January 10, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Common Fungal Infection Can Breach the Brain and Impair Memory, Mouse Study Shows Blood infection with the yeastĀ Candida albicans,Ā a type of fungus, can reach the brain and trigger an immune response, a new mouse study shows.Ā Although the fungus can be cleared within 10 days, it affects the spatial memory of mice. These findings are the first evidence that a blood infection with a…
January 9, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein BrainStorm Expands Production of Autologous Stem Cell Therapy NurOwn for Phase 2 Trial in Multiple Sclerosis BrainStorm Cell TherapeuticsĀ announced that the production of its therapyĀ NurOwn will be expanded to support upcoming clinical trials, namely a Phase 3 trial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a Phase 2 trial in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). BrainStormās proprietary, stem cell-based technology called…
January 9, 2019 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Five Finalists Vie for $1 Million Prize in Mobility Unlimited Challenge Five finalists remain in the running for the $1 million prize being offered in the Mobility Unlimited Challenge, a global competitionĀ to promote the development of innovative solutions for personal mobility devices. A panel of expert judges selected the finalists from among 80 applications submitted by teams from 28 countries.
January 8, 2019 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Biogen and Skyhawk Partner to Develop Small Molecule Therapies for Neurological Diseases BiogenĀ and Skyhawk Therapeutics have created a strategic partnership that will allow both companies to use Skyhawk’s SkySTARĀ technology platform for the discovery of new small molecule treatments for neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy. Under the terms of the agreement, Biogen will be given…
January 8, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Immune Cells in the Gut Can Suppress Brain Inflammation in MS, Pre-clinical Study Finds Immune cells in the intestine may reduce neuroimflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a pre-clinical study suggests. Moreover, the augmented number of these cells was sufficient to suppress brain inflammation in an MS mouse model. The findings were reported in the study āRecirculating Intestinal IgA-Producing Cells Regulate Neuroinflammation via…
January 7, 2019 News by Santiago Gisler Biogen Starts Phase 3b Trial to Evaluate Tysabri Extended Interval Dosing in RRMS Patients Biogen announced the start of a global Phase 3b clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of extended interval dosing (EID) with Tysabri (natalizumab) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Results of the six-week dosing interval will be compared with the approved standard interval dosing…
January 7, 2019 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc More Effort Needed to Recruit Minorities to Phase 3 Clinical Trials, MS Expert Says Because multiple sclerosis (MS) presentation and progression course can be very different between people of African ancestry and Caucasians, the recruitment of minorities to Phase 3 clinical trials is of particular importance. Researchers in the MS field and the general MS community should make a greater effort to improve…
January 4, 2019 News by Vijaya Iyer, PhD Cooling Therapy Before Exercise Can Increase Physical Activity in MS Patients Lowering body temperature helps to improve exercise and functional capability in multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) patients by preventing disease worsening, researchers in Ā Greece report. The study with that finding, āImpact of pre-cooling therapy on the physical performance and functional capacity of multiple sclerosis patients: A systematic review,ā was published in…
January 4, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Bafiertam, a Bioequivalent of Tecfidera, Receives Tentative OK from FDA for RRMS Banner Life SciencesĀ has received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its new drug application (NDA) for Bafiertam (monomethyl fumarate), a novel bioequivalent of Biogenās Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Final approval is expected no later than…
January 3, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Stem-like Th17 Cells May Lead to New Therapeutic Approaches for MS, Other Autoimmune Diseases, Study Suggests An altered metabolism and signaling is associated with the ability of a subset of immune T helper 17 (Th17) cells to induce neuroinflammation, according to a new study of mice. The findings may lead to new treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other chronic inflammatory diseases, the scientists said.
January 3, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Excess of Single Transcription Factor Appears to Hinder Myelin Repair by Oligodendrocytes, Study Finds Unusually high levels of a transcription factor called paired related homeobox protein 1 (PRRX1) in human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells hinders their ability to respond to the loss of myelin and to transform into mature, myelin-producing oligodendrocytes, a new study shows. These findings suggest a new potential way of treatingĀ …
January 2, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Acrolein Eyed as Potential Biomarker of MS, Preliminary Study Finds A product called acrolein, which is naturally excreted by the body and possible to measure in urine and blood, may be a potential biomarker to help diagnose and evaluate disease activity in people withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS),Ā according to preliminary research in animal models and humans. Researchers are investigating whether acrolein…
January 2, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Top 10 Multiple Sclerosis Stories of 2018 Multiple Sclerosis News Today brought you daily coverage of key findings, treatment developments, andĀ clinical trials related to multiple sclerosis (MS) throughout 2018. We look forward to reporting more news to patients, family members, and caregivers dealing with MS during 2019. Here are the top 10 most-read articles of…
December 21, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Stem Cell Transplant Lessens Disability and Relapses in RRMS Patients, Phase 2 Trial Shows Treatment withĀ autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantĀ (aHSCT) led to a sustained decrease in disability and almost no clinical relapses in patients withĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS)Ā who had failed to respond to prior immunosuppressive therapies, an Australian Phase 2 trial shows. Trial findings were published in the study, āProspective phase…
December 21, 2018 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Study Links Food Allergies and Increased MS Disease Activity Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who reported food allergies showed a 27 percent higher cumulative rate of flare-ups over the course of their disease, and more than twice the likelihood of having active inflammatory lesions, a new study shows. The study, āFood Allergies are Associated with Increased Disease Activity…
