January 16, 2024 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD EU agency OKs study of therapy to improve mitochondrial function Mitochon Pharmaceuticals is launching a pilot clinical trial to evaluate MP101, its treatment candidate for improving mitochondrial function, in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. The announcement follows the trial’s clearance by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which enables Mitochon to begin enrolling patients with…
January 16, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD $24M in financing to advance treatments to protect myelin sheath Myrobalan Therapeutics has secured $24 million in series A financing to support the development of oral medications for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), which comprises the brain and spinal cord. The companyās pipeline currently includes three candidate therapies…
January 12, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Ancient DNA reveal how MS risk genes arose, spread across Europe Genetic changes that predispose people to developing multiple sclerosis (MS) first emerged among herding populations who migrated to Eastern Europe thousands of years ago and then spread across the continent, new research has found. Researchers think these genetic variations may have helped turbocharge the immune system, making it easier…
January 12, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Compassion-focused therapy eases thoughts about suicide, pain Engaging in online sessions of compassion-focused therapy, which works toward getting people to become more compassionate about themselves, may help women with multiple sclerosis (MS) deal with suicidal thoughts, a small study suggests. Compassion-focused therapy also may help these women overcome pain catastrophizing, which is a tendency to view…
January 11, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MS patients have high levels of T-cells targeting EBV-infected B-cells People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have high levels of T-cells in their spinal fluid that specifically target cells infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), according to a new study. These T-cells were found in samples collected from patients during their diagnostic workup in the early stages of…
January 11, 2024 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Depression in pregnancy linked to autoimmune disease, especially MS Women with a history of depression around the time they get pregnant are at increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), according to recent research. Likewise, women who have an autoimmune disease are more likely to get depressed during pregnancy and in the year after…
January 10, 2024 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Monte Rosa plans to begin Phase 1 trial of MRT-6160 in mid-2024 Monte Rosa Therapeutics is planning to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial to test MRT-6160, its investigational therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases, by mid-2024. The trial will follow the submission of an investigational new drug (IND) application, a formal request to U.S. regulatory authorities…
January 10, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Foralumab nasal spray shown to ease fatigue in nonactive SPMS Six of eight patients with nonactive secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) being treated with foralumab nasal spray ā all part of an intermediate-size expanded access program (EAP) allowing the therapy’s use ā have experienced reductions in their fatigue levels. That’s according to treatment developer Tiziana Life Sciences,…
January 9, 2024 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Blood levels of GFAP protein may predict disease progression in PPMS The ongoing worsening of disability among people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) may be predicted by elevated blood levels of the GFAP protein, a marker of damage to star-shaped support cells in the brain and spinal cord called astrocytes, a study suggests. The risk of disability progression was…
January 9, 2024 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD CNM-Au8 leads to clinical gains for RRMS patients in extension study Daily treatment withĀ CNM-Au8 led to sustained improvements in vision and cognition for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to nearly three years of follow-up in the VISIONARY-MS trial and its open-label extension (OLE). Developer Clene Nanomedicine plans to present full trial results at the upcoming ACTRIMS…
January 8, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS In MS, spinal cord atrophy, chronic inflammation predict progression In people with multiple sclerosis (MS), disability worsening independent of relapse activity ā commonly known as “silent progression” ā tends to be accompanied by greater atrophy, or shrinkage, in the spinal cord, as well as a higher number of lesions with chronic inflammation, known as paramagnetic rim lesions or…
January 8, 2024 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Ocrevus in real world may also help severely disabled MS patients Treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) may stabilize disability progression in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have severe walking impairments ā a patient group excluded from clinical trials supporting the therapy’s 2017 approval ā a real-world analysis suggests. However, about half of those receiving Ocrevus in this study discontinued…
January 5, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD More cognitive fatigue reported by patients with MS, brain injury Adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) or traumatic brain injury report more cognitive fatigue, or exhaustion resulting from mental work, than do healthy individuals ā regardless of the nature of the tasks being performed ā a study found. However, cognitive fatigue built up at a similar rate among study participants…
January 5, 2024 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD FDA OKs Phase 2 clinical trial of KYV-101 for progressive MS The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared a Phase 2 clinical trial to test Kyverna Therapeutics‘ cell-based therapy candidate KYV-101 in people with treatment-resistant progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Called KYSA-7 (NCT06138132), the open-label trial will enroll an estimated 12 patients with either primary progressive…
January 4, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Breastfeeding may reduce later MS risk for people with family history In people with a family history of multiple sclerosis (MS), exclusive breastfeeding in the first months of life may reduce the risk of developing the disease later on, whereas use of cow’s milk or formula may increase MS risk. That’s according to a new study on the potential impact…
