September 19, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Ocrevus Living Up to ‘Game-changing’ Moniker, Genentech’s Hideki Garren Says in Interview Two years after the approval of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), the latest data continue to support the benefits of the so-called “game-changing” therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS), while new insights highlight its neuronal protective effects and safety. Multiple Sclerosis News Today had the opportunity to speak with Hideki Garren,…
September 17, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Tysabri During Pregnancy and After Delivery Seems Safe, Reduces Relapse Risk, Study Finds Continuing Tysabri (natalizumab) treatment up to week 28 of pregnancy, and restarting soon after birth, reduces the risk of relapses in women with multiple sclerosis and appears to be safe for the mother and the baby, new research suggests. Doriana Landi, MD, PhD, from Italy’s University of…
September 17, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 ā Ofatumumab Superior to Aubagio in Lowering Relapse Rates and Lesions, Data Show Monthly under-the-skin injections of ofatumumab are superior to AubagioĀ (teriflunomide) to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), leading to over 50% reduction in relapse rates, and more than a 90% reduction in active brain lesions, compared with Aubagio, results from ASCLEPIOS I…
September 17, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Age Seen as Crucial in MS Outcomes, with 40 Marking Shift from Relapses to Progression Age at disease onset is tightly linked to clinical outcomes in multiple sclerosisĀ patients, a Swiss study in those on disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) reports. It foundĀ a risk of continuous relapses more likely in pediatric MS, and that of disease progression in those with adult-onset MS. Patients at age 40…
September 16, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 ā Glia Score May Differentiate Progressive MS from RRMS, Study Suggests Patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) have higher levels of protein markers of activated glial cells than those with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or patients with other neurological disorders, according to a new study. The findings also indicated that scoring the extent of glial involvement in relation to nerve…
September 16, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Mayzent Reduces Risk of SPMS Patients Becoming Wheelchair Bound, Data Show Mayzent (siponimod) reduces the risk of people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) becoming dependent on a wheelchair, a new analysis of the EXPAND study shows. These findings further corroborate prior trial data demonstrating that Mayzent use delays disability progression and cognitive decline in SPMS patients. The results…
September 16, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Anti-epileptic May Help to Stop Disability Progression, Study Suggests Oxcarbazepine, an anti-epileptic medicine, given in combination with a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) may help to stop disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, results of Phase 2 trial suggest. Monica Marta, PhD, withĀ Queen Mary University of LondonĀ and Barts Health NHS Trust/The Royal London HospitalĀ presented the data at the…
September 13, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplants Safe and Help Stop Progressive MS, Trial Data Show Transplanting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is safe and can delay disease progression in people with active, progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), according to results from a single-center clinical trial conducted in Israel. Six months after the transplant, a considerable proportion of patients showed no signs of disease activity, compared to…
September 13, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Longer DMT Use and Female Sex Seen to Protect Against SPMS Conversion Women with multiple sclerosis (MS), and people who stay in a relapsing stage or use disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for longer periods are less likely to transition to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) than others, according to a study based on the Italian MS registry. But patients whose…
September 11, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 ā MS Patients Should Be Informed about Pregnancy Risks and Family Planning, Experts Say While pregnancy does not appear to affect the disease course of multiple sclerosis (MS), questions remain about the best time to stop or resume treatment before conception and after delivery, the safety of new medications, and the importance of family planning. Pregnancy was the “hot topic” discussion today…
July 30, 2019 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Early MRI Screening Can Predict Long-term MS Disability, Help Guide Treatment, Study Says Routine screening throughĀ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) can predict long-term disease progression ā leading to more certainty and informing better treatment choices, a 15-year study reported. The study, titled āEarly imaging predictors of long-term…
