March 7, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD ACTRIMS 2024: MRI Paramagnetic rim lesions tied to cognitive decline The presence of paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs), which represent areas of damage in the brain and spinal cord with chronic active inflammation, may help identify people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are more likely to have cognitive decline over time. Thatās according to four-year data presented by Hannah Schwartz,…
May 17, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Pro-inflammatory diet linked to relapses after 1st MS attack: Study A more pro-inflammatory diet is associated with a higher risk of relapses and more inflammatory brain lesions for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the years following their first disease attack, according to a recent study. However, dietary intake did not impact disability progression or the volume of lesions with…
July 7, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Smoking Linked to Worse Outcomes in RRMS Patients After 10 Years Smoking is associated with lower brain volume, more brain lesions, and greater disability and attention deficits among people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) after 10 years,Ā according to a study in Norway. “The findings imply that patients should be advised and offered aid in smoking cessation shortly after diagnosis, to…
July 6, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Researchers Distinguish Remyelinated Brain Lesions Via MRI An MRI technique called quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) can be used to accurately identify remyelinated brain lesions in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a research team has discovered. Remyelinated lesions are those in which the myelin sheath ā the protective coating around nerve fibers that is progressively lost…
November 8, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Younger Age, Certain Lesions Linked to Higher MS Risk for RIS Patients Among people with nervous system damage indicative of multiple sclerosis (MS), but who don’t yet have the disease ā a condition known as radiologically isolated syndrome or RIS ā the risk of progressing to full-fledged MS is higher for those who are younger, have spinal cord lesions, and have…
July 20, 2021 News by Forest Ray PhD Nerve Tissue Scarring May Explain MS Progression Nerve tissue scars associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) show marked differences from those of similar neurodegenerative disorders, according to a recent study. MS-associated inflammation causes brain and spinal cord lesions (nerve tissue scarring) that often are bigger and last longer than those of two other demyelinating diseases: myelin oligodendrocyte…
March 18, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Mavenclad Quickly Reduces MRI Lesions in Early MS, ORACLE-MS Data Show Mavenclad (cladribine) reduces the number and volume of lesions in patients at risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) after a first clinical demyelinating event, a study based on Phase 3Ā trial data found. A demyelinating event occurs when myelin ā the protective coating around nerve fibers ā experiences damage; this…
February 8, 2021 News by Forest Ray PhD New Spinal Cord Lesions Can Be Evident in Stable MS Patients Asymptomatic damage to spinal nerves occurs even in clinically stable cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) and carries an increased risk for further lesions, a recent study suggests. Although a firm link between the asymptomatic loss of myelin in the spine and worsening disability remains to be found, this work…
February 3, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Protein-targeting Therapy Found to Lessen Inflammation in Preclinical Study A novel medication targeting the protein folate receptor-beta (FR-beta) decreased inflammation and brain damage in a rat model of multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings were published in theĀ Journal of Neuroinflammation, in the study “Efficacy and tolerability of folate-aminopterin therapy in a rat focal model of…
December 2, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Aubagio Slows Grey Matter, Whole Brain Atrophy in CIS, Study Finds Studied for the first time,Ā Aubagio (teriflunomide) slowed the loss of cortical grey matter and whole-brain volume in people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) during two years of therapy, a study found. The treatment was especially effective in those without brain lesions before treatment.
