November 29, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD MRI activity, low doses linked to disease recurrence after cladribine About three-quarters of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients given an under-the-skin formulation of cladribine had no disease activity or didn’t receive any additional therapies 4.5 years after starting treatment, a study shows. Cladribine is the active ingredient in the oral therapy MavencladĀ and is typically given in two short treatment…
August 5, 2022 Columns by John Connor Pesky Leukocytes Dash My Hopes of Joining a Trial of Mavenclad for MS In December 2019, I was stopped in my tracks, or rather wheels, as I was about to have my third infusion of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), the multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapy (DMT) that Iād been taking every six months for the past year. My neurologist had decided just a few…
July 1, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Efficacy, Safety of Mavenclad in Real World Similar to That of Trials The safety and efficacy of the approved multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā therapy Mavenclad (cladribine) in a real-world group of patients were similar to what had been demonstrated in clinical trials, a new study reports. Among 243 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), more than 60% showed no…
November 19, 2021 News by Yedida Y Bogachkov PhD Cladribine as Injection May Limit Relapsing MS Progression for Years Patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with subcutaneous cladribine saw limited disease progression over a follow-up period of up to 20 years, especially with increased cumulative dosing, according to a recent study. Subcutaneous (SC) cladribine is administered as an under-the-skin injection. It is a formulation different from…
November 9, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Ocrevus Still Top Therapy for Progressive MS Forms, Report Finds Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) continues to be the most commonly prescribed therapy for progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including primary progressive MS (PPMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS), according to an analysis from the market intelligence firm Spherix Global Insights. However, other therapies are “gaining traction” among…
August 16, 2021 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Mavenclad, Sativex, Mistreatment, Patient Survey Trial Will Test Mavenclad for Advanced Progressive MS I often think that researchers have forgotten about people whose MS has progressed to an advanced stage. But MS patients who have moved into a wheelchair deserve treatment with a disease-modifying therapy as much as those who are just beginning their…
July 26, 2021 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Mavenclad, Genetic Risk, Fatigue Impact, Multivitamins Skin Reactions āFrequentā With Mavenclad, Real-world Study Finds I regularly see people posting on social media about having a rash or itchy skin, or losing hair while taking Mavenclad. Researchers in this study say these side effects aren’t mentioned in the risk management plans for this disease-modifying therapy. Therefore,…
July 23, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Skin Reactions ‘Frequent’ With Mavenclad, Real-world Study Finds Skin reactions are common amongĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients being treated with oral Mavenclad (cladribine), affecting about one-third of the people evaluated inĀ a real-world study in Germany. These findings suggest the need for careful clinical surveillance to rapidly diagnose and possibly treat skin problems stemming from Mavenclad’s use,…
May 17, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Mavenclad’s Ability to Lower RRMS Relapse Rates May Last Years, Study Says Treatment with Mavenclad (clabridine) reduces the frequency of relapses in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), with benefits appearing to be evident two years after patients stopped taking the treatment, new data suggest. These findings wereĀ in the study, “Analysis of frequency and severity of relapses…
May 14, 2021 Columns by Ed Tobias Efficacy of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Varies by DMT, Study Finds Are you being treated with a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) and wondering how it might affect the efficacy of an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine? If so, a recent study may provide some clarity. The study, published in Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders, looked at 125 MS patients either being treated with…
May 7, 2021 Columns by John Connor Slipping Over the Event Horizon Into SPMS Isn’t it just like me to start my column with a physics analogy that is already confusing? Please stick with me, as all will be revealed. My point is that if a black hole is big enough, you might slip through its event horizon without even noticing. There would…
April 29, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM ā Exploring Mavenclad’s Effects on Immune Cells Editorās note: TheĀ Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, held April 17ā22. GoĀ hereĀ to read stories from the conference. After starting treatment with the multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy Mavenclad (cladribine), some types of immune cells are more affected…
March 18, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Mavenclad Quickly Reduces MRI Lesions in Early MS, ORACLE-MS Data Show Mavenclad (cladribine) reduces the number and volume of lesions in patients at risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) after a first clinical demyelinating event, a study based on Phase 3Ā trial data found. A demyelinating event occurs when myelin ā the protective coating around nerve fibers ā experiences damage; this…
November 23, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS ChariotMS to Test Mavenclad in SPMS, PPMS Patients With Little Ability to Walk An upcoming Phase 2 clinical trial, called ChariotMS, will test whether Mavenclad (cladribine) can slow a worsening of hand and arm function in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and very limited walking abilities. Patients reliant on wheelchairs or aids to walk even short distances generally have…
October 28, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Mavenclad for RRMS Now Available Through Seven Provincial Public Drugs Plans in Canada Eligible people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) now have access toĀ MavencladĀ (cladribine) through seven provincial public drug plans in Canada, including the RĆ©gie de l’assurance maladie du QuĆ©bec (RAMQ) and the Ontario Drug Benefit Exceptional Access Program. The oral treatment now is available through public drug programs…
