May 20, 2022 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Progressive MS, Degree of Disability Increase Infection Risk People with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and those with greater MS-related disability have a significantly greater risk of serious infections relative to people without the disease, according to a population-based study in Sweden. Notably, these associations were observed regardless of the use of disease-modifying therapies, many…
April 20, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Gray Matter Loss in Spine Crucial, But Difficult, Marker of MS Disability Loss of gray matter in the spinal cord clearly associates with greater disability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but determining the extent of its loss is limited by an inability to accurately measure gray matter in all patients, a small study in Spain reported. The true amount of…
April 18, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Progressive MS Trial Finds Repeat Bone Marrow Infusion Safe, Feasible Repeat harvesting of bone marrow cells and infusing them back into the bloodstream is safe and feasible in people with active progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), according to data from a small, proof-of-concept clinical trial. Results were detailed in the study, “Repeat infusion of autologous bone marrow…
April 7, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AAN2022 ā CONSONANCE Update Shows Ocrevus’ Effectiveness After 1 Year Nearly three of every four participants in the CONSONANCE clinical trial, which is evaluating Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) in people with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), showed no evidence of disease progression after a year of treatment. That’s according to new data presented at the American Academy of…
March 7, 2022 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Stem Cell Therapy NG-01 Shows Neuroprotective Effects in Trial Administering the stem cell therapy NG-01 ā designed to have neuroprotective and neuro-regenerative properties ā directly into the spinal canal can significantly reduce the levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a neuronal damage biomarker, in people with active, progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). These are the new…
January 13, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD MS Type, Anti-CD20 Therapies Tied to Higher COVID-19 Mortality Risk Among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressive disease type and the use of anti-CD20 therapies ā such as ocrelizumab and rituximab ā were associated with an increased risk of death from COVID-19, a new meta-analysis revealed. āWe hope that these findings ā¦ may help neurologists in optimizing…
October 26, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Stem Cells (MSCs) Fail to Reduce Brain Inflammation in Active MS Into-the-vein treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) failed to significantly reduce brain inflammation or improve clinical conditions among adults with active multiple sclerosis (MS) in an international Phase 2 clinical trial, according to final study data. The trial, which used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to assess…
October 19, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD #ECTRIMS2021 ā Problems in Thalamus Linked to Severe Progressive MS Editorās note: TheĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the virtual 37th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Oct. 13ā15. GoĀ here to see the latest stories from the conference. In people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), neuron loss…
September 30, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Oct. 4 Online Conference Offers Latest Insights Into Progressive MS An upcoming conference focused on progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) will offer the latest insights about the underlying biology of the disease, and treatment and clinical strategies in development. The one-day conference, “Emerging Research & Trial Strategies for Progressive Multiple Sclerosis,” is taking place virtually on Oct. 4,and is…
September 15, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Chronic Inflammation in MS Linked to Specific Brain Cells in Study An interaction between immune cells and glia cells in the brain, mediated by the C1q complement system protein, appears to drive chronic inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS), new research shows. Inhibiting this protein helped to resolve inflammation in mouse models of MS and in tissue cultures, its researchers found.
