October 4, 2021 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Ublituximab, ATA188, COVID-19, Cognitive Rehab Ublituximab, Potential Relapsing MS Therapy, Up for FDA Approval Like Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) and Kesimpta (ofatumumab), ublituximab targets the CD20 protein that’s found on the surface of B-cells in the immune system. It then binds to it and kills the cell, reducing the number of cells that are attacking the…
September 30, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD #ECTRIMS2021 – ATA188 Benefits in SPMS, PPMS Hint at Remyelination An investigational immunotherapy, ATA188Ā showed it could reverse disability and improve exercise capacity in people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), Atara Biotherapeutics, its developer, reported in an update on a Phase 1 trial and its long-term extension study. EMBOLD trial findings based on MRI brain imaging…
September 8, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Serious Infections in Adolescence Linked to Increased MS Risk Experiencing serious infections during adolescence is tied to an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life, but those occurring in childhood don’t increase MS risk, according to a new Swedish study. The study also found that certain types of infections, especially those that affect the central…
October 26, 2020 News by Diana Campelo Delgado Variants in Key Gene Interact With Insults Like EBV to Cause MS, Study Suggests The HLA-DR15 haplotype ā a set of gene variants that tend to be inherited together ā in the HLA-DRB1 gene plays a role in autoimmune response and, in combination with environmental factors, contributes to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests. The study, ā…
September 8, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – ATA188 Safe, Early Efficacy Seen in Progressive MS Trial ATA188, Atara Biotherapeuticsā investigative T-cell immunotherapy, is safe, well tolerated, and able to ease disability and improve exercise capacity in patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to one-year data from a Phase 1 trial and its long-term extension study. Findings also showed that, after…
August 24, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Genetic Variants May Explain High Levels of Antibodies Against Epstein-Barr Virus in MS, Study Suggests Genetic variants may contribute to increased levels of antibodies against proteins of the Epstein-Barr virus ā a known environmental risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS) ā in MS patients and their siblings, a study suggests. The study, āEBNA-1 titer gradient in families with multiple sclerosis indicates a…
August 5, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Smoking and Epstein-Barr Virus Combine to Raise MS Risk, Study Says Cigarette smoking and an EpsteināBarr virus infection together represent a significant risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting that at least one path to this disease involves two factors working synergistically, a study reports. The study, āSmoking and EpsteināBarr virus infection in multiple sclerosis development,ā was published…
July 9, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD B-Cells Infected by Epstein-Barr Virus Linked to MS Relapse Risk in Study Immune B-cellsĀ that proliferate unchecked when infected by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) appear to increase the risk of relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a mouse study suggests. The study, āEpstein Barr virusāimmortalized B lymphocytes exacerbate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in xenograft mice,ā was published…
May 29, 2020 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Cell Therapy ATA188 Safely Easing Disability in Progressive MS, Trial Reports Atara Biotherapeutics‘ cell-based therapy ATA188 is safe and well-tolerated in people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), and induces a sustained reduction in disability in a dose-dependent manner, findings from the first part of a Phase 1 clinical trial show. ATA188 had an…
May 15, 2020 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD EBV Infections Evident in All 901 MS Patients in German Study Supporting evidence that infection with Epstein-Barr virusĀ (EBV) could be one of the root causes ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), a recent study found all of its 901 early disease patients carry antibodies against this virus, meaning that all are or have been exposed to it. The study, “…
April 7, 2020 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Atara Pauses Enrollment in Part 2 of Immunotherapy Trial in PPMS and SPMS InĀ response to theĀ COVID-19 pandemic, Atara Biotherapeutics has temporarily paused patient enrollment in the second and randomized part of its ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial investigating ATA188 in people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). People treated in the first, open-label part of this trial, however,…
January 30, 2020 News by Vanessa Pataia Epstein-Barr Virus and Certain Genes Interact in Ways That Can Promote MS, Study Finds Interaction between various Epstein-Barr virus traits and the composition of certain genes affects the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), a study reports. The study, āThe interaction of Multiple Sclerosis risk loci with Epstein-Barr virus phenotypes implicates the virus in pathogenesis,ā was published in the journal…
December 19, 2019 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell The 10 Years Since My Diagnosis Has Brought Many Blessings Life is never how you expect or predict it to be. Things happen today that we couldn’t have anticipated. We have no easy or predefined path to fulfillment, joy, or nirvana. Forget about your navigation as your direction can ā and will ā change at any moment. My compass spun…
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 13, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 ā Human Herpesvirus 6A May Increase MS Risk, Study Suggests Infection with the human herpesvirus (HHV)-6A may increase the likelihood of having multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new national study in Sweden. The research, āSerological response against HHV-6A is associated with increased risk for multiple sclerosis,ā was presented byĀ Anna Fogdell-Hahn, PhD, associate professor at the…
