March 26, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD T20K in Good Position to Become Preventive MS Treatment, Cyxone Says T20K, Cyxone‘s lead compound for treatingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), seems able to prevent or slow disease progression, according to data from preclinical studies. Based on these findings, the company is confident that T20K might become a prophylactic (preventive) medication for MS in the near future. T20K is a…
March 25, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Body Mass Index, but Not Age at Puberty, Linked to Higher MS Risk, Study Suggests Body mass index (BMI), but not the age at which people start puberty, could increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests. The study, “Effect of age at puberty on risk of multiple sclerosis: A mendelian randomization study,” was published in the journalĀ …
March 25, 2019 News by Mary Chapman Physiciansā Education Resource Holds 2-Day Conference on Neurological Disorders Like MS in September TheĀ Physiciansā Education Resource (PER) will host its first international conference on the future of neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), including prospective therapies. Set for Sept. 27ā28 at the InterContinental New York Times Square, the continuing medical education (CME) conference will feature more than…
March 22, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Phase 3 Trial of ADS-5102 Recruiting Participants of All MS Types A Phase 3 trial testing ADS-5102 (amantadine) extended release capsules in all types of multiple sclerosis (MS) is enrolling participants to determine whether the oral therapy can improve walking speed. A total of 570 adults with MS, ages 18 to 70 years, who have difficulty walking will be…
March 22, 2019 News by BioNews Staff Caregivers of MS Patients Should Not Neglect Own Needs, Expert Says in MSAA Webinar People who take care of their own needs while caring for a loved one with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to be successful, and enjoy a mutually rewarding relationship. And the best way to ensure that partnersā needs are met is for them to communicate openly and often.
March 21, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Roche and pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance Finalize Ocrevus Negotiations for RRMS and Early PPMS Roche Canada and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) have completed negotiations ultimately aiming to obtain public funding for Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) as a first-line treatment for adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with active disease, and as management strategy for patients with early primary progressive MS…
March 21, 2019 News by Santiago Gisler Schwann Cells Stop Blood-clotting Protein Thrombin from Damaging Nerves, Study Finds Schwann cells surrounding neurons protect the degeneration of nerves by blocking thrombin, a blood-clotting protein that can also damage nerves, according to a newĀ study. These findings may aid in the further understanding of genetic and molecular mechanisms behind conditions such asĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). Results of the study,Ā āGlial cells…
March 20, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Beta-interferons Extend Survival of Relapsing MS Patients, Study Reports Treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) with beta-interferon therapies is associated with extended patient survival, particularly if taking such treatments for more than three years, according to a real-world study in Canada and France. The study, āMultiple sclerosis: effect of beta interferon treatment on survival,ā was…
March 20, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD SPMS Treatment With Mayzent Better Than Best Supportive Care, ICER Report Says Treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients with the investigational oral therapy Mayzent (siponimod) significantly reduced the risk of disability progression and decreased inflammation, compared to best supportive care, according to aĀ preliminary draft evidence reportĀ from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). The report…
March 19, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Risk Tolerance for Therapies Linked to Age, Sex and Disability Sex, age, disability level, and current disease-modifying therapy use are linked to how multiple sclerosis (MS) patients weigh the potential benefits and safety risks of treatments, new research from two teams funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ shows. These studies shed light on how…
March 19, 2019 News by BioNews Staff Sex and Intimacy Is Focus of MSAA Webinar Sex and intimacy are good for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), just as they are for anyone without the disease. And while fear of talking with a partner about possible sexual challenges created by MS is perfectly normal, there is help available to deal with potential problems. Thatās according…
