October 4, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2018 – Genentech to Present Ocrevus-related MS Studies at Conference Treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) over five years lessened upper limb disability progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) patients, reduced relapses and brain disease activity in patients with relapsing MS, and helped achieveĀ no evidence of disease progression (NEDA) in a greater proportion of African-descent patients, compared to treatment…
September 28, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2018 – Ublituximab Markedly Reduces Lesions, Promotes B-cell Depletion, Halts Disability Progression in Phase 2 Trial A 48-week treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) with TG Therapeuticsā investigational compound ublituximab led to a marked reduction of brain and spinal cord lesions, massive depletion of relapse-associated immune B-cells, and significantly halted disability progression, according to results from a Phase 2 clinical trial. The data…
August 28, 2018 News by Vijaya Iyer, PhD MMJ International Asks FDA to Approve Studies of Cannabis-based Therapies MMJ International has filed two applications with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting permission to begin clinical studies testing its pharmaceutical grade cannabis-based therapies in easing symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis and Huntingtonās disease. āThe filing of these applications with the FDA brings us one step…
August 9, 2018 News by Stacy Grieve, PhD Low-dose Botox Treatment Improves Urinary Symptoms in MS Patients, Study Finds Results from a Phase 3 clinical trialĀ show that urinary symptoms can be reduced significantly after treatment with low-dose Botox (100 units) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). That finding was reported in the study “Low-dose onabotulinumtoxinA improves urinary symptoms in noncatheterizing patients with MS,” published in the…
June 19, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc #EAN2018 ā Ocrevus Lowers Relapse Rates Over Long Term and Better Than Rebif Does, Data Show Long-term treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) Ā ā as well as switching from Rebif (interferon beta-1a) to Ocrevus ā leads to a significant and sustained reduction in disease activity in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). TheseĀ previouslyĀ reportedĀ findingsĀ are further supported by the latest results drawn from pooled data…
June 18, 2018 News by Vijaya Iyer, PhD First Clinical Trial to Focus on Improving Hand Function in PPMS Patients Announced A new clinical trial will be the first in the world to recognize the importance of retaining hand function for wheelchair-bound patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS), according to a press release from Queen Mary University of London. The international trial, which will be conducted by a…
June 15, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc #EAN2018 – Ocrevus May Delay Progression to Wheelchair by Up to 7 Years, New Analysis of PPMS Patient Data Shows Treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) slows disability progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) in ways that may be of considerable importance to patients ā including the possibility of delaying the need for a wheelchair by up to seven years, according to new data from a Phase 3…
June 13, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MMJ Bioscience Files Request with FDA to Open Phase 2 Study of Medical Cannabis in Progressive MS MMJ Bioscience, which specializes in medical cannabis products, has filed a request with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to open Phase 2 clinical trials evaluating the companyās THC/CBD pharmaceutical compounds as possible treatments for symptoms ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). THC refers to the tetrahydrocannabinol compound, part of the…
June 5, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Oryzon Genomics Readies Updates on ORY-2001, Being Tested in MS Patients in Phase 2 Trial Oryzon Genomics will give updates on its leading investigational product ORY-2001, a brain-targeting epigenetic therapy now in a Phase 2 clinical trial recruiting multiple sclerosis patients, at a series of scientific conferences. According to a press release, these include two conferences in the United States, the 2018 BIO…
May 23, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Subcutaneous Ofatumumab a Safe, Effective RRMS Therapy at Low Doses, Trial Results Show A formulation of ofatumumab (brand name Arzerra) to be injected under the skin (subcutaneous) was found to be safe and effective in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), even when given at lower doses…
May 21, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: PML Treatment, Gilenya for Kids, Rituximab, and an MS trial that is Enrolling Complications from Gilenya Treatment Managed Successfully, Case Report Says This wasn’t a minor complication. It was a version of PML, a brain disease that can be fatal. PML is also a known side effect of Tysabri, so the report of a successful treatment should be important to…