September 10, 2019 News by Steve Bryson, PhD SPMS Triggers and Treatments Among Focus of Expert Panel in Video Series by AJMC Multiple sclerosis (MS) experts discuss disease causes and current treatment options in a new video series released by the multimedia and peer-reviewed science journal,Ā The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC).Ā The free and online video series is part…
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”…
November 21, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Phase 1 Trial of ATA190 Cell Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Progressive MS Atara Biotherapeuticsā investigational ATA190, a cell therapy that wipes out immune B-cells infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), led to neurological improvements and reduced symptoms in patients with primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), a Phase 1 trial shows. The trial results were published in the Journal…
June 19, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Atara Biotherapeutics Study Links Epstein-Barr Virus Infection with MS Analysis of post-mortem brain samples from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy individuals (without neurologic disease) showed that while signs of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection are present in both groups of brains, EBV-positive immune cells were more prevalent and densely populated in the MS brain. The study reporting those findings,…
April 23, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Epstein-Barr Virus May Increase Risk of MS, Other Diseases, Study Reports Infection with the common Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), a new report from theĀ Ā Cincinnati Childrenās Hospital Medical CenterĀ says. Besides MS, the Epstein-Barr virus also raises the risk for six other disorders: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, inflammatory…
February 26, 2018 News by Catarina Silva Epstein-Barr Virus Found in Brain Cells of Many MS Patients, Study Reports United Arab Emirates scientists have found active Epstein-Barr virus in many multiple sclerosis patients’ brain cells, supporting the notion that it plays a role in the disease. The team found it in two types of brain cells ā astrocytes and microglia. The virus can be active or lie dormant in…
January 12, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Atara to Extend Phase 1 Trial of Potential Immunotherapy for All MS Forms to US Patients Atara Biotherapeutics has received a green light to enroll U.S. patients into a Phase 1 trial of ATA188 for progressive or relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The study was initially launched in Australia, but with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) having cleared the companyās application, the trial…
October 27, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #MSParis2017 – Immune Response to Epstein-Barr and Low Vitamin D Levels Separately Increase MS Risk A strong immune reaction to an Epstein-Barr virus infection and low levels of vitamin D appear to increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) independent of each other, said researchers in a presentation at theĀ 7th Joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Meeting in Paris, France. Previous studies have shown that serum antibody titers…
October 24, 2017 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Atara Biotherapeutics Starts Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Its MS Immunotherapy ATA188 Atara BiotherapeuticsĀ has startedĀ a Phase 1 clinical trial to assess ATA188’s safety and potential to treat progressive or relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. ATA188 is the companyās next-generation T-cell immunotherapy. It targets Epstein-Barr virus antigens that play an important role in the development of MS. An antigen is a molecule capable of…
September 1, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Infection by Epstein-Barr Virus Increases MS Risk for African-Americans and Latinos, Study Finds Past infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been reported to increase the risk for multiple sclerosis (MS). Now, researchers have found a link between EBV and MSĀ in three racial-ethnic groups, with African-Americans and Latinos showing a higher risk for MS than Caucasians.
August 14, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Phase 1 Trial Recruitment Complete for Ataraās ATA188 T-cell Immunotherapy for Progressive MS Atara BiotherapeuticsĀ recently published anĀ updateĀ ofĀ the companyās quarterly financial results and operational highlights, including the advancement ofĀ itsĀ T-cell based immunotherapy strategies for multiple sclerosis (MS) and cancer. One of the investigational therapies featured in the report is ATA188, a potential treatment for MS.
June 22, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman MS Alphabet: EAE, Endothelium, EpsteināBarr, and other ‘E’ Words (Editorās note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this second of two parts on terms starting with the letter āE.ā Read the first part here.) When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you…
April 24, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD ATA188, Which Kills B-Cells Targeting Epstein-Barr Virus, Shows Promise as MS Treatment An investigational treatmentĀ called ATA188 that wipes out B-cells targeting the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has shown promise as a multiple sclerosis treatment, a Phase 1 clinical trial involving a small patient group indicates. The trial, conducted in Australia, covered six people with primary or secondary progressive MS. B-cells are a…
February 24, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – There is Increased Evidence Linking Viruses to MS Risk Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be caused by genetic factors, but environmental cues are increasingly recognized to have an impact on disease onset and development. One environmental factor suggested to play a role in MS is infectious agents, such as viruses. Now, different teams of scientists have explored the…
May 17, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Study of Immune System Response to Viral Infection Revives Possibility of Link Between MS and Viruses Researchers investigatingĀ immune B-cell response to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) found that it may correlate with the amount of brain-specific B-cells in the blood ā a marker of multiple sclerosis (MS) ā and with higher disease activity. The findings were published in the journalĀ Viruses, in…