June 23, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Regular vaccinations for most MS patients recommended by experts People with multiple sclerosis (MS) should generally follow a regular vaccination schedule similar to their healthy peers, with certain adjustments made if they’re on particular disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), according to a group of experts in Europe who devised a set of more than 50 evidence-based guidelines for the…
July 15, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD MS Possibly Linked to Greater Cancer Risk in Large, But Preliminary Norwegian Study People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may have a greater overall risk of developing cancer than the general population, according to the results of a 58-year follow-up study of nearly 7,000 patients in Norway. Risk seems particularly high for cancers in respiratory organs, urinary organs, and the central nervous system.
July 8, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Miscarriage or Ectopic Pregnancy Not More Likely in Women Using Rebif, Study Suggests Results from a large observational study of pregnant women with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with an interferon (IFN) beta-1a, likeĀ Rebif, before and during the first trimester showed no elevated risk of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy compared to those not using the medicine. This finding was presented at…
July 8, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Mayzent Boosts Cognitive Processing Speed in SPMS Patients, Phase 3 Trial Data Show Treatment with Mayzent (siponimod) led to significant improvement in cognitive processing speed in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), according to updated results of a Phase 3 trial. Novartisā findings, presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) congressĀ that ran June 29āJuly 2 in Oslo,…
July 3, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Rebif Cost-effective and Can Reduce Brain Lesions in RRMS Patients, Data Show Merck KGaA presented new evidence supporting the safety and clinical efficacy of RebifĀ (interferon beta-1a) for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) at the 5thĀ Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), June 29āJuly 2 in Oslo, Norway. The company, known asĀ EMD SeronoĀ in the U.S. and Canada, presented 16…
May 23, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Early Safety Data from Phase 1 Study of Immunotherapy in Progressive MS Patients To Be Detailed at EAN Early, positive safety results from a Phase 1 trial testing a potential immunotherapy,Ā ATA188, in people with progressive multiple sclerosisĀ will be detailed at the 5th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) late next month, its developer, Atara Biotherapeutics, announced. ATA188 is an investigational and “off-the-shelf”…
June 21, 2018 News by Kara Elam Webinar Focuses on Importance of Maintaining Independence for Progressive MS Patients When a progressively debilitating disease like multiple sclerosis (MS) causes a patient to feel physically āwiped outā after a simple daily activity, such as a shower, it is of utmost importance for these individuals and the people in their support system to understand how they can maintain independence for…
June 20, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc #EAN2018 ā New Guidelines for MS Treatment in Europe Set by EAN, ECTRIMS New treatment guidelines for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Europe were set in place through an initiative undertaken by the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). Launched in parallel to the 4th Congress of the European Academy…
July 7, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD New Ocrevus Findings Show Benefits to Range of MS Patients: Interview with Genentech’s Dr. Hideki Garren Genentech shared new insights into the workings of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) and its effectiveness in reducing disease activity and slowing progression in relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) at the recent 3rd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN). The new findings, previously reported here, built on analyses of information gathered during the three Phase 3 clinical trials assessing Ocrevus' safety and efficacy, as well as through monitoring patients in extension studies. The studies showed that nearly 40 percent of Ocrevus-treated relapsing patients and nearly 30 percent of primary progressive patients achieved NEPAD during the Phase 3 trials. In contrast, only 21.5 percent of those treated with Rebif and 9.4 percent receiving placebo achieved NEPAD ā figures that demonstrate Ocrevusā impact on patientsā lives, as well as Ocrevusā ability to slow the decline in walking ability and other types of disabilities are comparable between patients with relapsing and primary progressive disease ā data that demonstrate that the treatment acts on disease mechanisms that drive disability in both disease forms. How these effects play out in the long-term is the subject of ongoing research, as Genentech continues to follow these patients in an extension study. In addition, Ocrevus' prescription label strongly advises against pregnancy while on the treatment. Despite precautions, some women became pregnant during the trials. One of the meeting presentations narrated outcomes of these pregnancies; one healthy baby born at term and two ongoing pregnancies in women exposed to the drug. But while Genentech monitors women who become pregnant while on Ocrevus, the number of reported pregnancies is too small to draw conclusions about the treatmentās safety in pregnancy, and researchers do not know if Ocrevus also depletes B-cells in the fetus or in the baby born to a treated woman.
June 23, 2017 News by Janet Stewart, MSc Genentech to Report on Ocrevus Success in Reducing Disease Progression in Relapsing and Primary Progressive MS at EAN Congress OcrevusĀ (ocrelizumab) significantly reduces disease activity and disability progression in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS), according to results of post-hoc analyses ofĀ Genentechās Phase 3 clinical trial program assessing the drug.
May 31, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MedDay Presents Phase 3 Extension Data on Potential Drug to Treat Progressive MS Data from an extension phase of aĀ Phase 3 clinical trial, given in an oral presentation by MedDay, reportedĀ that the biotinĀ Ā MD1003 showedĀ effectiveness over time as a possibleĀ treatment of non-active, progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The dataĀ were presented atĀ the recentĀ 2nd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in DenmarkĀ byĀ ProfessorĀ Ayman Tourbah,…