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 (MS), a study shows. Physical activity was found to be significantly associated with the physical component of quality of life, and the link remained after accounting for other factors such as fatigue…
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…
May 31, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD CMSC updates core values to more actively address inequalities in care In an effort to improve access to medical care for all people with multiple sclerosis (MS), the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) has announced new initiatives to address disparities and inequality in MS care. The consortium is incorporating a new statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)…
May 30, 2023 News by Mary Chapman 2 new IVX Health outpatient infusion centers open in Florida More treatment centers for people with autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS) are now available in Florida, as IVX Health expands its footprint across the state with the addition of two outpatient infusion and injection centers in the Fort Lauderdale area. With the new locations in Pembroke…
May 30, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Clene wins grant to develop CNM-Au8 for progressive MS The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has awarded Clene Nanomedicine a grant to advance its treatment candidate CNM-Au8 for people with nonactive, progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The funding comes from the MS Society’s Fast Forward Program, which supports commercial organizations developing promising new MS therapies,…
May 26, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Average MS relapse rate lower than in past decades: UK study The average rate of relapses for multiple sclerosis (MS) in the modern era is lower than it has been in decades past, according to a new analysis from the U.K. Scientists speculate the availability of new, more effective disease-modifying therapies may help explain why relapses appear to…
May 26, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Fertility rates about 2 times lower in women with MS: Study in Italy While fertility rates in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been increasing over time, they remain about two times lower than in the general population, a study in Italy has found. āThere is a large gap in fertility between women with MS and the general population that needs to…
May 25, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Candidate therapy MRT-6160 chosen for MS, other autoimmune diseases Monte Rosa Therapeutics has selected MRT-6160, its second candidate for development, for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and several other autoimmune diseases. The therapy is now in early studies that would support an investigational new drug (IND) application, a formal request to U.S. regulatory authorities to start testing a…
May 25, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Ocrevus reduces B-cells’ diversity, but not T-cells’, in relapsing MS Long-term treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) doesn’t change the diversity of T-cells ā those needed to mount effective immune responses against foreign pathogens ā in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a small study shows. Consistent with its mechanism of B-cell depletion, however, Ocrevus did reduce the molecular…
May 24, 2023 News by Mary Chapman Alliance launches research grant program to mark World MS Day To mark World MS Day, which takes place annually on May 30, the International Progressive MS Alliance is introducing a research program to help drive early innovations in care programs for those with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Specifically, the program seeks to identify solutions to…
May 24, 2023 News by Patricia Valerio, PhD Self-reported physical health may predict RRMS disability worsening People withĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who report better physical health are significantly more likely to see disability progression after three years, an observational study found. The findings suggest this patient-reported outcome measure may help predict long-term disability worsening in people with the condition. āOur findings…