Columns The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: MS Biomarker, Best RRMS Early Treatment, Ocrevus Study, Out-of-Pocket Costs MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: MS Biomarker, Best RRMS Early Treatment, Ocrevus Study, Out-of-Pocket Costs by Ed Tobias | May 20, 2019 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link #AANAM ā Biogen Offers Update on Development Plans for MS Therapies The pharma company that brought you Tysabri (natalizumab) is investigating a new process for treating multiple sclerosis. The treatment looks for something called neurofilament light chain (NfL), a potential biomarker that’s released from damaged neurons. Doctors hope that NfL, which can be detected through blood tests, can help them to improve monitoring of disease activity in MS patients. At the 2019 annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN),Ā Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ sat down with Bernd Kieseier, MD, global head of multiple sclerosis at Biogen, to discuss the companyās portfolio, latest data, and therapeutic development plans in the field of multiple sclerosis. Click here to read the full story. *** #AANAM ā 2 Trials Aim to Decide Best Early Way of Treating RRMS, Cleveland Clinic Doctor Says Should neurologists go slowly and cautiously when treating people first diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, or should they hit the disease fast and hard? That’s a current debate in medical circles, and these trials are designed to provide evidence to help in making that decision. The studies are enrolling test subjects. Two ongoing clinical trials may help doctors better understand which type of disease-modifying therapy ā those considered highly effective or those with low-to-moderate efficacy used in an escalating treatment approach ā would be best for people in the early stages of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a Cleveland Clinic neurologist who is leading one of these studies. Click here to read the full story. *** #AANAM ā Ocrevus Effective in RRMS Patients with Poor Responses to Other DMTs, Early Trial Data Suggest This study adds to the positive buzz about Ocrevus (ocrelizumab). Researchers reviewed the status of about 600 RRMS patients who had used Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), Gilenya (fingolimod), and Aubagio (teriflunomide), or a combination of those treatments, and had poor results. According to this study, the patients had better results with Ocrevus. Early, one-year data from theĀ Phase 3 CHORDS study show that OcrevusĀ effectively prevents relapses and disease progression inĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients who have had poor responses to other disease-modifying therapies. Click here to read the full story. *** Out-of-Pocket Costs of MS Treatments in US Soared from 2004-16, Study Finds It probably comes as no surprise to learn that the cost of medications has been soaring. But did you know that medications for neurological diseases are high on that price list and that MS meds are the most costly overall? Out-of-pocket costs for medications treating neurological diseases have skyrocketed over the last 12 years in the U.S., withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, especially, paying 20 times more in 2016 than they were in 2004, a study reported. āGiven the high costs of many neurologic medications and theĀ increasing cost sharing by patients, the total cost burdenĀ carried by patients is likely increasing,ā its researchers wrote, noting a 2017 study that found MS patients considered out-of-pocket costs āmore important to them than drug efficacy and side effects.ā Click here to read the full story. *** 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 Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author Ed Tobias People say to write what you know and Ed Tobias knows about MS. He's lived with the illness since 1980, when he was 32 years old. Ed's a retired, award-winning broadcast journalist and his column combines his four decades of MS experiences with news and comments about the latest in the MS community. In addition to writing his column, Ed is one of the patient moderators on the MS News Today Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram sites. Heās also the author of āThe Multiple Sclerosis Toolbox: Hints and Tips for Living with M.S.ā Ed and his wife split their time between the Washington, D.C. suburbs and Floridaās Gulf Coast, trying to follow the sun. Tags Biogen, biomarkers, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), ocrelizumab, Ocrevus Comments Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
May 7, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Wayne State professor wins grant to study oligodendrocytes in MS
May 6, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Nearly $650k awarded to advance potential remyelination drug IFB-048