May 16, 2023 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Brain volume loss with Ocrevus similar to healthy aging: Study Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) reduces brain volume loss in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to levels similar to those seen in healthy aging, a small study reports. “These findings are consistent with an important role of inflammation on overall tissue loss and the role of ocrelizumab in…
May 15, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD 1st group of healthy volunteers dosed in Phase 1 trial of ‘Lucid-MS’ FSD Pharma has completed dosing in the first group of healthy volunteers enrolled in its Phase 1 clinical trial testing Lucid-21-302, an oral medication candidate for all types of multiple sclerosis (MS). The medication, also known as Lucid-MS, was first given to a sentinel subject ā one…
May 15, 2023 News by Patricia Valerio, PhD More nerve damage in MS linked to increased microglia activation Increased activation of microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain that contribute to chronic inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS), is significantly associated with higher levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein, indicating more nerve damage, a study found. Researchers particularly identified strong links between…
May 12, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD MS diagnosis rate constant for 20 years, large UK study shows The rate of multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnoses have remained relatively constant for almost 20 years in the U.K., according to a population-based study involving more than 22 million people. Most MS diagnoses occurred during middle age, with women being more likely than men to receive a…
May 12, 2023 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Study examines risk factors for chronic opioid use by vets with MS People with multiple sclerosis and a history of chronic opioid use are nearly 200 times more likely to use prescription opioids persistently, according to a study involving nearly 15,000 U.S. military veterans living with the neurodegenerative condition. A history of pain, paralysis, post-traumatic stress disorder, or living in a…
May 11, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Nanocapsules with retinoic acid may treat MS inflammation: Study Modified nanocapsules containing retinoic acid can suppress inflammation and prompt the growth of cellsĀ that produce nerve fibers’ myelin coating, which is lost in multiple sclerosis (MS), a cell-based study shows. The results demonstrated how lipid (fat) nanocapsules that contain medicines can access the brain and treat the two…
May 11, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Researchers uncover key biological pathway for MS Interleukin-3 (IL-3), an inflammatory signaling protein, seems to coordinate the recruitment of immune cells from the blood into the brain, leading to worsening inflammation and symptoms related to multiple sclerosis (MS), a study revealed. Targeting IL-3-mediated communication may be an effective therapeutic strategy for MS and other brain disorders,…
May 10, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Surgery found successful for some MS patients with facial pain Surgical procedures to treat trigeminal neuralgia ā a type of nerve damage that causes facial pain ā may be successful for some people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who fail to respond to medications, a new study found. A more invasive procedure called microvascular decompression, or MVD, had slightly…
May 10, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Omega-3 fatty acid transporter vital for myelin sheath production: Study A protein called Mfsd2a, which transports molecules that contain omega-3 fatty acids, is essential for regulating cells that make theĀ fatty coating on nerve fibers, or myelin sheath, that’s damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS), a study indicates. In mice lacking Mfsd2a, the cells that make myelin, or oligodendrocytes, fail…
May 9, 2023 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Neurologist Robert Lisak named 2023 Giant of Multiple Sclerosis Neurologist Robert Lisak, MD, has been named a 2023 Giant of Multiple Sclerosis for his work in understanding the mechanisms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and improving care for people with the condition. Lisak, MD, a professor of neurology and former chair of the Wayne State University Department of Neurology,…
May 9, 2023 News by Mary Chapman DrTalks summit in July will offer ways to improve daily living in MS The online platform DrTalks is offering a free virtual summit this summer aimed at helping multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and their caregivers better manage daily life with the progressive neurodegenerative condition. The event is slated for July 5-11, and has more than four dozen speakers lined up. Talks…
May 8, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Myeloid cells with added ‘backpack’ may help halt MS inflammation Attaching a kind of molecule backpack to myeloid cells ā a type of immune cells involved in the inflammatory attack that drives multiple sclerosis (MS) ā may help to halt inflammation and damage in the brain in MS by modulating immune cell activity, a study…
May 8, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Home-based walking program may boost cognition in MS: Pilot study A four-month home-based aerobic walking program was feasible and may help improve cognitive function for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, according to data from a recent pilot study funded by the Kessler Foundation. Findings from this small study support the design of a randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate…
May 5, 2023 News by Mary Chapman Better MS outcomes are goal of MSAA-led learning health network The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is collaborating with NovartisĀ and the Chronic Health Improvement Research Program (CHIRP) at Dartmouth Health to establish a multicenter learning health network for providers to drive better outcomes for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Called the Multiple Sclerosis Implementation Network…
May 5, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Tadpole model could be launchpad to test therapies for remyelination A newly developed laboratory model using tadpoles can help determine the remyelinating potential of new multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies via specific changes in behavior and vision tests, a new study suggests. The model may help accelerate the discovery of potential MS remyelinating therapies, and reduce the use of resources…
