Gilenya (fingolimod)

Oral Aubagio Approved in EU for Children With RRMS, Ages 10-17

The European Commission (EC) has approved Aubagio (teriflunomide) for the treatment of children and adolescents, ages 10 to 17, withĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Aubagio, approved for adults with RRMS since 2013, is now the first oral therapy available as a first-line treatment for pediatric patients in the European…

Janssen Asks EMA to Approve Oral Ponesimod to Treat Relapsing MS

JanssenĀ has submitted an application toĀ the European Medicines Agency (EMA) asking that ponesimodĀ be approved as an oral treatment for adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in the European Union. Ponesimod (formerly ACT-128800) is an experimental treatment that targets theĀ sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor…

Tysabri May Promote Inflammatory B-Cell Activation in MS Patients, Study Says

Tysabri (natalizumab), an effective T-cell targeting treatment for multiple sclerosisĀ (MS),Ā seems to also promote the activation of pro-inflammatory immune B-cells in people with this disease, a studyĀ found. The study, “Natalizumab promotes activation and pro-inflammatory differentiation of peripheral B cells in multiple sclerosis patients,” was published in the…

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Gilenya Generics, MS Pain and Fatigue Toolkit, Profit Drives MS Meds Prices, MS and Sugar Link

FDA Approves Three Generic Versions of Novartisā€™ Gilenya for Treating Relapsing MS It’s always nice to hear about generics becoming available to replace expensive multiple sclerosis treatments. But I wonder whether these generics will cost less than the brand-name medication. Will their availability help to drive down the price…

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Cognitive Impairment, Genetic Variant Risk Factor, Protein Biomarkers, Gilenya Study

Higher Intellectual Ability, Early-life Physical Activity May Protect Against Cognitive Impairment in MS, Study Suggests The finding that physical activity provides a protective effect for cognitive abilities makes sense to me. I recently listened to a webinar discussing brain atrophy, which has a direct relationship with cognitive impairment, and…

Need to Know: What Is the JC Virus?

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 topicĀ “Does PML worry you?” from April 18. The world of multiple sclerosis (MS)…

Need to Know: What Is the Blood Brain Barrier?

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.Ā This week’s question is inspired by the forum topicĀ “How the Blood Brain Barrier May Thwart MS Progression” from Feb. 9, 2017. What…

Need to Know: What Are Patient Assistance Programs?

Editor’s note: “Need to Know” 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 topicĀ “Could US Govā€™t Probe Threaten Pharma Patient Assistance Programs?” from Oct. 12, 2018.

How Worried Should We Be About MS Medication Side Effects?

Over the past couple of weeks, two warnings have been issued about side effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) medications. First, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned about a slight risk of seriously worsening MS symptoms if someone who is using the disease-modifying therapy (DMT) Gilenya (fingolimod) stops using…

FDA Warns of Possible Dangers of Stopping Gilenya

If you are being treated with Gilenya, take note. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning that if you stop using Gilenya (fingolimod), there’s a chance your MS could become worse. The FDA issued a safety alert saying that this only happens rarely, but when it does, the…

DMTs Are Cost-Effective and Help to Slow MS Progression, 10-Year Study from UK Reports

Four disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for Ā multiple sclerosisĀ ā€”Ā Avonex, Rebif, Betaferon, and CopaxoneĀ ā€” are cost-effective and reduce disease progression in MS patients, especially those with relapsing-remitting disease, according to 10-year, real-world results from U.K.ā€™s MS Risk Sharing Scheme (RSS). But the long-term benefits observed wane over…

Gilenya More Effective Than Avonex in Lowering Relapse Rates, New Lesions in Children with Relapsing MS, Phase 3 Trial Shows

Two years of treatment with oral GilenyaĀ (fingolimod) significantly reduced the rate of relapses when compared toĀ AvonexĀ (interferon beta-1a) intramuscular injections in children and adolescents with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS), according to Phase 3 clinical trial results. Additionally, Gilenya (marketed by Novartis) decreased the number of central nervous…