MS News Notes: Brain Stimulation, Bright Light, ABA-101, Foralumab

Welcome to “MS News Notes,” where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Here’s a look at what’s been happening:

Possible nonmedicinal treatment for fatigue, spasticity, pain

Wouldn’t it be nice to find a treatment that helps people with MS handle three of their most troubling symptoms — fatigue, spasticity, and pain? In the MS News Today story “Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Can Ease Some MS Symptoms: Review,” Joana Vindeirinho takes a look at several studies of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS). They indicate that this technique could have immediate effects on these symptoms and that some improvements could last for over a month.

On the other hand, the researchers write, “most of the included studies lack a good methodology, and more high-quality randomized clinical trials are needed.” OK, researchers, is anyone planning to look into this further?

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Could bright light ease fatigue?

Another intriguing technique being studied is using bright light to help ease MS fatigue. In this very small study, researchers used bright light therapy (BLT) with a machine that produces a consistently bright light.

Twenty-six people with MS were treated with a BLT machine for 30 minutes each morning for two weeks. Half of the machines were unaltered and half were modified so they would only emit dim red light, rather than the bright white light used in BLT.

Marisa Wexler reports in “Bright Light Therapy Shows Promise for Easing MS Fatigue in Small Trial” that subjects using the real machine had a clinically significant decrease in their fatigue severity scale. The other half did not. However, a study with a larger number of participants is needed to test whether the results are statistically meaningful.

New DMT for progressive MS enters research pipeline

Only a handful of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are approved for treating primary or secondary MS, so news of the possibility of a new DMT designed for those MS stages is welcome.

The story “1st Abata Candidate Will Be T-cell Therapy ABA-101 for Progressive MS” reports on some early studies that aim to support an application to U.S. regulatory authorities for permission to start testing the therapy on humans. Abata Therapeutics hopes to start clinical trials of ABA-101 in 2024.

Early foralumab study shows promise

I generally don’t comment much on mouse studies, because they’re a long way from the finish line of bringing a medication to market. But foralumab is special for two reasons: It’s a nasal spray, and it’s intended for nonactive secondary progressive MS, which is what I have.

As I mentioned, possible treatments for progressive MS are big news to many of us. The story “Foralumab Nasal Spray for MS Well-tolerated in Mice for 3 Months” reports that Tiziana Life Sciences hopes to begin Phase 2 clinical testing sometime in 2023.

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.