April 9, 2020 Columns by Tamara Sellman Need to Know: What Is Acthar Gel? Editor’s note: “Need to Knowā is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum. This week’s question is inspired by the forum post “MS Treatment Eases Flare-up Symptoms After 2 Months” from Oct.
October 18, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Are Injectables Inappropriate for Active Relapsing MS Treatment? With more high-efficacy therapies becoming available, is it now inappropriate to prescribe older injectables ā interferon beta and glatiramer acetate ā to people with active relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS)? This question was at the core of what was called a “burning debate” at this year’s European Committee…
October 15, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Ofatumumab Part of ‘Magnificent Success Story’ for MS, ASCLEPIOS Trial Investigator Says Ofatumumab, anĀ investigational B-cell therapy being developed by Novartis, demonstrated encouraging results in lowering relapse rates and active brain lesions in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) enrolled in the ASCLEPIOS trials. For Stephen L. Hauser, MD, an investigator in the ASCLEPIOS trials, these results represent a…
October 7, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Rituximab vs. Ocrevus In this week’s column, I’ve changed the format a little to focus on one subject: rituximab. This is an approved cancer medication that some U.S. neurologists use as an off-label treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). Rituximab is similar to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab). When the latter disease-modifying therapy (DMT) became available in…
October 4, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Is Rituximab a Reasonable Option for MS Patients? No, Researcher Says Editorās note: This is the third story in a three-part report examining the question, āIs rituximab a reasonable alternative treatment for MS?ā, which was a topic discussed at this yearās Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). Here, we take an in-depth look…
October 4, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Is Rituximab a Reasonable Option for MS Patients? Yes, Researcher Says Editorās note: This is the second story in a three-part report examining the question, āIs rituximab a reasonable alternative treatment for MS?ā, which was a topic discussed at this yearās Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). Here, we take an in-depth look…
October 4, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Is Rituximab a Reasonable Option for MS Patients? Editorās note: This is the first story in a three-part report examining the question, āIs rituximab a reasonable alternative treatment for MS?ā, which was a topic discussed at this yearās Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). Here, we provide a synopsis of…
September 30, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Mollii Suit Can Ease Muscle Stiffness and Improve Movement, Reports State Mollii, an electrostimulation suit, can help reduce muscle stiffness, or spasticity, and its associated pain, as well as improve muscle activation in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy, stroke, and other neurological injuries, according to Inerventions,Ā the Swedish company that developed and markets it. With a few hours…
September 25, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Should Vitamin D Supplements Be Recommended for MS? No, Researcher Says Editorās note: This is the third story in a three-part report examining the question “Should vitamin D supplements be recommended for MS patients?”, which was a topic discussed at this year’s Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). Here, we take an in-depth…
September 25, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Should Vitamin D Supplements Be Recommended for MS? Yes, Researchers Say Editorās note: This is the second story in a three-part report examining experts’ answers to the question “Should vitamin D supplements be recommended for MS patients?”, which was a topic discussed at this year’sĀ Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple SclerosisĀ (ECTRIMS).Ā Here, we take an in-depth…
September 25, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Should Vitamin D Supplements Be Recommended for MS? Editorās note: This is the first story in a three-part report examining the question “Should vitamin D supplements be recommended for MS patients?”, which was a topic discussed at this year’s Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). Here, we provide a synopsis…
September 20, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Mayzent’s Benefits from a Patient Perspective a ‘Key Question,’ Says EXPAND’s Principal Investigator The most recent data continue to support Mayzent‘s (siponimod) benefits and provide more insights on how this therapy can make a difference for those with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) ā in particular, data showing the therapy lowers the risk of becoming wheelchair-dependent. New results from…
September 20, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Ahead for Mavenclad: Fuller Understanding of What Makes It ‘Unique,’ Serono Exec Says in Interview Real-world data continues to support the safety and effectiveness ofĀ MavencladĀ (cladribineĀ tablets) in treating multiple sclerosis (MS), and several studies underway will help scientists gain in-depth understanding of how Mavenclad works, its impact on the immune system, and the durability of its benefits, an executive with EMD SeronoĀ said in an…
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 19, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Cell Immunotherapy ATA188 Showing Safety, Hints of Effectiveness in Progressive MS in Phase 1 Trial People with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and past exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus are responding to a potentialĀ immunotherapy known as ATA188, tolerating the treatment well and with signs that suggest effectiveness, early updated data from an ongoing Phase 1 trial show. The research, ā…
September 18, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Ozanimod’s ‘Key Advantages’ May Lead to New First-line MS Therapy: Interview with Neurologist Jeffrey Cohen Celgene‘s oralĀ ozanimod, if approved,Ā could be a first-line oral treatment option for people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), and one with relatively minor side effects. Recent results from the Phase 3 trials RADIANCE (NCT02047734) and…
September 18, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 ā Ponesimod Superior to Aubagio in Relapsing MS, OPTIMUM Trial Shows Actelion‘s ponesimod, an investigational oral treatment, is superior to Sanofi‘s Aubagio (teriflunomide) in lessening the frequency of relapses and easing fatigue symptoms in adults with active, relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), results of the OPTIMUM trial show. These data will lay the ground for submissions…
September 18, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Data Shows Ublituximab’s Long-term Safety in Relapsing MS, TG Therapeutics Announced Ublituximab continues to be safe and well-tolerated by people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) after a median follow-up of 124.7 weeks ā more than 2 years ā according to data from an extension Phase 2 trial. The data were shown in a…
September 18, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Acthar Gel Seen as Cost-effective Late-line Treatment Option for MS Relapses Late-line use ofĀ H.P. Acthar GelĀ to treat relapses in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) is linked with lower costs than other therapies used after an initial poor response, including plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin, according to an analysis by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, the treatment’s marketer. George Wan, PhD, Mallinckrodt’sĀ vice president and…
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 Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Early Ocrevus Use Slows Disability in PPMS, Including Risk of Wheelchair Reliance Early and continuous treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) leads to a greater and more durable slowing of disability progression ā seen for up to 6.5 years ā in people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), according to long-term data on its use in PPMS patients in a Phase 3…
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 17, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Relapses Tied to Greater Medical and Personal Costs in Real-world Data Relapses in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are associated with greater medical and non-medical costs, according to real-world data from two German observational studies. These findings support early treatment with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that help to control disease relapses, its researchers said, as a way of possibly reducing such economic…
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 – Nerve Cell Damage May Be Evident Years Before Symptoms Are Damage to nerve cells appears to occur years before people with multiple sclerosis (MS) begin to show symptoms and is evident in a likely biomarker, new data suggest. Researchers found raised levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a protein associated with nerve cell damage, in blood samples collected six years…
September 16, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Newer DMTs More Effective Than Older Injectables in Pediatric MS, Study Says Using newer disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) as an initial treatment for children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is associated with fewer relapses and brain lesions compared to the use of older and injectable DMTs, according to a real-world study in the U.S.
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 Joana Carvalho, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 ā Eliminating SARM1 Protects Neurons in Mouse Model of MS Eliminating SARM1, an enzyme that plays a key role in nerve cell degeneration, protects neurons in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a condition that mimics the key pathological features of multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans. The preclinical findings were presented by researchers atĀ Disarm Therapeutics in a…