March 18, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Progressive MS Phase 2 Trial of NurOwn Stem Cell Therapy Enrolls 1st Patient The first patient has been enrolled in a Phase 2 multicenter clinical trial testing the use of NurOwn cellular therapy to treat progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics announced. The open-label trialĀ (NCT03799718), titled Safety and Efficacy of Repeated Administration ofĀ neuronĀ (MSC-NTF Cells) nin Participants…
March 18, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Temelimab Provides Long-term Benefits in RRMS Patients, Extension Study Shows Two-year treatment with temelimab reduced brain atrophy, or shrinkage, preserved myelin, and reduced disease progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), according to findings from an extension study of a Phase 2b clinical trial. Temelimab, previously known as GNbAC1, is a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the MS-associated human…
March 15, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Cleveland Clinic Nevada Joins DELIVER-MS Trial Assessing RRMS Treatments The Cleveland ClinicĀ Nevada is recruiting participants for DELIVER-MS, a clinical trial comparing two common treatment approaches for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Results from theĀ DELIVER-MS trial, titled āDetermining the Effectiveness of Early Intensive Versus Escalation Approaches for the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosisā (…
March 15, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM – Ublituximab Safe, Well-tolerated in Extension Study of Phase 2 Trial in Relapsing MS Treatment withĀ ublituximab continues to be safe and well-tolerated by patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, according to an extension study of a Phase 2 trial. According to a press release, Edward Fox, MD, PhD, from Central Texas Neurology Consultants, will give the presentation on May 7 at poster session P3: MS Clinical Trials and Therapeutic Research. Ublituximab is an investigational monoclonal antibody being developed by TG Therapeutics to target the immune B-cell marker protein CD20. This leads to the depletion of B-cells from the blood and central nervous system ā B-cells are activated during MS relapses. According to the company, ublituximab may be superior to current anti-CD20 treatments in MS, enabling both lower doses and shorter infusion times. Final results of the main TG-Therapeutics-sponsored Phase 2 trial were recently presented at the 4thĀ Annual Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum, held in Dallas, Texas. Data showed that 93% of the 48 patients enrolled (mean age 40 years) were relapse-free after a 48-week treatment with ublituximab. The annualized relapse rate ā the number of relapses per year ā was 0.07. In addition, median B-cell depletion was more than 99% throughout 48 weeks.Ā Moreover, 87% of participants showed no evidence of clinical disease. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a complete elimination of T1 lesions at 24 and 48 weeks 24 in all 46 patients analyzed. Mean T2 lesion volume decreased by 10.6% at 48 weeks, compared with the beginning of the study. T1 lesions refer to areas of active inflammation and disease activity, while T2 lesions are a measure of the total amount of lesions, both old and new. Ublituximab was found to be well-tolerated, and did not induce an severe treatment-related adverse events. The most frequent adverse events were infusion-related reactions. No patient had to discontinue treatment due to an ublituximab-related side effect. At the upcoming AAN meeting, Fox will present data on both this Phase 2 trial andĀ its open-label extension, in which 37 patients from the primary study continued receiving one-hour infusions of 450 mg of ublituximab every 24 weeks for an additional 96 weeks. Safety was monitored throughout the study, and disability assessments using theĀ Expanded Disability Status ScaleĀ were conducted every 48 weeks. As of October 2018, nearly 30% of participants had completed 48 weeks of treatment in the extension study. Results showed that ublituximab continues to be well-tolerated, with no discontinuations due to adverse events. āThe Phase 2 OLE supports that one-hour infusions of [ublituximab] continue to be safe and well tolerated,ā the researchers wrote. Of note, five of the eight study authors are affiliated with TG Therapeutics. The team expects additional patient follow-up data from the study to be available by the time of the AAN presentation. According to the scientists, the results support the ongoing Phase 3 ULTIMATE program, which includes the ULTIMATE 1 and ULTIMATE 2 trials. These studies are comparing the efficacy and safety of 450 mg of ublituximab withĀ AubagioĀ over 96 weeks of treatment in relapsing MS patients.Ā Both trials are led byĀ Lawrence Steinman, MD, atĀ Stanford University. TG Therapeutics expects toĀ have results from these trials as early as mid-2020.