May 17, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Impact of Early Aggressive vs. Standard Therapy on Disability in RRMS To Be Tested in Trial AĀ Johns Hopkins University-initiated clinical trial is starting to enroll an estimated 900 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients to assess the benefits of switching therapies to prevent or reduce disability. The TREAT-MS study (NCT03500328) will evaluate whether RRMS patients with disease activity while on a traditional first-line disease-modifying therapy…
May 3, 2018 Columns by Laura Kolaczkowski Ocrevus Shows Promise for Cognitive Function in Relapsing MS One thing weāve all hoped for with our disease-modifying therapies (DMT) is a treatment that will improve our multiple sclerosis (MS) and not just keep it from worsening. The latest studies presented on Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) hold promise that this treatment may have finally arrived. According to recent reports,…
May 3, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Mavenclad Effective in Treating Highly Active MS, New CLARITY Analysis Shows An additional analysis of data from the CLARITY study confirmed the long-term benefits of treatment with Mavenclad (cladribine tablets) for patients with highly active relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The post-hoc analysis, āEfficacy of Cladribine Tablets in high disease activity subgroups of patients…
April 30, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye This Week: aHSCT Studies, MS Progression in African-Americans, Gilenya for Pediatrics #AAN2018 ā Stem Cell Transplant is Effective Treatment for āAggressiveā MS, Study Shows I like the fact that a study shows that stem cell transplant treatment is effective for aggressive MS. I love the fact that the efficacy was dramatic, reducing theĀ Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) levels…
April 25, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc #AAN2018 ā Review of Phase 3 Trial Data Supports Gilenya as Treatment for Pediatric MS An additional analysis of data collected during the Phase 3 PARADIGMS trial found GilenyaĀ (fingolimod)Ā can prevent the progression of disability and control multiple sclerosis (MS) activity in pediatric patients. Results of the analysis were the subject of an oral presentation Tuesday at the 2018Ā American Academy of Neurology…
April 25, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #AAN2018 ā ALKS 8700Ā Shows Promise as RRMS Therapy, Phase 3 Trial Interim Results Suggest A one-year analysis of the ongoing Phase 3 EVOLVE-MS-1 trial of ALKS 8700Ā as a therapy for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) supports the experimental therapy’s effectiveness, with the treatment significantly reducing the number of MS lesions. Interim results from the trial were presented Tuesday at the…
April 23, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #AAN2018 – Blood Stem Cell Transplant Superior to DMDs in Highly Active RRMS, MIST Trial Shows Autologous non-myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplant was found to be significantly better at reducing risks for disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients compared to disease-modifying drug (DMD) therapies, interim results of the MIST clinical trial show. The results will be shared at the 2018 Annual MeetingĀ of theĀ American…
April 18, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc #AAN2018 ā Levels of Protein Derived from Brain Cell Damage Can Mirror Severity of MS, Study Finds Levels of a protein stemming from brain cell damage can mirror the severity and symptoms of multiple sclerosis, an analysis of combined data from three trials showed. Researchers will present this and related findingsĀ at the annual meeting of the American Academy of NeurologyĀ in Los Angeles, April 21-27. The…
April 18, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #AAN2018 – Ocrevus Decreases Biomarkers of MS Patients’ Nerve Cell Damage, Phase 3 Trial Shows Genentech’sĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)Ā reduces levels of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers that denote nerve cell damage in multiple sclerosis patients, a Phase 3 clinical trial shows. Researchers will present the results at theĀ American Academy of Neurology’s annual meetingĀ in Los Angeles, April 21-27. The presentation will be titled āInterim Analysis of the…
April 17, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc #AAN2018 ā Siponimod Reduces Disease Activity Biomarker in SPMS Patients Novartis‘ siponimod (BAF312) can reduce blood levels of a biomarker of nerve cell damage in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), a Phase 3 clinical trial shows. Researchers will present the latest results of the ongoing trial at the 2018 annual meeting of the American Academy…