January 4, 2024 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Age of onset of RRMS increased in Norway over past century: Study An increasing number of people in western Norway have been diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS) after age 50 over the past century, according to a new population study. The rise was primarily driven by people being diagnosed at older ages, with the average age of onset rising from 28.6…
January 3, 2024 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD People living with HIV significantly less likely to develop MS: Study Living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is linked to a significantly lower rate of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) ā including among people exposed to antiretroviral treatment, or medicines that can stop the HIV virus from replicating ā a new study found. The rate of MS was particularly reduced…
January 3, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MS activity not likely to be affected by dairy or gluten foods, study finds An analysis of data covering nearly 200 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) found no association between dairy or gluten consumption and MS disease activity. While some specific diets for MS tend to restrict gluten and/or dairy, this study found that people who ate these dietary products were as…
January 2, 2024 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Sudo raises $116M to develop TYK2 inhibitors for MS, other diseases Sudo Biosciences has raised $116 million in a Series B financing to support the clinical development of two inhibitors of the TYK2 enzyme for treating neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) and skin-related diseases. One of the TYK2 inhibitors, given orally, is designed to efficiently reach the brain…
January 2, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Top 10 MS stories of 2023 Throughout 2023, Multiple Sclerosis News Today brought consistent coverage to our readers of the latest scientific research, developments in treatment, and clinical trials for multiple sclerosis (MS). Here is a list of the top 10 most-read stories we published last year, along with a brief description. We look…
December 29, 2023 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Tracking brain changes in early MS can predict odds of progression The rate of brain atrophy, or shrinkage, and changes in brain lesion volume in the first years of treatment with Rebif (interferon beta-1a) may help predict which patients with early multiple sclerosis (MS) will receive a clinically definite diagnosis, a study suggests. The brain radiologic measures may also…
December 27, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD SMS text messages may help MS patients self-manage fatigue: Study Sending SMS text messages to people with multiple sclerosis (MS) ā with tips for fatigue self-management and to regularly check in on them ā may be a feasible, acceptable, and engaging tool to help these patients manage disease-related fatigue, according to a pilot study. The findings also showed some…
December 26, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Remote coaching plus online tips ease stress of MS caregiving Remote coaching sessions to support the mental and emotional health of informal multiple sclerosis (MS) caregivers, coupled with online information, showed significant benefits after four months, according to a pilot study. These coaching sessions ā known as psychoeducation ā focused on information, support, and strategies for caring and planning…
December 22, 2023 News by Mary Chapman Generics of Tecfidera not available in Europe until at least 2025 The European Commission (EC) has withdrawn its marketing authorizations for generic versions of Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), an oral therapy approved in Europe for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). According toĀ Biogen, which developed and markets the brand-name medication, the decision ensures Biogen will have full data and marketing protection…
December 22, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD In pilot trial, Ocrevus failed to reduce MS inflammation in meninges Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) did not significantly reduce the number or volume of inflammatory lesions in the meninges in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent pilot study. While inflammation in the meninges, the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, is thought to be driven…
December 21, 2023 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Dosing begins in Phase 2a trial of foralumab nasal spray for SPMS Tiziana Life Sciences has dosed the first patient in a Phase 2a clinical trial testing itsĀ foralumab nasal spray in people with nonactive secondary progressive multiple sclerosisĀ (SPMS). The trial will include about 54 participants, enrolled across six clinical sites. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive one of two…
December 21, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD New AI algorithm provides better MRI images of brain in MS: Study DeepSTI, a new artificial intelligence or AI-assisted MRI algorithm, can generate high-resolution, 3D images of the brain from only one head orientation. This new technology may allow clinicians to use fewer scans to visualize changes in the brain caused by neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), a study…
December 20, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Telehealth intervention seen to help MS patients lose weight in trial A six-month telehealth program designed to help participants change their dietary and lifestyle habits resulted in an increased level of physical activity and clinically relevant weight loss for most obese people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who took part, a clinical trial found. In fact, about 2 in 3 of…
December 20, 2023 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD ‘Multifactorial’ approach may be needed to prevent falls in MS: Study The risk of falling among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) seems to be associated with a combination of personal, environmental, and activity-related factors, according to a large U.S. survey. Personal factors included poor balance, muscle weakness, and fatigue. Surface conditions and distraction made up environmental factors, while work-related factors…
December 19, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Talk therapy found to ease fatigue in MS – with or without follow-up A 20-week talk therapy program led to significant reductions in fatigue for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) ā benefits that were sustained to the end of the year-long trial regardless of whether patients participated in additional booster sessions. Such sessions were offered two and four months after the end…