November 2, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Ocrevus Still Reigns for Progressive MS, Spherix Reports, But Challenges Noted GenentechāsĀ OcrevusĀ (ocrelizumab) continues to be the most prescribed treatment for people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) amongĀ U.S. neurologists, according to the latestĀ Spherix Global Insightsā report. However, NovartisāĀ MayzentĀ (siponimod) āis beginning to close the gapā with Ocrevus among those with active secondary progressive MS…
September 17, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Masitinib Delays Disability Progression in PPMS, Non-active SPMS AB Scienceās lead candidate masitinibĀ safely and effectively delays disability progression in people withĀ primary progressive multiple sclerosisĀ (PPMS) and non-activeĀ secondary progressive MSĀ (SPMS), according to top-line data from a clinical trial. The therapy was found to significantly lower the risk of first and confirmed (three-month) disability progression, and to reduce…
September 14, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Long DMT Exposure May Delay Disability Progression, Wheelchair Use Longer exposure to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) may delay disability progression and the time until people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) require the aid of a wheelchair, an Italian registry-based study found. The study also suggests that starting treatment with DMTs ā medications that reduce the activity of…
September 11, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Roche Launches Phase 3 Clinical Program to Test Fenebrutinib Roche has launched a Phase 3 clinical trial program to evaluate fenebrutinib, its investigational oral BTK inhibitor, in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS). Data on fenebrutinibās potency and selectivity, as well as the design of the clinical…
September 11, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Progressive MS Trial of Kesimpta Not on Horizon, But Other Possibilities in Works Novartis is not planning to open a clinical trial ofĀ Kesimpta (ofatumumab)Ā as a potential treatment for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) anytime soon, a company executive said. But it is well aware of the “unmet need” for therapy options among this patient group, and is exploring avenues. “We do…
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…
July 29, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD CHI3L1 Protein Levels May Mark Neurologic Disability in PPMS, Study Suggests Levels of a protein linked to inflammation and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS) ā called chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1) ā may prove to be a cerebrospinal fluidĀ biomarker of neurologic disability in primary progressive MS (PPMS), a pilot study suggests. Higher CHI3L1 levels at PPMS diagnosis showed a…
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,…
March 24, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Risk of Faster Progression in PPMS Tied to Older Age and Active Disease Older age at onset and evidence of active disease, like clinical relapses or inflammatory brain lesions, significantly increase the likelihood of Ā faster disability progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), a natural history study suggests. These findings ā which included active disease being seen in 31% of the 178…
March 9, 2020 News by Catarina Silva Final Site Announced in Phase 2 Trial Testing NurOwn in Progressive MS The Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center at Brigham and Womenās Hospital has joined BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics in a Phase 2 trial exploring the safety and efficacy of NurOwn in the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). This is the fifth and final clinical site participating in…
February 24, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Masitinib Slows Disability Progression in PPMS and Non-active SPMS, Phase 2/3 Trial Reports AB Science‘sĀ masitinib significantly slowed disability progression in people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and non-active secondary progressive MS (SPMS) at a lower dose of 4.5 mg/kg a day, top-line results from a Phase 2b/3 clinical trial show. Masitinib, formerly known as AB1010, is an oral…
February 14, 2020 News by Ana Pena PhD Ocrevus Use Rises Among New Starters with RRMS, Loses Ground to Other Therapies in PPMS First-line use of Genentech‘s Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has remained stable through 2019 compared to 2018, according to the latest Spherix Global Insights‘ report. However, the latest edition of “RealWorld Dynamix: DMT New Starts in Multiple Sclerosis (US),” based…
January 16, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Scottish Medicines Consortium Approves Ocrevus for Treating PPMS Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) has been approved in Scotland as a treatment for early, inflammatory primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has advised that OcrevusĀ can be prescribed by the National Health Service (NHS) forĀ people with PPMS who have had symptoms for less than 15…
December 5, 2019 News by Alejandra Viviescas, PhD 3D Nerve Cell Models of PPMS, Parkinson’s Ready for Liftoff to Space Station for Long-term Study in Microgravity The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute and Aspen NeuroscienceĀ will send three-dimensional brain cell models of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS)Ā and Parkinsonās disease to the International Space Station (ISS) for the…
October 30, 2019 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc First Relapsing MS Patient Enrolled in Phase 3 Trial of Mapi Pharmaās Once-monthly Glatiramer Formulation A new Phase 3 clinical trial to explore the safety and efficacy of Mapi Pharmaās once-a-month injectable formulation of glatiramer acetate ā named GA Depot ā has started enrolling patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). The trial (NCT04121221) is expected to enroll approximately 960 participants, 18 to 55…
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…
August 30, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Higher Vitamin D Levels May Promote ‘Myelin Integrity’ in Progressive MS, Study Suggests Higher levels of vitamin D in the blood may help to protect the myelin sheath, slowing damage to nerve cells in people withĀ progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a brain imaging study reports. The study, āVitamin D and MRI measures in progressive multiple sclerosis,ā was published in the…
August 22, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Lack of Progressive MS Treatments Has Several Causes, But Advances are Promising, Reviewers Contend The complexity in underlying mechanisms, a lack of representative research models, and inconsistent criteria defining therapeutic benefit are the main reasons why an effective therapy for progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) is still lacking, researchers maintain in a review study. Nevertheless, as research continues to shed light on…
July 22, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Ibudilast Trial for Inactive SPMS, PPMS Brain Cells in Space, MS and Cancer Risk Phase 3 Trial of Ibudilast Planned for SPMS Patients with Inactive Disease, MediciNova Says Though medications are approved in the U.S. to treat primary progressive multiple sclerosis and active secondary progressive MS (SPMS), no disease-modifying treatments are approved to treat the nonactive form of SPMS. This trial aims…
