Canada

MS Canada seeks nationwide participation in awareness month

Canada has one of the world’s highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world, and this month residents are being urged to come together to raise awareness of and funds for people affected by the neurodegenerative disorder. May is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in Canada, and…

Mayzent and Kesimpta Gaining Ground as MS Treatments in Canada

Novartisā€™ Mayzent (siponimod) and Kesimpta (ofatumumab) are gaining ground among multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) therapies in Canada, according to the latest Spherix Global Insightsā€™ report. ā€œFollowing an eventful 2021 that included the launch of two new brands ā€” Novartisā€™ Kesimpta and BMS’ Zeposia ā€” and generic versions of Biogenā€™s…

MS Read-a-Thon in Canada Extended to Meet Goal

The MS Society of Canada‘s virtual MS Read-a-Thon event has been extended to March 20, giving children and families throughout Canada extra time to enjoy reading while raising funds for the multiple sclerosis (MS) community. The event, which began Jan. 27, seeks to generate $110,000 to…

Report: Tecfidera, Aubagio Preferred RRMS Treatments in Canada

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) and Aubagio (teriflunomide) are the preferred disease-modifying treatments for managing relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in Canada, according to a report from Spherix Global Insights. The report was part of Spherixā€™sĀ RealTime Dynamix: Multiple Sclerosis (Canada) service, which collects data on market trends of MS…

Canadians Prepare for 2021 Women Against MS Gala

This year’s Women Against Multiple Sclerosis (WAMS) Gala, which aims to raise funds for multiple sclerosis (MS) research, will take place Nov. 5. In order to keep participants safe in the setting of the ongoing pandemic, the MS Society of Canada‘s initiative will feature three events held virtually:…

MS Tied to Increased Risk After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis

People who develop colon cancer are more likely to die in the first year, from that cancer or other causes, if they also have multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study indicates. MS disability seems to contribute to this association. “These results warrant further investigation to determine what factors may…

Canadian Patients Say Their Top Concern Is Access to MS Providers

Accessing healthcare providers knowledgeable about multiple sclerosis (MS) and being able to afford additional services to improve overall health were the most pressing healthcare concerns among Canadians with the condition, a survey suggests. ā€œThese findings provide healthcare planners prioritized concerns and a profile of [people with MS] that have…

BelongMS App Now Includes French Language Option

Belong.Life, a developer of a networking platforms that help patients navigate and manage their disease, has added a French language option in its BelongMS app for the French-speaking Canadian community. BelongMS is a free mobile app that uses artificial intelligence algorithms to support the multiple sclerosis (MS)…

Mayzent, Zeposia May Lose Ground in Canada, Report Finds

Mayzent (siponimod) and Zeposia (ozanimod), the two sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators most recently approved in Canada for treatingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), showed strong launches in the country, according to the latest Spherix Global Insightsā€™ report. However, due to several internal and external factors, sustained relevance of these…

MS May Not Affect Breast Cancer Survival, Study Suggests

Women with multiple sclerosisĀ (MS)Ā diagnosed with breast cancer are not at a higher risk of dying from cancer than women without the neurodegenerative disorder, according to a Canadian population-based study. However, 10 years after their breast cancer diagnosis, women with MS were 28% more likely to die from any…

Health Canada Approves Oral Zeposia for Adults With RRMS

Health Canada has approvedĀ Zeposia (ozanimod), an oral daily treatment for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in the country. Approval does not assure that Zeposia will be available to Canadian patients at no or low cost, as publicly funded prescription plans are largely administered by each…

Health Canada Approves Mayzent to Treat Active SPMS

Health Canada has approved Novartis‘sĀ MayzentĀ (siponimod)Ā for the treatment of adults with activeĀ secondary progressive multiple sclerosisĀ (SPMS) to delay the progression of physical disability. Active disease is determined either by the presence of relapses or magnetic resonance imaging features characteristic of inflammatory activity. Multiple sclerosis (MS)…

Generic Version of Gilenya, pms-Fingolimod, Now Available for RRMS Patients in Canada

PharmascienceĀ recently launched pms-Fingolimod, a generic version of Novartisā€™Ā GilenyaĀ (fingolimod),Ā to treat adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS) in Canada. The new generic is now available in that country, and has demonstrated efficacy and safety similar to Gilenya. GenericĀ medicines are chemically identical to the original branded therapy, but carry a…