June 21, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD GlobeStar, AIP team up to design clinical trials for Project Amethyst GlobeStar TherapeuticsĀ (GSTC) is teaming up with Advanced Innovative Partners (AIP) to design and implement clinical trials of Project Amethyst, an investigational therapy for multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) that aims to reduce neurodegeneration ā when nerve cells in the body lose function and ultimately die. The new memorandum of understanding (MOU)…
June 21, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS PoNS device wins accreditation needed to be covered by Medicare The PoNS device ā officially the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator, designed to help improve walking ability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) ā has been granted the accreditation needed for Medicare and Medicaid coverage in the U.S., according to Helius Medical Technologies, which makes the device. That designation, called…
June 20, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD T-cell changes reflect pregnancy’s protective effects in MS Changes in the gene activity within immune T-cells explain why women with multiple sclerosis (MS) improve during pregnancy, a study reports. Gene activity changes during and after pregnancy were highly similar between MS patients and healthy women. Many of the genes whose activity was altered during pregnancy were associated…
June 20, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Fatty acid-derived molecules tied to inflammation, disability in study Altered blood levels of certain fat molecules implicated in inflammatory responses seem to correlate with disability status and markers of nerve damage in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly in those with progressive forms of the disorder, a study reported. Findings highlight the potential role of these fat, or…
June 19, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Potential blood biomarker of Gilenya response found in MS patients A microRNA called miR-548a-3p, a small molecule important for regulation of gene activity, may help to identify people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who will reach no evidence of disease activity ā a status known as NEDA-3 ā after treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod), a study found. Data showed that…
June 16, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD MRI method detects myelin repair with over-the-counter antihistamine The over-the-counter antihistamine clemastine has demonstrated an ability to repair myelin, the protective coating on nerve fibers that’s damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to an analysis of MRI data from the ReBUILD clinical trial. The changes in myelin were examined with a noninvasive MRI method that more…
June 16, 2023 News by Mary Chapman 10 MS nonprofits unite on shared research strategy to find cures To address knowledge gaps and avoid duplicate efforts in the lab and in trials, 10 multiple sclerosis (MS) organizations from around the world have committed to a single global research strategy to find a cure for the progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The nonprofits, with headquarters in countries ranging from the…
June 15, 2023 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Levels of fat molecules in blood can affect relapses, disability in children Alterations in the levels of certain fat molecules in the bloodstream are significantly associated with a higher risk of relapse and a poorer disability status in children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent study. It’s not yet clear if such alterations contribute to the inflammation…
June 15, 2023 News by Mary Chapman ACROBiosystems joins Diagnostic Biochips for neuroscience research Aneuro, a brand of the biotechnology company ACROBiosystems, is partnering with the biosensor maker Diagnostic Biochips to help bring to market new approaches to treating disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Specifically, the companies are collaborating to launch electrophysiology solutions that can be used in living…
June 14, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Blood-clotting protein triggers brain inflammation in MS: Study A blood-clotting protein called fibrin can activate immune cells in the brain and contribute to inflammation and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS), a study revealed. Because blood vessels become leaky in neurodegenerative conditions like MS, the blood can cross into the brain, which is known to activate multiple pro-inflammatory…
June 14, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Ocrevus appears to be better than rituximab at preventing MS relapses Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) appears to be more effective than rituximab at reducing relapse activity in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), but disability progression outcomes are comparable between the therapies, an observational study of patients reported. “Study findings suggest that the effectiveness of rituximab on MS relapses was…
June 13, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS 30 years after MS was first treatable, challenges remain amid triumphs It’s been three decades since the first treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) was approved. In that time, the field has made substantial advances ā including the approval of over two dozen medications ā but there’s still a long way to go to improve care for progressive forms of…
June 13, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS DDX39B seen as ‘guardian’ in autoimmune attacks that drive MS The protein DDX39B is a master regulator of immune tolerance, or the immune system’s ability to distinguish self from potentially harmful nonself molecules, and helps to control the development of immune cells that are key for this process, a new study shows. Findings suggest that activating DDX39B with small molecules…
June 12, 2023 News by Patricia Valerio, PhD Physical activity may improve life quality in newly diagnosed patients Engaging in physical activity may improve the quality of life for people newly diagnosed withĀ multiple sclerosis, a link that remained even after accounting for other factors such as fatigue and disability status, a study shows.
