discontinuation

With Korro Bio merger in works, Frequency stops program for MS

With a planned merger in the works, Frequency Therapeutics is no longer advancing its remyelination therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS), and instead is exploring “strategic alternatives for the program,” the company has announced. The regenerative medicine company, which had aimed to develop a new approach to treating MS…

Worsening of Disability Evident in Older Patients Who Stop DMTs

While older multiple sclerosis (MS) patients whose conditions are stable commonly stop using disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), a study indicates this decision can shortly lead toĀ a marked disease worsening in a substantial portion of them. “Our results raise important questions about the accepted practice of discontinuing medications once MS…

Botulinum Toxin Treats MS Spasticity, But Support and Rehab Seen as Crucial to Long-term Use

Spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients can be eased through a combination of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections and rehabilitation. However, caregiver support is required to keep patients on this treatment, according to results of a retrospective analysis. Spasticity, a muscle control disorder characterized by tight or stiff muscles, is a major MS symptom. The condition is significantly detrimental to patientsā€™ quality of life, affecting their general mobility and balance. Several oral anti-spasticity drugs are available. However, ā€œtreatment of spasticity in MS is frequently challenging because of the complex clinical picture and the undesired effects associated with oral therapy, such as fatigue, dizziness, and hypotension,ā€ the researchers wrote. Previous studies show that BoNT-A, a toxin that blocks nerve activity in muscles, is an effective therapy for the management of MS-related spasticity. The long-term effectiveness and persistence of BoNT-A use in patients with MS-related spasticity, however, remains poorly investigated. The research team in Italy proposed ā€œto investigate the long-term persistence to treatment with BoNT-A for MS-related spasticity and the determinants of BoNT-A discontinuation in daily clinical setting.ā€ In total, the researchers reviewed data from 185 patients, out of which 121 were considered in their final analysis. They observed that, at the end of the follow-up period, 44% of the patients in the analysis were still being treated with BoNT-A, but 56% had discontinued treatment. Overall, these results ā€œconfirm the beneficial effect of combining BoNT-A injections with rehabilitation and highlights the crucial role of caregivers for achieving better long-term outcomes in people with MS suffering from spasticity,ā€ the team concluded.

#CMSC17 – Review Suggests Certain MS Patient Groups May Discontinue Disease-Modifying Treatments

Older patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) as well as older relapsing patients whose MS has been inactive after five years may safely discontinue their treatments, Canadian researchers at Vancouver’sĀ University of British ColumbiaĀ argue. TheirĀ Sanofi Genzyme-sponsoredĀ study, ā€œWhen Should Disease-Modifying Treatments Be Discontinued in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: An…