April 11, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Mapi Pharma, Mylan Partner to Develop Once-monthly Glatiramer Formulation Mylan andĀ Mapi Pharma will jointly develop and commercialize Glatiramer Acetate (GA) Depot, an investigative, long-lasting formulation of the commonly used multiple sclerosis (MS) therapyĀ CopaxoneĀ (marketed by Teva Phatmaceutical). Under the terms of the partnership, Mylan will acquire global marketing rights for the therapy. The companies are in…
April 10, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Professor Earns Research Award for Establishing Use of MRI to Improve MS Diagnosis, Understanding Professor Frederik Barkhof, MD, PhD, has won the 2018 John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research for pioneering the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to improve multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and understanding of the disease. The prize, decided by a peer committee, is awarded annually by…
March 28, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Flex Pharma’s MS Treatment Candidate FLX-787 Improves Cramps, Stiffness, Phase 2 Trial Shows Topline results of an exploratory Phase 2 clinical trial revealed that Flex Pharma‘s treatment candidate FLX-787 improvesĀ muscle cramps, spasms and muscle stiffness in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The double-blinded trial, conducted in Australia, evaluated an oral dose of 19 mg FLX-787, taken twice daily in liquid…
March 21, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Blood Stem Cell Transplants Improve RRMS Patients’ Disability, Phase 3 Trial Shows Blood stem cell transplants lead to significant improvements inĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients’ disability, a Phase 3 clinical trial shows. The 110 patients who took part in the MIST study (NCT00273364) were having relapses after receiving standard therapies such asĀ beta interferon, Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), Novantrone (mitoxantrone), Tysabri (natalizumab), Gilenya (fingolimod),…
March 16, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto Dysport Therapeutic Approved by Health Canada for Lower Limb Spasticity Treatment in Adults AbobotulinumtoxinA, marketed as Dysport TherapeuticĀ by Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Canada, was approved by Health Canada for the treatment of lower limb focal spasticity in adults. Focal spasticity is a medical disorder characterized by an abnormal increase in muscular stiffness in one or more muscles, and usually is the result…
March 14, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc National MS Society to Award $433,800 to Support 10 Pilot Research Projects The National Multiple Sclerosis Society will award $433,800 to 10 high-risk pilot studies that will quickly evaluate new strategies and interventions and enhance knowledge about multiple sclerosis (MS). According to a press release, the award winners will address different aspects of the disease, including potential treatments for fatigue and loneliness, to improve patients' walking abilities, and a strategy to change gut bacteria effects in MS. The year-long Pilot Research Grant program is a way to support early-stage research projects to quickly test their effectiveness. The MS Society also said that additional projects will be awarded this year. Results of a recent survey of approximately 300 pilot grant recipients revealed the program successfully promotes new ideas and brings new researchers to the MS field. About 90 percent of the respondents agreed that the financial support was very important for their research project. In 85 percent of cases, the grant supported new ideas, and in 56 percent it allowed support for additional grants. These pilot grants allow researchers to obtain preliminary data so they can decide to apply for additional funding, if the project looksĀ promising, or to put the idea to rest.
March 9, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Merck’s MS Therapy Evobrutinib Significantly Reduces Brain Lesions, Phase 2 Trial Shows Merck KGaA’sĀ evobrutinib led to significant reductions in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients’ brain and spinal cord lesions, compared with a placebo, a Phase 2b clinical trial showed. Researchers measured the number of lesions at weeks 12, 16, 20 and 24. Evobrutinib, also known as M2951, is an oral inhibitor of…
March 9, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD NIH Trial Confirms Raxone’s Safety Profile in PPMS, Santhera Reports An exploratory Phase 1/2 clinical trial in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) conducted at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirms the safety profile of Raxone (idebenone)Ā at a dose of 2,250 mg daily over two years. But no difference in effectiveness was found between the Raxone-treated group and…
March 2, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc FDA Wants More Information on Celgene’s MS Therapy Ozanimod Before Starting Its Review The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked CelgeneĀ to add more information to its New Drug Application for ozanimod as a treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Celgene said it plans to meet with FDA officials to make sure it understands exactly what new information the agency…