June 12, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD FDA clears way for Phase 1 study of PIPE-791 in healthy volunteers Pipeline Therapeutics will soon launch a Phase 1 clinical study to test PIPE-791, one of its candidate treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS), in healthy volunteers. The announcement follows a go-ahead from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an investigational new drug (IND) application to initiate clinical…
June 9, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Ocrevus best to prevent MS relapses after stopping Tysabri: Study Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) ā given by infusion ā may work better than certain oral treatments to prevent relapses and disability worsening in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who transition from Tysabri (natalizumab), a new study found. Individuals who switched to Ocrevus also were more likely to stay…
June 9, 2023 News by Mary Chapman National MS Society, MS Canada tops in peer-to-peer fundraising The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has earned a shoutout from the digital fundraising platform DonorDrive for being recognized as one of the top 30 peer-to-peer fundraising programs in the U.S. by the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum. MS Canada also made the list for the top…
June 8, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Microglial activation reduced in 5 of 6 SPMS patients on nasal foralumab Reductions in microglial activation have been observed in the brains of five of six patients with nonactive secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) who received treatment with Tiziana Life Science’s foralumab nasal spray. Microglia, resident immune cells in the brain, are believed to play a role in driving inflammation…
June 8, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Aerobic, resistance exercises most effective for patient fitness: Study For people with multiple sclerosis (MS), all forms of exercise are likely to be beneficial for physical fitness, but certain forms of exercise may be better than others at improving specific measures of fitness, according to a review of multiple clinical trials. Results suggest that resistance training ā pushing…
June 7, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Molecular mechanisms help drive microglia problems in brain in MS Disease-associated inflammatory activity of microglia ā a type of immune cell with a central role in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) ā is driven in part by molecular mechanisms that are activated when microglia try to clear the corpses of dead myelin-making cells. That’s according to a new…
June 7, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Researchers analyze switching to Kesimpta from oral therapies People with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) who experienced disease activity while on oral therapies had less disease activity after switching to Kesimpta (ofatumumab), according to an analysis of data from the Phase 3 ARTIOS clinical trial. The patients previously were on Gilenya (fingolimod), or fumarate-based therapies such…
June 6, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Novel immune cell strategy found to reverse disease in MS mice Microparticles that activate regulatory T-cells, or Tregs, an immune cell type with anti-inflammatory properties, reversed the accumulation of physical disability due to multiple sclerosis (MS) in a mouse model of the neurodegenerative disorder, a new study shows. Use of the novel strategy even cured some of the animals. “We…
June 6, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Depression not a causal risk factor for disability progression: Study Physical disability, not whether patients are depressed, when they’re diagnosed with multiple sclerosis significantly influences their future disability progression, according to a recent U.K. registry study. Although patients who were depressed at the time of their diagnosis were more likely to accumulate significant disability and require an aid to…
June 5, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Analyses of protein levels in blood can help ID MS patient subgroups Analyses of protein levels in the blood can be used to identify groups of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with distinct clinical features, new research shows. Given the variability of symptoms among people with MS, such groupings could help to improve individualized care for patients, according to Octave, a…
June 5, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Canadian TV airs award-winning documentary on man’s MS journey As part of last week’s World MS Day, a documentary about the life of Mathew Embry, a multiple sclerosis (MS) patient who’s been living symptom-free for more than 27 years, has premiered on national Canadian television. The critically acclaimed documentary, called “Living Proof,” premiered June 4 on The…
June 2, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Vidofludimus calcium tolerated well for nearly 4 years Long-term treatment with vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838) has been tolerated well overall among people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), new data from an extension study show. Findings were presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting, in a poster titled “Assessment of Long-Term Safety…
June 2, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Briumvi approved in Europe for active, relapsing forms of MS The European Commission has approved Briumvi (ublituximab) for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) who have active disease, as defined by clinical or imaging features. The approval, which covers all member states in the European Union, as well as Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein,…
June 1, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Stress in MS linked to worse disability, more burden in US survey Being exposed to stress as children or adults makes it more likely that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) will experience more disability and/or a heavier burden from relapses, according to a new survey study of more than 700 people in the U.S. āMS is the leading cause of non-traumatic…
June 1, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD 2nd generation CD40L blocker safely reduces new lesions in Phase 2 trial Frexalimab, an experimental anti-CD40L antibody therapy from Sanofi, significantly reduced the number of new brain lesions with active inflammation in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new Phase 2 clinical trial data. Sanofi believes its second-generation CD40L blocker will effectively control immune activity in…
May 31, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Myelin defects seen before lesions, inflammatory activity in MS: Study A detailed examination of nerve tissue isolated from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients showed changes to the myelin sheath before the appearance of substantial inflammatory activity and lesions, a study reported. In MS patients, normal-appearing brain regions showed a less compact, detached, and disorganized myelin composition that may make…