July 16, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD 3-D Brain Models of PPMS and Parkinson’s Off to Space Station for Research in Microgravity The National Stem Cell Foundation announced the start of a pioneering project to investigate the impact of microgravity on the neurodegeneration associated withĀ primary progressive multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. The project, a collaboration between the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, theĀ Summit for Stem Cell, and investigators withĀ Aspen Neuroscience, will send 3-D brain organoids derived from patients with these disorders, for a first time, to the International Space Station on SpaceX CRS-18. This flight, set to launch on July 21 from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, is a test run for a 30-day study of neurodegeneration in microgravity set to take place on the space station this fall. "The National Stem Cell Foundation is delighted to be funding innovative science at the frontier of new drug and cell therapy discovery. The leading-edge research findings that have developed through this collaboration between important research groups may fundamentally alter our understanding of how and why neurodegeneration occurs," Paula Grisanti, chief executive officer of the NSCF, said in a press release. These organoids, or 3-D cellular brain models, contain microglia ā cells that normally support and protect neurons. Microglia are implicated in the brain inflammation and disease progression seen in people with Parkinson's, PPMS, and other neurodegenerative disorders. The project will allow scientistsĀ in the near absence of gravityĀ to study how these cells interact with each other, migrate, send and receive chemical signals, change their genetic signature, and promote brain inflammation. As such, investigators may get a glimpse of all the biological mechanisms involved in PPMS and Parkinson's in ways not feasible on Earth. This work might lead to understandings and advancements with a direct impact on the development of medicines and cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Space Tango is leading the transport and maintenance logistics, to ensure the cells arrive at the ISS in the best possible condition and remain viable during the 30 days they will remain in orbit. To that end, the company has developed a series of automated systems intended to surpass conventional lab techniques, and allow space station researchers to work with a higher number of samples than typical, and use high-throughput techniques to easily analyze them. According to the company, these automated systems are not intended exclusively for research on the ISS, but may also be used by research facilities worldwide to support and accelerate scientific innovation. "The vision the National Stem Cell Foundation brings to using new approaches to science and creating collaborations between leading experts in Parkinsonās disease and multiple sclerosis from across the country is truly unique," said Jana Stoudemire, commercial innovation officer at Space Tango. "In addition to supporting the development of tissue chip platforms for microgravity, Space Tango is excited to expand capabilities for human 3-D brain organoid models that will assist in studying some of the most challenging diseases we have yet to truly understand," Stoudemire added. "We are very pleased to support this important research on the ISS."
May 13, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Ocrevus Approved in UK as First NHS Treatment for PPMS After firstĀ rejecting it due to cost-effectiveness concerns, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has now approved the use of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) for people in the U.K. with early, inflammatory primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). This means that PPMS patients living in the…
May 9, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM – Greater Exposure to Ocrevus Means Less Risk of Disability Progression in MS Patients, Study Contends Higher exposure to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is associated with greater immune B-cell depletion in the blood, and lessened risk of disability progression in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive disease (PPMS), according to new research. The study supporting that finding, āPharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and…
May 6, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Sexual Problems in Women with MS; Aubagio Satisfaction; Cellular Aging and PPMS Women with MS Have Higher Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction, Study Reveals I’m surprised that someone felt it necessary to conduct a formal study of this. A glance at multiple sclerosis (MS) groups on social media, although unscientific, would suggest that this is a common problem. And if you’re going…
April 26, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Cellular Senescence Implicated in MS Development, Study Suggests Cellular senescence ā the process of aging at the cellular level ā may play a role in the development of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) by limiting the ability of myelin-producing cells (oligodendrocytes) to renew and mature. The study with that finding, “Cellular senescence in progenitor…
April 4, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM – Ibudilast Slows Brain Atrophy in PPMS But Not SPMS Patients, Phase 2b Trial Shows Treatment with oral ibudilast slowsĀ brain shrinkage in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), but not in those with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), according to results of a Phase 2b clinical trial. According to the findings, this could be partially due to faster disease progression in untreated…
March 21, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Roche and pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance Finalize Ocrevus Negotiations for RRMS and Early PPMS Roche Canada and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) have completed negotiations ultimately aiming to obtain public funding for Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) as a first-line treatment for adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with active disease, and as management strategy for patients with early primary progressive MS…
March 1, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein #ACTRIMS2019 ā Use of Ocrevus at Cleveland Clinic Backs Phase 3 Trial Data Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) was shown to be aĀ highly effective therapy for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in real-world clinical practice, according to Brandon Moss, MD, from theĀ Cleveland Clinic. The data was presented in a poster session Feb. 28, atĀ the Americas Committee…
February 14, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein FDA Asked to Place Cannabis-based Therapy for Progressive MS on Fast Track, MMJ Holdings Says A request for a potentialĀ cannabis-based treatmentĀ forĀ multiple sclerosisĀ to be givenĀ Fast Track designation, speeding its development as it readies to enter clinical testing, is now before theĀ U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), MMJ International HoldingsĀ announced. MMJ-001, as this lead candidate is known, aims to treat…
February 11, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Petition Urges NHS England to Make Ocrevus Available for PPMS Patients More than 21,000 people have signed a petition calling for Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) to be made available by the National Health Service (NHS) in England for people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). According to anĀ MS Trust press release, the…
November 20, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD RRMS Diagnosed Most Often in Younger Women and PPMS in Older Men, European Study Reports Women withĀ multiple sclerosis are being diagnosed at younger ages and in greater numbers than men, except for those with primary progressive disease (PPMS), where men 50 or older tend to predominate, a European review study that looked at trends over several decades reports. The study āAgeādependent variation of female…