July 29, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Early Gilenya Treatment Lessens Disability Progression and Disease Activity in Young RRMS Patients, Study Shows Early and continuous treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod) in youngĀ people ā those ages 30 years or younger ā with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) decreases the risk of disability progression, and lowers annual relapse rates and brain lesions, new analysis from the FREEDOMS and FREEDOMS II trials show. The…
June 27, 2019 News by Vijaya Iyer, PhD MS Patients with Low Physical Disability Incur High Economic Burden, Study Shows Even at a low level of disability, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have substantial indirect and informal caregiving costs due to disease progression ā with unemployment markedly adding to the economic burden, a Spanish study reports. The study, āEconomic burden of multiple sclerosis in a population with low physical disability,ā was published in the journal BMC Public Health. MS has significant impact on health-related quality of life, with disability and fatigue ā two hallmarks of the disease ā hindering patients' ability to work or study. This often results in early unemployment. As MS progresses, many individuals often need the support of caregivers to perform daily life activities. Limited information is available on MS-associated economic burden imposed on patients by the costs of informal care and loss of employment. To fill this gap, Spanish researchers evaluated the cost burden of indirect and informal care for 199 people with MS. Participants (mean age 43.9 years, and 60% females) were followed at 19 MS clinical units across Spain. Among the participants, 172 (86.4%) had relapsing-remitting MS, and 27 (13.6%) had primary progressive MS. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDDS) was used to determine each individualās level of disability. EDDS scoring is done by a trained neurologist, who quantifies a patientās disability on a scale of zero to 10, in 0.5 increments.Ā EDDS also is used to monitor changes in disability levels through the course of MS. The greater the EDDS score, the higher the disability level. The team used the 23-item MS Work difficulties questionnaire (MSWDQ-23) to assess the level of hardships participants experienced at their workplace. A patient-reported survey, the questionnaire highlights the extent of psychological and cognitive, physical, and other external difficulties experienced at work by people with the disease. MSWDQ-23 scores range from zero to 100, with a higher score correlating to more significant workplace difficulties. The study population had a median EDDS score of 2, and a median MSWDQ-23 score of 31.5, indicating an overall low level of physical disability. Despite this, MS was found to have a marked impact on the individualsā work and academic activity. At the time of MS diagnosis, 70.6% of the participants were employed. However, at the start of this study, 9.6 years later, the employment rate among the participants had dropped to 47.2%. The retirement rate increased from zero at the time of diagnosis to 23.6% at the time of study visit. Most participants retired at a mean age of 43.6 years ā and 95.7% of them cited MS progression as the reason for retirement. Among the student population, 90.9% reported absenteeism in the year before the study visit. During the same time period, 30.9% of employed participants were absent from work. Overall, 10.1% of all participants took sick leaves during the prior year. Being absent from work, and early retirement, impose several indirect costs in this study population, the researchers found. Sick leave due to MS resulted in a mean annual cost of ā¬416.6 (US$473.59), while work absenteeism accounted for ā¬763.4 (US$867.83)āyearly. Early retirement due to MS added an additional mean annual cost burden of ā¬5,810.1 (US$6,604.92). The annual costs per patient due to premature work disability or pension increased to ā¬1,816.8 (US$2,065.34). Caregivers accompanied 72% of the patients for the study visit. The researchers noted that participants' spouses reportedly spent a minimum of more than 200 hours annually in providing care ā more than a full-time job. A total 28.1% of participants required paid professional support for their daily activities, such as person to do housework and a physiotherapist. Patients also reported the use of assistive devices and adaptations. Crutch or walking stick use was reported by 10.6% of participants, while 8% had some home adaptation to help in their daily activities. Use of non-reimbursable devices was reported by 21.6%. The mean annual cost of informal caregiving, including activities by professional staff, was ā¬1,328.7 (US$1,510.46). Use of assistive devices added an additional ā¬736.6 (US$ 837.37) yearly. āMS is responsible for a substantial economic burden due to indirect and informal care costs, even in a population with low physical disability,ā the researchers said. āEffective therapeutic interventions to improve the management of early symptoms as well as implementing workplace strategies focused on job retention may be essential to decrease the high economic burden of MS,ā they concluded.