September 10, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – New Safety, Efficacy Data on Mavenclad, Rebif and Evobrutinib on Way EMD Serono will present new data from programs assessing the efficacy and safety of Mavenclad (cladribine) andĀ Rebif (interferon beta-1a), as well as investigative evobrutinibĀ in treatingĀ relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) at the MSVirtual2020 meeting. FindingsĀ are part of 54 abstracts being presented by EMD Serono,…
August 31, 2020 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Paramagnetic Lesions, Mavenclad, Relapses in Children, Ocrevus and Rituximab Paramagnetic Rim Lesions Showing Promise as Diagnostic Marker of MS About a year ago, researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health reported that the presence of chronic active lesions in the brain may provide a clue as to how quickly multiple sclerosis symptoms will progress. They called them…
July 7, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Study: Mavenclad Shows Long-term Effectiveness at Preventing MS Relapses, Disease Progression MavencladĀ (cladribine) prevents relapses and disease progression in more than half of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) for at least five years after the last dose, according to a real-life study from Italy. These findings, based on real-world data from Italian MS patients previously treated…
June 15, 2020 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Myelin, Mavenclad, Online Stress Relief, Rehab Aids Note: A story mentioned in this column, āPrime Signs Agreement With EMD Serono to Improve Mavencladās Cost-benefit Value,ā was updated on June 15, 2020, to clarify that the agreement allows for possible reimbursement for Primeās health plan clients, not patients…
June 10, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Prime Signs Agreement With EMD Serono to Improve Mavencladās Cost-benefit Value Note: This story was updated on June 15, 2020, to clarify that the agreement allows for possible reimbursement for Prime’s health plan clients, not patients directly.Ā Prime Therapeutics has signed an agreement with EMD Serono that may provide financial compensation for its health plan clients if their members…
February 10, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Mavenclad May Be Added to RRMS Treatments on Quebec’s Public Health Plan The agency in charge of health and social services for Quebec, known as theĀ Institut national d’excellence en santĆ© et en services sociaux (INESSS), is recommending thatĀ Mavenclad (cladribine) be offered at discount to adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) enrolled in the province’s health system. INESSS’ opinions…
December 16, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: US Patent for Remyelination Therapy, Tysabri and Inflammation, Canada Funding Mavenclad MetP Pharma Awarded US Patent for Potential Remyelination Therapy Mention remyelination and the reaction from most of us with multiple sclerosis is probably, “How soon?” This announcement makes me hope that it’s now a little sooner. The process combines testosterone with a compound that changes the activity of something…
November 15, 2019 News by Grace Frank CHMP Favors Mayzent as Oral Treatment Specifically for Active SPMS Patients in EU The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued an opinion supporting MayzentĀ (siponimod) as an oral treatment specifically for adults with active secondary progressive multiple sclerosisĀ (SPMS) in the European Union. Opinions released by CHMP, an arm of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), carry weight and are…
October 14, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Mavenclad and Ocrevus Use Rising in EU, Ampyra Patent Appeal Denied, Exercise and MS Pilot Study Mavenclad, Ocrevus Use Rising in EU as Injectables and Tysabri Decline, Spherix Reports I’m not surprised at reports that the use of Mavenclad (cladribine) and Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is increasing in Europe, or that the use of injectable disease-modifying therapies appears to be declining there. Mavenclad and Ocrevus are approved…
September 23, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Ozanimod, Achtar Gel, Onset Age Progression Link, Glial Cells Could Differentiate MS Types In this column, I take a look at more exciting research from the ECTRIMS2019 conference this month. #ECTRIMS2019 ā Ozanimodās āKey Advantagesā May Lead to New First-line MS Therapy: Interview with Neurologist Jeffrey Cohen This year we’ve seen the approval of two new multiple sclerosis treatments in the United…
September 20, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Ahead for Mavenclad: Fuller Understanding of What Makes It ‘Unique,’ Serono Exec Says in Interview Real-world data continues to support the safety and effectiveness ofĀ MavencladĀ (cladribineĀ tablets) in treating multiple sclerosis (MS), and several studies underway will help scientists gain in-depth understanding of how Mavenclad works, its impact on the immune system, and the durability of its benefits, an executive with EMD SeronoĀ said in an…
August 16, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MS Therapies Among Limited Offerings Through AllianceRx Walgreens Prime Medications for treating certain rare and chronic conditions, Ā including multiple sclerosis (MS), are now available from the specialty and home delivery pharmacy AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, the company announced. The newly included specialty medications are all limited distribution drugs (LDDs), which means the drug manufacturers have signed agreements giving very…
July 23, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Gilenya Approved in China for Adults and Children with Relapsing MS Gilenya (fingolimod) has been approved in China as a disease-modifying therapy to treat adults and children, ages 10 and older, with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Gilenya,Ā marketed byĀ Novartis, is an oral disease-modifying treatment for relapsing MS. It acts by binding and modulating receptors…
July 17, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Phase 3 Trial of Ibudilast Planned for SPMS Patients with Inactive Disease, MediciNova Says A Phase 3 trial is planned to confirm the safety and efficacy of oral ibudilast (MN-166) in treating people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) without relapses, or those whose disease is not active, MediciNovaĀ announced. Data from this single Phase 3 study may be used to request…
July 8, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Botox for Kids, Kids’ Healthcare Needs, Mavenclad, MS Fatigue Diet FDA Approves Botox to Treat Upper Limb Spasticity in Children Aged 2 to 17 Botox injections have been approved to treat spasticity and bladder problems in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) for years. It’s encouraging to see pediatric-onset MS receiving more attention and approval for medications. As MS is…