May 4, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS High NfL levels seen in children near times of disease activity: Study Blood levels of the nerve damage marker NfL seem to spike to very high levels around times of disease activity in children with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study reports. The findings support using NfL as a biomarker of disease activity, in the form of relapses or lesions, in…
May 4, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Tysabri found to be safe and effective in real-world Danish study Tysabri (natalizumab) is generally safe and effectively lowers disease activity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a real-world study of patients over a 13-year period in Denmark. “Most patients treated with [Tysabri] are clinically stable with few adverse events,” researchers wrote. In more recent years, doctors…
May 3, 2023 News by Mary Chapman Man with MS biking across Canada to support research into a cure Jonathan Allenger, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) a decade ago, is planning to bike more than 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) across Canada to raise awareness and CA$1 million for MS research and patient support services. Proceeds from the journey ā set to begin on May 7 and conclude by…
May 3, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Antibody clumps in blood could drive nerve cell death in MS Clusters of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in theĀ blood of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients appear to contribute to the nerve cell death that marks the neurodegenerative disease, according to a recent study. IgG antibodies harvested from the blood of MS patients drove nerve cell death in cell cultures, whereas antibodies…
May 2, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Briumvi’s permanent J-code will aid reimbursement for MS patients The recently approved CD20 inhibitor Briumvi (ublituximab-xiiy) has received a permanent insurance reimbursement code that will simplify claims submissions and documentation processes for adults in the U.S. with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis who are prescribed it. Issued by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the…
May 2, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Virtual reality therapy can improve balance in patients: Meta-analysis Rehabilitation therapy that utilizes virtual reality can help to improve balance and reduce the fear of falling for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new analysis shows. “Our findings provide support to the use of [virtual reality-based therapy] to recover balance in neurological diseases such as MS,” researchers wrote.
May 1, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS AAN 2023: Early use of Ocrevus lowers disease activity in relapsing MS Nearly half of the people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) treated early with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) in Phase 3 clinical trials showed no evidence of disease activity after up to nine years on the therapy, data show. In contrast, about one-quarter of enrolled patients who started on…
May 1, 2023 News by Mary Chapman ‘Faces on Design’ project unveils assistive devices for patients A yearlong project by University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) engineering and nursing students has meant new customized assistive devices for people with physical conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS). The program pairs seniors from UDM’s College of Engineering & Science with nursing students from the College of Health Professions…
April 28, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS AAN 2023: MS disability not worse for most on Kesimpta over 5 years More than 80% of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) given Kesimpta (ofatumumab) continuously for up to five years in a clinical trial did not have any documented worsening of disability over the duration of the treatment. That’s according to new data from the ongoing…
April 28, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS AAN 2023: Low rates of disease activity after stem cell transplant There was no evidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity for at least two years in patients who underwent an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) at a center in Mexico. And by the most recent follow-up ā a median of about seven years after the procedure ā…
April 27, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS AAN 2023: No relapses on Ocrevus for 90% of Black, Hispanic patients More than 90% of Black and Hispanic patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) in a Phase 4 clinical trial experienced no new relapse activity or sustained disability worsening after nearly one year, according to an interim analysis. However, more than half of these patients experienced…
April 27, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS AAN 2023: Aubagio reduced risk of developing MS symptoms in RIS trial Treatment with Aubagio (teriflunomide) significantly reduces the risk that adults with radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) will develop symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), new clinical trial data show. This is the second trial showing that approved disease-modifying therapies can delay the development of MS in people who have…
April 26, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD AAN 2023: Tolebrutinib safely lowers relapse rates over 2.5 years About 2.5 years of treatment with tolebrutinib was associated with low relapse rates and stable disability levels among people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to data in an ongoing, open-label extension of a Phase 2b trial. The oral treatment also continued to show a “favorable”…
April 26, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS AAN 2023: TUDCA supplements lower inflammatory cell counts in progressive MS trial Supplements with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) were generally well tolerated among people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to findings from a small clinical trial. Results also showed that patients given TUDCA supplements had lower levels of certain inflammatory immune cells than those given a placebo, but no…
April 25, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS AAN 2023: MSC-NP aids walking in advanced progressive MS patients Use of the cell therapy MSC-NP failed to show a significant effect on overall disability scores among people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to data from a Phase 2 clinical trial. Results, however, indicated that MSC-NP improved walking ability for people with more advanced disease ā…