May 22, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Simvastatin, Common Statin, Treats SPMS in Ways Distinct from Cholesterol, Study Suggests Simvastatin, a widely prescribed statin that works to lower cholesterolĀ levels, may slow brain atrophy and disease progression in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) for reasons unrelated to changes in blood cholesterol, a new analysis of a Phase 2 clinical trial reports. These findings are in…
May 13, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #AANAM – Aubagio at Higher Dose Shows Long-term Efficacy in Variety of Patients, Trial Data Show AubagioĀ taken as 14 milligram (mg) tablet once daily significantly reduces the risk of relapse in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) over time irrespective of their prior treatment history, a pooled analysis of Phase 2 and Phase 3 trial results show. The findings were presented at the 2019…
May 9, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM – Greater Exposure to Ocrevus Means Less Risk of Disability Progression in MS Patients, Study Contends Higher exposure to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is associated with greater immune B-cell depletion in the blood, and lessened risk of disability progression in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive disease (PPMS), according to new research. The study supporting that finding, āPharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and…
May 1, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Women with MS Have Higher Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction, Study Reveals Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to experienceĀ sexual dysfunction and sexual distress than those without the disease, a study reports. According to researchers, the high prevalence of sexual problems among these women may be linked to their age, degree of physical disability, and depression. The…
April 30, 2019 News by Santiago Gisler Retrospective Study Analyzes Physical, Mental Differences Between Children with MS and ADS Retrospective comparison between children with multiple sclerosis (MS) and those with related acute demyelinating syndromes (ADS) highlights the implications of fatigue, depression, and quality of life in these patients. Those are the findings from a study, āFatigue, depression, and quality of life in children with multiple sclerosis: a…
April 8, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Mayzent ‘Will Change Lives’ of MS Patients Transitioning to SPMS, Novartis Says The “regulatory environment” favoredĀ Mayzent (siponimod) beingĀ approved as an oral treatment for people withĀ relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) ā specifically,Ā clinically isolated syndromeĀ (CIS),Ā relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), and activeĀ secondary progressive MSĀ (SPMS) ā a top executive with NovartisĀ said, althoughĀ the pharmaceutical company had requested a label covering all with SPMS. Dan…
April 1, 2019 Columns by Debi Wilson My Reluctant Journey Toward Using Mobility Devices When I was younger, I assumed that I wouldn’t require a mobility device until much later in my life. I wasn’t prepared for needing to use a cane or a walker in my 50s. My 2010 multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis rearranged my life in many ways. And having…
March 27, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD FDA Approves Novartis’ Mayzent for Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis, Including Active SPMS The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Novartis’ Mayzent (siponimod) oral tablets for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing-remitting disease (RRMS), and active secondary progressive disease (SPMS). Mayzent was designed to inhibit the activity of…
March 15, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM – Ublituximab Safe, Well-tolerated in Extension Study of Phase 2 Trial in Relapsing MS Treatment withĀ ublituximab continues to be safe and well-tolerated by patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, according to an extension study of a Phase 2 trial. According to a press release, Edward Fox, MD, PhD, from Central Texas Neurology Consultants, will give the presentation on May 7 at poster session P3: MS Clinical Trials and Therapeutic Research. Ublituximab is an investigational monoclonal antibody being developed by TG Therapeutics to target the immune B-cell marker protein CD20. This leads to the depletion of B-cells from the blood and central nervous system ā B-cells are activated during MS relapses. According to the company, ublituximab may be superior to current anti-CD20 treatments in MS, enabling both lower doses and shorter infusion times. Final results of the main TG-Therapeutics-sponsored Phase 2 trial were recently presented at the 4thĀ Annual Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum, held in Dallas, Texas. Data showed that 93% of the 48 patients enrolled (mean age 40 years) were relapse-free after a 48-week treatment with ublituximab. The annualized relapse rate ā the number of relapses per year ā was 0.07. In addition, median B-cell depletion was more than 99% throughout 48 weeks.Ā Moreover, 87% of participants showed no evidence of clinical disease. