News

Foralumab wins FDA fast track designation for nonactive SPMS

Tiziana Life Sciences has received fast track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its intranasal foralumab to treat nonactive secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). The FDA gives fast track status to experimental medicines that have the potential to fill unmet needs to treat serious…

National MS Society names Coetzee president and CEO

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) said it named Tim Coetzee, PhD, president and chief executive officer. Coetzee had been chief advocacy, services, and science officer for the organization, which provides funding and advocacy programs and services and works toward creating a world without multiple sclerosis (MS). Coetzee…

Kesimpta outperforms Aubagio among ethnically diverse groups

Kesimpta (ofatumumab) is more effective than Aubagio (teriflunomide) among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) from ethnically diverse groups, including Black and African American, Hispanic and Latino, and Asian individuals, according to an analysis of pooled clinical trial data. “Determining whether there are differences in how people respond…

Machine learning analysis of eye scans may aid diagnosis of MS

Using machine learning to analyze eye scans can help detect slight changes that may be early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially aiding in early diagnosis of the disease, a study found. The study, “SLO-Net: Enhancing Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis Beyond Optical Coherence Tomography Using Infrared Reflectance…

CHIT1 levels at diagnosis may predict future MS progression

Levels of the immune cell protein CHIT1 at diagnosis, taken from the spinal fluid via a spinal tap, may strongly predict how fast disability progression will occur in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study suggests. Compared with standard clinical measures used to predict disease progression — such…

Stem cell therapy leads to short-term disability reduction in MS

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to experience a short-term reduction in disability and brain lesion volume after receiving stem cell therapy, according to a meta-analysis of nine studies detailing randomized clinical trials. After six and 12 months, however, the researchers found no differences in disability between patients…

Researchers win AU$2.9M toward AI precision medicine for MS

The Australian government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has awarded AU$2.9 million (about $1.96 million) to support a project focused on developing artificial intelligence (AI) precision medicine strategies for multiple sclerosis (MS). The project will be conducted by a team of investigators that will include neurologists, neuroradiologists, and data…

Bit.bio launches human astrocyte product to help model brain

Bit.bio, a company that creates human-derived cell products, has launched a novel product called ioAstrocytes, which provides functional human astrocytes to help scientists model the brain and study neurological disease mechanisms or screen new drugs. Astrocytes are star-shaped cells in the brain and spinal cord that provide support…

Subcutaneous Ocrevus approved in EU for relapsing MS, PPMS

The European Commission has approved a subcutaneous, or under-the-skin, formulation of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) to treat adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). The approval makes the new formulation available in the European Union for the same indications as the original intravenous (into-the-vein) formulation, which is available to people with relapsing…