January 19, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Acthar Gel May Help RRMS Patients Who Fail Corticosteroids Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) may be useful for managing disease relapses in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who fail to respond to treatment with corticosteroids, according to results from a small clinical trial. The study, “Results from a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study…
December 16, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Little Evidence Acthar Gel Better Than Cheaper Substitutes: Review There is minimal evidence that the expensive anti-inflammatory medication Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) is more effective than inexpensive corticosteroids for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases, according to a new review paper. “We found no evidence where it was a conclusive slam dunk that…
November 2, 2021 News by Yedida Y Bogachkov PhD FDA Approves Reintroduced Cortrophin Gel for MS Exacerbations The injectable ACTH gel medication Cortrophin Gel (repository corticotropin injection), first introduced in the U.S. in the 1950s, will now be relaunched as a treatment for acute flare-ups in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune conditions, following its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In…
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.
March 27, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Potential Competitor to Acthar Gel Asking to Re-enter US Market ANI Pharmaceuticals is asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the right to reintroduce in the U.S. market its Cortrophin Gel (repository corticotropin injection, 80 U/ml) to treat acute exacerbations in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases. Currently, the only repository corticotropin injection available in…
March 2, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2020 – Acthar Gel Ably Treats MS Relapses, Topline Data Show Acthar GelĀ (repository corticotropin injection) leads to significant improvements after two months of use in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) still having acute relapses despite treatment, and who failed to respond to other high-dose corticosteroids, topline data from an observational study show. The gel’s developer, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, also…
November 12, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Acthar Gel Quite Effective at Resolving Relapses as Alternative to Corticosteroids, Study Reports Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) is more effective for treating flaresĀ inĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) than other alternatives, including intravenous immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis, a claims-based study from Mallinckrodt PharmaceuticalsĀ reports. The study “Treatment Effectiveness for Resolution of Multiple Sclerosis…
October 3, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Acthar Gel Eases MS Flare-up Symptoms After Two Months of Treatment, Observational Study Shows Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) eased flare-up symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experiencing relapses, top-line data from an observational registry study shows. Acthar Gel, a medication developed and marketed by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, is a compound that enhances the production of steroids in the…
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…
January 17, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Trial to Evaluate H.P. Acthar Gel Is Enrolling Patients with Relapsing-remitting MS Mallinckrodt PharmaceuticalsĀ is seeking 66 participants for a clinical trial to determine the safety and effectiveness of its injected therapyĀ H.P. Acthar GelĀ as a treatment for acute relapses in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). MS relapses are flare-ups of central nervous system inflammation that damage the myelin coating that protects nerve cells. The damage disrupts the transmission of impulses between the cells, causing spikes in MS symptoms. For severe relapses that interfere with a personās mobility, safety or ability to function, most neurologists recommend corticosteroid treatment administered intravenously or taken orally. Steroids can also be administered by injection of a gel under the skin. H.P. Acthar Gel is designed to provide extended release of steroids in the body. The trial will evaluate whether the gel is an effective treatment for RRMS patients who have been unable to recover from a relapse after receiving high-dose intravenous or oral steroids. Researchers will randomly assign participants to receive either H.P. Acthar Gel or a placebo, delivered by injection once a day for 14 days. Follow-up visits will be required at 14, 28 and 42 days. The study's main objective will be seeing whether patients' disability improves. Researchers will use a standard tool for measuring disability known as the Expanded Disability Status Scale.Ā Other objectives will include seeing how the therapy affects patients' fatigue, quality of life, workplace productivity, and use of healthcare resources. Participants must have a confirmed diagnosis of RRMS, be older than 18 years of age, and have experienced a relapse within 29 days of enrolling in the trial. For more information about enrollment criteria and how to participate in the trial, please contact Valerie Carvajal at (800) 556-3314 or by emailĀ atĀ [email protected]. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society announced in an MS trial alertĀ that Mallinckrodt will be Ā enrolling participants in Tucson; Fort Collins, Colo.; Tampa; Atlanta; Savannah, Ga.; Northbrook, Ill.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Kan.; New York; Cleveland; Dayton, Ohio; Dallas; Round Rock, Texas; San Antonio; Salt Lake City; Richmond, Va.; and Tacoma, Wash. Without clinical trial participation there is no way for patients to obtain new medicines or for scientists to ultimately find a cure for MS. The National MS Society encourages participation. It has developed a guide for patients who want to take part in studies called āParticipating in Clinical Trials.ā It covers the basics of participation, benefits versus risks, patient protection, costs and other important issues about trials. Ā
March 1, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Acthar Gel of Dubious Value in Treating MS Despite its $34,000-Per-Vial Cost, Study Finds Medicare spent moreĀ $650 million in 2013 and 2014 on one singleĀ medication ā H.P. Acthar Gel āā that was prescribed by fewer than 1 percentĀ of clinicians to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), with questionable results. That’s the conclusion of new research byĀ Oregon Health and Science University (OSHU), which presented its…
July 7, 2016 News by Katie McCallum H.P. Acthar Gel a Cost-Effective Option for Managing MS Relapses, Study Reports A recent study analyzing the healthcare resource use and cost of H.P. Acthar Gel, an injectable drug used to manage multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse, demonstrated that the therapy isĀ a viable alternative to plasmapheresis (PMP) and intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG). Annual direct healthcare costs encountered by MS patients in the U.S.
May 4, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Acthar Gel an Effective Treatment for MS Relapses at Lower Cost, Company Reports Clinical results presented at the recentĀ Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)‘s 2016 annual meetingĀ in San Francisco showed that the use of H.P. Acthar Gel during multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses is associated with beneficial outcomes.Ā The gel, according to its producer,Ā is also available at a lower price than other frequently used…
August 3, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Views and News Announces August Educational Events The non-profit organization MSĀ News and ViewsĀ (MSVN) announced that it will host four educational events during the month of August for both patients and other peopleĀ interested in learning more aboutĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). The educational events reflectĀ the organization’s ongoing mission, which is to collect, present and…