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a complete elimination of T1 lesions at 24 and 48 weeks 24 in all 46 patients analyzed. Mean T2 lesion volume decreased by 10.6% at 48 weeks, compared with the beginning of the study. T1 lesions refer to areas of active inflammation and disease activity, while T2 lesions are a measure of the total amount of lesions, both old and new. Ublituximab was found to be well-tolerated, and did not induce an severe treatment-related adverse events. The most frequent adverse events were infusion-related reactions. No patient had to discontinue treatment due to an ublituximab-related side effect. At the upcoming AAN meeting, Fox will present data on both this Phase 2 trial andĀ its open-label extension, in which 37 patients from the primary study continued receiving one-hour infusions of 450 mg of ublituximab every 24 weeks for an additional 96 weeks. Safety was monitored throughout the study, and disability assessments using theĀ Expanded Disability Status ScaleĀ were conducted every 48 weeks. As of October 2018, nearly 30% of participants had completed 48 weeks of treatment in the extension study. Results showed that ublituximab continues to be well-tolerated, with no discontinuations due to adverse events. āThe Phase 2 OLE supports that one-hour infusions of [ublituximab] continue to be safe and well tolerated,ā the researchers wrote. Of note, five of the eight study authors are affiliated with TG Therapeutics. The team expects additional patient follow-up data from the study to be available by the time of the AAN presentation. According to the scientists, the results support the ongoing Phase 3 ULTIMATE program, which includes the ULTIMATE 1 and ULTIMATE 2 trials. These studies are comparing the efficacy and safety of 450 mg of ublituximab withĀ AubagioĀ over 96 weeks of treatment in relapsing MS patients.Ā Both trials are led byĀ Lawrence Steinman, MD, atĀ Stanford University. TG Therapeutics expects toĀ have results from these trials as early as mid-2020.
March 8, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM – Sugar-sweetened Beverages Linked to Higher Disability Level in MS, Study Finds Drinking about 290 calories of sugar-sweetened beverages ā the equivalent of about two cans of non-diet soda ā per day may be associated with a higher level of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), compared to those who seldom consume such beverages, according to a preliminary study. The…
March 7, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein #ACTRIMS2019 – MSCopilot App Shows Promise as Self-Monitoring Tool MSCopilot, a software deviceĀ designed for the self-assessment of multiple sclerosis (MS), distinguishes between patients and healthy controls, and potentially could be usedĀ in clinical practice for the monitoring of MS disability progression and patients’ response to treatment. Matthieu Lamy, fromĀ Ad Scientiam, the…
March 5, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2019 – TG Therapeutics’ Investigational Therapy Ublituximab Posts Positive Data in MS Phase 2 Clinical Trial Full results of a Phase 2 clinical trial testing TG Therapeuticsā lead candidate ublituximab (TG-1101) for relapsingĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) showed that treatment for 48 weeks resulted in a marked reduction of brain and spinal cord lesions, an almost complete depletion of relapse-associated immune B-cells, and significantly halted disability…
March 1, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein #ACTRIMS2019 – Leukocyte Telomere Length Shortening is Predictive of Disability Progression in MS, Study Shows As the protective molecular caps of our genetic information ā called telomeres ā become shorter in certain immune cells, the extent of multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) disability progression increases, regardless of age, researchers at theĀ University of California, San FranciscoĀ (UCSF) reported. The findings were presented at the annual…
February 27, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Low Socioeconomic, Education Levels Linked to Higher Disability and Disease Progression in MS, Study Says Low income and education levels are linked to a higher risk of physical disability and disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), study says. The study with that finding, “Socioeconomic status and disability progression in multiple sclerosis,” was published in the journalĀ Neurology. “This study is the…
February 25, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Study Indicates Possible Correlation Between Nutritional Status, MS Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients eat a more limited diet, with a lower average of 31 nutrients, including zinc, thiamin, and iron, when compared with healthy controls, a study shows. Blood tests also showed that MS patients had significantly lower iron levels, a different fatty acid composition in their red blood…
February 22, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Aubagio, Tecfidera Show Comparable Effectiveness in Relapsing MS, Real-world Phase 4 Trial Finds Aubagio (teriflunomide)Ā seems to be superior to Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate)Ā in slowingĀ whole brain shrinkage in patients withĀ relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), a new Phase 4 clinical trial shows. However, Aubagio and Tecfidera have similar beneficial effects in achieving other clinical goals and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters,…
February 1, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Medication Use in RRMS Patients Highlights Importance of Better Treatment Management, Study Says Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, particularly those with multiple conditions who are more severely disabled, are more likely to be using several medications at the same time, a study shows. These findings highlight the need for physicians to be aware of what medications their patients are taking to avoid…