ECTRIMS2016

#ECTRIMS2016 – Treatment for Relapsing MS, Ozanimod, Shows Efficacy in 2-Year Extension of Phase 2 Study

Results from the extension period of aĀ Phase 2 trial,Ā assessingĀ ozanimod as a potential treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, showed that the drug can effectively and safely improve clinical measures of RRMS after two years of treatment. The announcement was made by Celgene International SĆ rl, a subsidiary of Celgene Corporation,…

#ECTRIMS2016 – MS Patients on Oral Gilenya Stick Longer with Treatment in Phase 4 Study

A recent study showed that after one year, the majority of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients taking oral Gilenya (fingolimod) therapy stuck with their treatment, while a large proportion of thoseĀ usingĀ injectable disease-modifying drugs did not. The data, presented at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) 2016…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Gilenya Study Shows Long-term Benefits for MS Patients

NovartisĀ recently announced positive results from the ACROSS study, which is assessing the clinical effect of Gilenya (fingolimod) in 10-year disability outcomes in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The results were presented at theĀ European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple SclerosisĀ (ECTRIMS) Sept. 14-17 in London. The ACROSS study…

#ECTRIMS2016 – GeNeuro Reaches Enrollment Halfway Mark in Study of GNbAC1 to Treat Multiple Sclerosis

GeNeuroĀ announced that it has reached ā€” more quickly than expected ā€” the halfway mark for patient enrollment inĀ itsĀ Phase 2b study, CHANGE-MS,Ā assessingĀ GNbAC1 as a therapy forĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Patient recruitmentĀ is continuing at sites across Europe. The company alsoĀ reported onĀ theĀ trial’s design in a poster presentation, “A placebo…

#ECTRIMS2016 – MS Patients Achieve Sustained Improvements in Mobility with Ampyra

A recent study showed that the clinical benefits offered by Ampyra (fampridine) in improving mobility among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients hasĀ clinical significance. The results were shown in an oral presentation, ā€œSustained clinically meaningful improvements in walking ability with prolonged-release fampridine: results from the placebo-controlled ENHANCE study,ā€ atĀ the European Committee for…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Lemtrada and Tysabri Seen as Most Effective Therapies for MS in 5-Year Study

A five-year study comparing theĀ efficacy of different treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) foundĀ that, in general, Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) and Tysabri (natalizumab) are more effective asĀ therapies than Gilenya (fingolimod) and interferon Ī². StudyĀ results were presentedĀ in an oral presentation, ā€œComparison of 5-year treatment outcomes between alemtuzumab versus natalizumab, fingolimod and interferon Ī²-1a,ā€…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Sanofi Releases Patients’ Views of Aubagio as Effective Treatment for Relapsing MS

Sanofi GenzymeĀ presented positive results from itsĀ Phase 4 study into patient-reported assessments ofĀ Aubagio (teriflunomide), an approved oral treatmentĀ for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS). Real-world patient responses were reported at the 32ndĀ Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), recentlyĀ held in London. The clinical…

#ECTRIMS2016 – MS Patients May Be at Lower Risk for Other Illnesses, Danish Study Suggests

Preliminary results of a study in Danish patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suggest that inverse comorbidity may exist in the MSĀ population, lowering patients’Ā risk for other types of diseases. The results were givenĀ in an oral presentation, ā€œInverse comorbidity in multiple sclerosis. Findings in a complete nationwide cohort,ā€ atĀ theĀ 32nd Congress of theĀ European…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Data on Merck Treatment for Relapsing MS, Cladribine Tablets, Show Long-Term Benefit

MerckĀ recently presented new efficacy data from itsĀ three Phase 3 clinical trials, showing that a relatively short course of treatment withĀ Cladribine tabletsĀ led to long-term reductions in annualized relapse rate (ARR) in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The data were givenĀ in two oral presentationĀ at the 32nd Congress of the…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Poor Medication Adherence in Pediatric MS Patients Linked to Fatigue, Lack of Routine

Children with multiple sclerosis (MS) inĀ North America identified a number ofĀ challenges inĀ adhering to disease-modifying therapies ā€” a potential first step to devising Ā therapeutic approaches that mightĀ improve adherence to MS medications among young patients and, subsequently, disease outcomes in these children. The results were presented in the talk, ā€œMedication adherence in…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Biogen and AbbVie Present New Positive Data on Zinbryta to Treat Relapsing MS

BiogenĀ andĀ AbbVieĀ presented positive new post-hoc analysis from the pivotal DECIDE clinical trial, whichĀ showed that a significantly larger number of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) patients treated with Zinbryta (daclizumab) hadĀ no evidence of disease activity (NEDA)Ā compared to thoseĀ treated with Avonex (interferon beta-1a).Ā The data wereĀ given at the recentĀ 32nd Congress of the European…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Vitamin D3 Oil Supplements May Benefit MS Patients in Early Disease Stages

Patients with relapsing-remittingĀ multiple sclerosis (RRMS) might benefit from cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)Ā oil as an add-on therapy in the early phases of the disease. This findingĀ was presented in an oral presentation, ā€œHigh dose cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) oil as add-on therapy in subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis receiving subcutaneous interferon Ī²-1a,ā€ given atĀ theĀ 32nd…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Modeling Approach Able to Identify Likely Disease Trajectory in Progressive MS Patients

Long-term observationsĀ together withĀ mathematicalĀ modelingĀ present a wayĀ of predicting the likelyĀ disability trajectory of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The approachĀ was outlinedĀ in a presentation, titled ā€œLong-term disability trajectories in primary progressive MS patients – a latent class growth analysis,ā€ given atĀ theĀ 32nd Congress of theĀ European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple SclerosisĀ (ECTRIMS), held in London…

#ECTRIMS2016 – MS Patients’ Perceptions of Exercise Key to Their Participation

Interventions that aim to improve multiple sclerosis (MS) patients’ participation in physical activities need to take into account psychosocial constructs, such as their belief in theirĀ abilities and their expectations as to outcomes, in order to succeed. TheĀ finding, presented at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS)…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Protein Seen as New Target in Preventing Brain Inflammation in MS

Researchers found that blocking a protein,Ā known asĀ integrin alpha 8, may workĀ to prevent inflammation in the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The results were revealedĀ in an oral presentation, ā€œIntegrin alpha8 is a novel mediator of T lymphocyte migration across the CNS barriers,ā€ atĀ theĀ 32nd Congress of theĀ European Committee…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Eye Imaging Tools May Help Predict 5- or 10-Year MS Disability

Two presentations at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) 2016 Congress,Ā now underwayĀ in London, underscored the value of measures of neurodegeneration in the eye in predicting a patient’s futureĀ disability. Peter Calabresi with theĀ Johns Hopkins School of MedicineĀ opened the session with the presentation,Ā ā€œTools for…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Investigational Leustatin Tablets Offer Clinical Benefits to Different MS Patients

Leustatin (cladribine) tablets, an investigational drug, were shownĀ to be effectiveĀ at reducing annual relapse rates, not only in MS patients, but also inĀ patients with a first demyelinating event who later converted to a clinically defined multiple sclerosis diagnosis. The results were shared in a presentation titled ā€œCladribine tablets in the ORACLE-MS…

#ECTRIMS2016 ā€“ My Pick of Thursdayā€™s Congress Highlights

Another full day, today,Ā at Londonā€™s ExCel center andĀ numerous sessions, presentations, and debates to attract the attention of delegates attending ECTRIMS. After sifting through the agenda, here are my picks of Thursday’s highlights: This morning sees the beginning of the congressā€™s plenary sessions, featuring a lecture about ā€œMS diagnosis and…