) has raised questions of whether the drug reactivatesĀ the varicella-zoster virus. The study,Ā “Disseminated zoster with paresis in a multiple sclerosis patient treated with dimethyl fumarate,“Ā was published in…
April 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Colorado Neurological Institute to Host ‘Spotlight on Hope’ Gala and Fundraiser on April 15 TheĀ Colorado Neurological InstituteĀ (CNI),Ā a non-profit research and neurological care organization, will host the āSpotlight on Hopeā gala andĀ fundraising event on April 15, celebratingĀ CNI patients, community leaders and physicians.Ā The inaugural event, which combines the group’sĀ Hope Awards and Gala, is part of CNI’s outreach efforts toĀ advance public understanding ofĀ brain cancer, attacks like…
April 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS-associated Myelitis Can Be Identified Early Through MRI Scans, Study Reports Researchers reported that patients with myelitis who later develop multiple sclerosis (MS) might be distinguished from others with myelitis by a number of characteristics, like the location and size of spinal cord lesions, a finding that might help clinicians diagnose MS and initiate treatment at an early stage. Myelitis, an…
April 5, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD New Clinical Trial Data on Experimental MS Therapeutic Vaccine, Xemys, Released PJSC Pharmsynthez, a pharmaceutical company based in Russia, recently announced completed follow-up findings and data analysis from a Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial ofĀ its novel therapeutic vaccine Xemys for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). XemysĀ utilizes Xenetic Biosciences patented ImuXen technology. In the open-label, dose-escalating trial, 20 patients…