December 20, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Genetic Variant Linked to MS Affects More Than Immune Cells, Study Finds A genetic variant associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) due to its impact on certain immune system cells can also affect brain cells called astrocytes, a study shows. Reported in the study, āEnhanced astrocyte responses are driven by a genetic risk allele associated with multiple…
December 20, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Cannabis-based Sublingual Tablet to Enter Trials in Israel as Possible Spasticity Treatment, OWCP Says OWC Pharmaceutical Research is planning new clinical studies to evaluate the activity and safety of its cannabinoid-enriched sublingual soluble tablet.Ā The company announced that an Institutional Review Board (IRB) in Israel approved its request to conduct a safety and tolerability trial there. The company also is asking to amend the…
December 19, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Ampyra Significantly Improves Walking Ability As Reported by MS Patients, Phase 3 Trial Shows Treatment with Ampyra (dalfampridine) for 24 weeks leads to sustained and clinically meaningful improvements in walking ability as reported by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with gait difficulties, according to a study analyzing results from a Phase 3 trial. The study, “Assessment of Clinically Meaningful Improvements in Self-Reported…
December 19, 2018 News by Alberto Molano, PhD FDA Gives Green Light to Phase 2 Trial of NurOwn Stem Cell Therapy in Progressive MS Patients The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approvedĀ BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics‘ request to open a Phase 2 clinical trial testing the safety and effectiveness of its proprietary NurOwn mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)Ā treatment inĀ progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The request was in the form of Investigational New Drug…
December 18, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc FDA Asked to Approve Diroximel Fumarate as Oral Treatment for Relapsing MS AlkermesĀ filed a request for the approval of diroximel fumarate (BIIB098) to treatĀ relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If approved, diroximel fumarate will be marketed by BiogenĀ in the U.S., likely under the brand name Vumerity. Alkermes and Biogen are working…
December 18, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Pretreating Ocrevus Patients with Multiple Antihistamines and Liquids Lowers Infusion Reactions by 60%, Study Reports PretreatingĀ multiple sclerosisĀ patients withĀ antihistamines more extensively and with hydration can significantly reduce ā by 60% ā the likelihood ofĀ infusion-associated reactions that are the most common side effect of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) use, a pilot study reported. Data also found that older and male MS patients are less likely to have…
December 17, 2018 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Inactivation of S1PR2 Protein Shows Therapeutic Potential in MS Mouse Model, Study Reports Inactivation of S1PR2, a cell surface protein, helps improve clinical disability and reduce demyelination in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), a condition similar to multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) in humans, a study shows. This finding suggests that therapies blocking S1PR2 could have the potential to treat MS. The…
December 17, 2018 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Each Major Risk Factor (Like Genes, Smoking and Obesity) Can Affect Disease Course, Study Finds Risk factors often associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), such as genetic background, obesity and smoking, contribute independently to the disease’s variability and may be an early influence on progression, a study reported. The retrospective study, “Multiple sclerosis risk factors contribute to onset heterogeneity,” was published in the journalĀ …
December 14, 2018 News by Santiago Gisler MS Patients Report Beneficial Effects of Cannabis With Few Side Effects, Survey Shows Many multiple sclerosis (MS) patients report that cannabis has beneficial effects on their symptoms with minimal side effects, according to a survey that also showed that varying effects on health may be due to differences in how users consume cannabis. Findings from the survey were reported in the…
December 14, 2018 News by Santiago Gisler Researchers Develop Smartphone-connected Device to Treat MS, Brain Disorders Remotely Researchers at the Ural Federal University (UrFU) in Russia have developed a neuro-electrostimulation system that has the potential to treat different types of brain disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). The system allows physicians to treat patients by remotely controlling the delivered electric pulse through a smartphone or tablet. Details…
December 13, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Patients with Stable Disease Who Switch to Another Interferon Therapy at Greater Risk of Flares, Study Reports Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who have been relapse-free while using an interferon-beta (IFN-Ī²) therapy but switch to anotherĀ IFN-Ī² are significantly more like to start experiencingĀ flaresĀ than patients who remain on their initial interferon treatment, a real-world study reports. Its results support letting patients remain on a current IFN-Ī² medication…
December 13, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Lipoic Acid Supplements May Help to Delay Decline in Walking Speed in SPMS Patients, Study Says Lipoic acid (LA), an over-the-counter antioxidant supplement, helps to mildly delay a decline in walking speed inĀ secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS)Ā patients, particularly those with lesser disability, analysis of a small, two-year clinical study reports. No improvements were seen in balance among…
December 12, 2018 News by Mary Chapman GB Sciences, LSU Partner on Cannabinoid Research and Development Project for MS, Other Diseases As debate continues about the effects of medical marijuana on multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases, cannabis companyĀ GB SciencesĀ and Louisiana State UniversityĀ (LSU) have agreed on a cannabinoid research and development project. This collaboration between a public and a private enterprise is a first in the therapeutic cannabis…
December 12, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Ocrevus Now Available Through NHS Scotland to Treat RRMS Ocrevus (ocrelizumab, by Genentech) is now available through the National Health System (NHS) of Scotland to treat patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The decision by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) to approve Ocrevus’ inclusion for this patient group follows theĀ recommendationĀ made earlier by the U.K.ās…
December 11, 2018 News by Santiago Gisler Glatect Added to Public Drug Plan in British Columbia as Sole RRMS Treatment of Its Type Pendopharmās Glatect (glatiramer acetate) ā a treatment for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) ā has been added to the public drug plan in the Canadian province of British Columbia, and is now the only glatiramer-based treatment for RRMS patients there using the plan. After Copaxone…