November 5, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Tysabri Seen as Superior to Gilenya for RRMS in Limited, Head-to-head Study Adults with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) treated with Tysabri (natalizumab) had fewer new and accumulated lesions, and a lower relapse rate than those treated with Gilenya (fingolimod) for 24 weeks, according to…
September 15, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Lesions First Seen on Nerves of GI Tract in Mouse Model of MS Before signs of neurodegeneration in the brain and spinal cord are evident in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) ā which resembles humanĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) ā signs can first be found in the network of nerves innervating the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, a study reports. Additional research is needed…
September 14, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 ā Low Rituximab Doses Are Safer, as Effective as Higher Ones Low doses of rituximab, an anti-inflammatory medication used off-label to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), are safer and as effective as higher doses at reducing the frequency of relapses and the number of MS lesions, a clinical study shows. The study findings were presented at MSVirtual2020 by Luciana…
August 4, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Oral RRMS Therapy Safely Lowers Active Lesions in Phase 2 Trial, Data Show Immunic Therapeutics‘sĀ IMU-838, a selective immune system modulator, can safely lower the number of brain lesions in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), top-line Phase 2 clinical trial data suggest. Findings show the trial met its primary goal with statistical significance ā a reduction inĀ active lesions (gadolinium…
July 14, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Most RIS Patients Likely to Progress to MS Within 10 Years, Study Says More than half of people with brain imaging changes akin to multiple sclerosis (MS) go on to develop the disease within 10 years, a global study of those with radiologically isolated syndrome reported. Progression to MS appears to be more likely in those who are younger, have spinal…
May 20, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Biogen Presents Update on its MS Therapeutic Portfolio Biogen has released new data on several of its therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS), including Vumerity (diroximel fumarate), Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), and Tysabri (natalizumab). The data ā six presentations ā originally were to be presented at the 2020 annual conference of the American…
May 19, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Memory Immune Cells Play Key Role in Advanced MS, Study Suggests In the brains of people with advanced multiple sclerosis (MS), memory immune cells reside in the brain tissue rather than entering through the bloodstream, a new study suggests. The study, “Tissue-resident memory T cells invade the brain parenchyma in multiple sclerosis white matter lesions,” was published…
May 4, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Ublituximab Phase 2 Data Support Safety, Efficacy in Relapsing MS The investigational anti-CD20 antibody ublituximabĀ effectively depletes B-cells in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), reducing the appearance of brain lesions and the risk of relapses, a study into clinical trial results suggests. Findings further suggest that the…
March 20, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Janssen Seeks FDA Approval for Oral Ponesimod for Treating Relapsing MS Janssen has submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking for ponesimodĀ to be approved as an oral treatment for adults with relapsingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). Ponesimod, formerly ACT-128800, is an experimental treatment that targets the proteinĀ sphingosine-1-phosphate…
February 28, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2020 – Depression in MS Linked to Worsening Neurological Function Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with depression are more likely to have worsening neurological function compared with those who do not have the mood disorder, results from a real-world study show. The findings were presented Feb. 27 by Jenny Feng, MD, in an oral presentation ā titled “…
February 18, 2020 News by Ana Pena PhD How Astrocytes Promote Inflammation in Patients’ Brain Detailed in Early Study Using brain tissue from people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and mouse models of MS, scientists identified a key pathway that drivesĀ astrocytesĀ to promote inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. The study, “MAFG-driven astrocytes promote CNS inflammation” published in the journalĀ Nature,Ā uncovered potential therapeutic targets that may be…
February 14, 2020 Columns by Jessie Ace A Detailed Description of What to Expect During an MRI Scan An magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can be an odd experience for those who have never had one before. Knowing what to expect beforehand can calm the nerves, so this week, I’m sharing what my first MRI was like. For people with multiple sclerosis (MS), frequent MRI scans are…
February 7, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Mayzent Approved in Europe as First Oral Treatment for Active Secondary Progressive MS The experimental BTK inhibitor SAR442168 showed an acceptable safety profile and met its primary endpoint ā a significant reduction in the number of new lesions visible on a brain imaging scan ā in a Phase 2 trial in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), study results show. SAR442168,…
November 14, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD 7T MRI Reveals New Insights into Some RRMS Features With the help of 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), investigators discovered that leptomeningeal enhancement ā a radiographic finding indicative of brain inflammation ā is more common than previously thought in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), and is tied to lesions in specific regions of the brain.
November 1, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Interferons Superior to Glatiramer Acetate, and Tysabri More Effective than Gilenya for RRMS, Real-world Study Finds Interferon therapy (brand names Avonex, Betaseron, and others) is more effective than glatiramer acetate (sold as Copaxone, Glatopa and other generics) for reducing relapses…
October 2, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD NFIA Protein Essential to Astrocytes, Brain Cells Active in Spinal Cord Repair and Remyelination, Study Suggests A protein known as nuclear factor I-A (NFIA) is key for spinal cord repair and timely remyelination by astrocytes ā the most abundant cells in the brain and first responders to sites of injury, findings in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) suggest. In brain lesions, NFIA is…
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 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…
August 16, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Dark Rimmed Brain Lesions May Be Signal of Aggressive Disease, NIH Study Says Brain lesions appearing as dark rimmed, “smoldering” spots on imaging scans, representing active inflammation, may be a hallmark of more aggressive and disabling forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers at theĀ National Institutes of Health (NIH) report. Using a powerful MRI brain scanner and a 3D printer, the…
July 30, 2019 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Early MRI Screening Can Predict Long-term MS Disability, Help Guide Treatment, Study Says Routine screening throughĀ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) can predict long-term disease progression ā leading to more certainty and informing better treatment choices, a 15-year study reported. The study, titled āEarly imaging predictors of long-term…