March 14, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Non-contrast MRI Effective in Monitoring Progression of MS, Study Shows The evaluation of disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be performed without the use of a contrast agent, new research has shown. These findings suggest that routine use of contrast-enhanced MRI is unnecessary for most follow-ups with MS patients, reducing both imaging…
March 14, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Fatty Acid Pentanoate May Be Effective Treatment for MS, Other Autoimmune Diseases, Mouse Study Suggests Increased production of an anti-inflammatory molecule called interleukin (IL)-10, and suppression of a subtype of immune T-cells, may mean that a fatty acid called pentanoate is effective against inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new research in mice. The study, āThe…
March 13, 2019 News by Santiago Gisler Phase 2 Trial Will Assess Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy to Treat Progressive Forms of MS The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ is funding a new Phase 2 clinical trial to test the effectiveness of stem cell therapy on individuals with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), using mesenchymal stem cells from their own bone marrow. The ability of stem cells to both self-renew and create…
March 13, 2019 News by Mary Chapman On the Heels of New MS Prevalence Study, the National MS Society Marks MS Awareness Week with Patient Stories Spurred on by a recent multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence study, which revealed that the number of MS patients in the U.S. is double (nearly one million) what had been previously thought, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is marking MS Awareness Week by sharing stories of those affected…
March 12, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM ā Risk of MS Relapses Not Increased Right After Giving Birth, Study Suggests Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) do not experience more relapses right after giving birth, as previously believed, according to a preliminary study. The study also revealed that mothers with MS who breastfeed their babies have a lower relapse risk compared with those who do not breastfeed. The data, ā…
March 12, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Celgene Seeks Approval in European Union for Ozanimod to Treat Adult RRMS An application has been submitted for the use of ozanimod to treat adult patients withĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)Ā within the European Union, according toĀ Celgene, the developer of ozanimod. The marketing authorization application was submitted to the European Medicines Agency…
March 11, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Immunic Therapeutics Enrolls First Patient in Phase 2 Trial of IMU-838 for RRMS Immunic TherapeuticsĀ has enrolled the first patient in its Phase 2 clinical trial testing IMU-838, a potential oral therapy forĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). IMU-838 (vidofludimus calcium) is a next-generation selective modulator of the immune system. It works by inhibiting an enzyme called dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), which plays a role…
March 11, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Tecfidera May Work to Lower Relapses by Inducing Epigenetic Changes in T-cells, Study Suggests TreatingĀ multiple sclerosis with Tecfidera induces specific genetic alterations that may reduce the levels of immune T-cells targeting the central nervous system, researchers report. Environmental stimuli may induce epigenetic changes in cells ā meaning not alterations in the genes themselves, but changes in gene expression (the process by which information in a gene is synthesized to create a working product, like a protein). Epigenetic changes may induce MS development, as these alterations can cause T-cells to attack the central nervous system. One type of epigenetic change is DNA demethylation, the removal of methyl chemical groups, in which molecules involved in metabolism (such as fumarate) interact with enzymes known as DNA demethylases. This process in key for T-cell activation, function and memory, suggesting that it could be an immunomodulatory target. Fumaric acid esters were shown to be effective in MS clinical trials, leading to the approval ofĀ Tecfidera (by Biogen) for people with relapsing-remitting forms of the disease.Ā However, their complete mechanism of action remains unclear. Aiming to address this gap, scientists at theĀ Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) at The Graduate Center of The City University of New YorkĀ and theĀ Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, recruited 98 MS patients, either previously untreated (47 people, mean age of 38.4), treated with Tecfidera (35 people, mean age of 42.3), or treated with glatiramer acetate (16 patients, mean age of 43.4) ā marketed asĀ CopaxoneĀ byĀ Teva Pharmaceuticals, with generic forms byĀ SandozĀ (asĀ Glatopa) and byĀ Mylan. All patients had stable disease for at least three months, but disease duration was shortest in untreated patients ā 40.4 months vs. 130 months in those given Tecfidera, and 100 months in patients using glatiramer acetate. Blood samples were collected from each participant to assess epigenetic changes in T-cells expressing the cell surface marker CD4. MS patients typicallyĀ have an activated formĀ of these cells in their blood and cerebrospinal fluid, the liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Results revealed that, compared to the other two groups,Ā treatmentĀ with Tecfidera was associated with a lower percentage of T-cells containing the CD3, CD4, and CD8 markers, as well as lower levels of subsets of T-cells expressing the CCR4 and CCR6 receptors, which are critical to T-cell migration to the gut, brain, and skin. Treatment with glatiramer acetate resulted in significantly milder alterations in T-cell percentages compared to no treatment. Researchers then found that FAEs induce excessive methylation ā the addition of methyl groups ā in T-cells containing CD4, compared to glatiramer acetate. Specifically, this overmethylation was observed in a micro-RNA ā tiny RNA molecules than control gene expression ā known as miR-21, key for the differentiation of a subset of T-cells called T helper-17 (Th17) cells and for CCR6 expression in MS mouse models. These Th17 cells are critical in tissue inflammation and destruction, and have beenĀ implicatedĀ in MS. The epigenetic effects of FAEs were subsequently validated by comparing pre- to post-treatment with Tecfidera in seven patients. In turn, in vitroĀ (lab dish) experiments showed that FAEs act specifically on the activation of naĆÆve T-cells ā those able to respond to new pathogens to the immune system ā containing the CD4 or the CD8 markers. Of note, patients with MS have shown increased miR-21 levels, particularly during acute relapses. As such, the team hypothesized that its hypermethylation by FAEs could contribute to remission and the prevention of relapses in this patient population. These results "suggest that the metabolic-epigenetic interplay in T-cells could be harnessed for therapeutic purposes," the researchers wrote, and that the immunomodulatory effect of FAEs in MS is due at least in part to the epigenetic regulation of T-cells. The researchers believe that their findings have a broader implication, beyond MS. "Our findings about therapeutically active metabolites have implications for the treatment of not only multiple sclerosis but also other autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease, which involve the same type of T-cells," Achilles Ntranos, the studyās lead author, said in a press release. "Understanding the epigenetic effect of metabolites on the immune system will help us develop several novel strategies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, which could help patients and physicians achieve better clinical outcomes," Ntranos added. Patrizia Casaccia, the studyās senior author, concluded:Ā "It may one day be possible to target and suppress production of the specific brain-homing T-cells that play a role in the development of MS."
March 10, 2019 News by Larry Luxner MS Patients Share Their Stories at NYC Event Featuring Montel Williams After months of preparation with storytelling experts, three ordinary Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS) took the stage in New York late last year to share their MS journeys. The three joined TV personality Montel Williams at an event inaugurating My MS: Second Act, a joint effort co-sponsored by…
March 8, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Daily Cup of Flavonoid-rich Cocoa May Help Ease MS Fatigue A daily cup of flavonoid-rich cocoa may help ease fatigue in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to the results of a small clinical trial. The study āA randomised double-blind placebo-controlled feasibility trial of flavonoid-rich cocoa for fatigue in people with relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosisā was…
March 8, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM – Sugar-sweetened Beverages Linked to Higher Disability Level in MS, Study Finds Drinking about 290 calories of sugar-sweetened beverages ā the equivalent of about two cans of non-diet soda ā per day may be associated with a higher level of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), compared to those who seldom consume such beverages, according to a preliminary study. The…
March 7, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein #ACTRIMS2019 – MSCopilot App Shows Promise as Self-Monitoring Tool MSCopilot, a software deviceĀ designed for the self-assessment of multiple sclerosis (MS), distinguishes between patients and healthy controls, and potentially could be usedĀ in clinical practice for the monitoring of MS disability progression and patients’ response to treatment. Matthieu Lamy, fromĀ Ad Scientiam, the…
March 7, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein #ACTRIMS2019 – Forum Leaders Discuss: ‘Will There Be a Cure for MS?’ It is a question that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, loved ones, and the larger community have asked for some time: “Will there be a cure for multiple sclerosis?” MS News Today had the opportunity to ask that question of leaders at theĀ Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in…
March 7, 2019 News by BioNews Staff UK Team to Test Robot-assisted Exercise to Improve Balance in MS Patients Researchers at Kent and Canterbury Hospital, U.K., are recruiting 20 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who can walk at least eight meters with a walking aid to test the effectiveness of a five-week exercise program using assistive robotic technology. A patient completes balance and strengthening exercises using the…
March 6, 2019 News by Mary Chapman Multiple Sclerosis Association of America Putting Focus on Family for MS Awareness Month In recognition of March as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is calling attention to the diseaseās impact on families. More specifically, the nonprofit organization is focusing its awareness campaign on the topics “Relationships and MS” and “Spotlighting Care Partner Needs,” according…