August 31, 2021 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Moderate-to-severe Bowel Problems Found in 14.5% of Patients Moderate-to-severe bowel dysfunction was detected in 14.5% of adult people with multiple sclerosis (MS), an Italian study reports. The prevalence of bowel dysfunction was increased in women and in patients with progressive forms of MS, higher disability, older age, and longer disease duration. Despite the prevalence of bowel dysfunction…
August 10, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Trial Will Test Mavenclad for Advanced Progressive MS After some delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Phase 2/3 clinical trial evaluating whether Mavenclad (cladribine) can slow hand and arm function worsening in adults with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and very limited walking abilities, has recruited its first patient. The study,Ā ChariotMS (NCT04695080), aims to…
July 9, 2021 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD 3 UK Scientists Win Challenge Awards for Progressive MS Projects Three scientists in the U.K. were given awards by the International Progressive MS AllianceĀ that will support projects aiming to explore new approaches to treating progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The three are among this year’sĀ 19 winners of the alliance’s Research Challenge Awards, which totaled Ā£1.2 million…
March 26, 2021 News by Vanda Pinto, PhD NurOwn Cell Therapy Found Safe, Effective for Progressive MS in Phase 2 Trial NurOwn cell therapy led to significant improvements in the physical abilities, vision, and cognition of people withĀ progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in a Phase 2 clinical trial, top-line data show. In addition to these positive efficacy results, BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, NurOwn’s developer, announced that its cell-based therapy showed…
March 26, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Rituximab Fails to Lessen Brain Inflammation in Progressive MS Trial Injecting rituximab ā a cancer therapy sometimes used inĀ multiple sclerosis ā into the spinal canal of people with progressive forms of MS did not demonstrably lower inflammation or improve clinical conditions, according to the results of a small trial. “Contrary to the initial high expectations, no clear-cut effect on…
March 24, 2021 News by Diana Campelo Delgado UK ‘Mega-trial’ Testing Multiple MS Therapies to Start This Year Doctors in the U.K. are planning a “mega-trial” to investigate several marketed therapies ā at the same time ā as potential treatments to halt the progression, or even reverse the disabilities, of multiple sclerosis (MS). The world-first Octopus trial, named for its various arms, will enable researchers to concurrently…
January 27, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Mouse Study Links Cortical Inflammation to Immune Cell Destruction Multiple sclerosis (MS)-associated inflammation in the cerebral cortex ā the outermost layer of the brain that is involved in cognitive function ā prompts the destruction of neural connections by specific immune cells, according to a study in a mouse model of MS. These immune cells targeted dendritic spines (nerve…
January 13, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD HTR2A Gene Changes Found Only in Progressive MS May Be New Biomarker Scientists have discovered epigenetic changes in a gene called HTR2A, found only in immune cells isolated from people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), a study reported.Ā These findings suggest that such changes ā external modifications to DNA that turn genes…
January 5, 2021 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Sobek Prize Given Physician-scientist for Work in Progressive MS The 2020 Sobek Research Prize has been given to Alan J. Thompson, MD, a physician scientist with University College London, for his pioneering work in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), the National MS Society announced. The prize is jointly awarded by the German National MS Society (DMSG) and…
December 21, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Dosing Finishes in Trial of NurOwn Cell Therapy for Progressive MS Patient dosing has finished in a Phase 2 clinical trial testingĀ NurOwn, BrainStorm Cell Therapeuticsā investigational cell-based therapy for people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), the company announced. The trialās top-line results are…
December 9, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplant With NG-01 Treatment Shows Promise in Progressive MS Treatment with NG-01 ā an approach that uses patientsā own mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) ā safely and effectively delayed disease progression in people with active, progressive multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), according to final data from a Phase 2 clinical trial. Delivering these cells directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)…
November 12, 2020 News by Forest Ray PhD Non-invasive Imaging Technique Reveals Ibudilast’s Neuroprotective Effect A non-invasive retina imaging technique known as optical coherence tomography (OCT) provided evidence of the neuroprotective effect of ibudilastĀ (MN-166) ā an oral medication designed to reduce the body’s inflammatory responses āĀ in people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The data also…
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…
October 29, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD MD1003 Fails to Prevent Disability Progression in Progressive MS Patients, Trial Shows MD1003, MedDay Pharmaceuticalsā high-dose biotin therapy, failed to significantly improve functional ability or walking speed in people with non-active progressiveĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), according to data from a Phase 3 clinical trial. Besides failing to meet the trialās goals, the therapy was associated with inaccurate results in…
September 15, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – High-efficacy DMTs More Effective at Slowing Retina Atrophy in RRMS Patients, Study Finds Compared to low-efficacyĀ disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), high-efficacy medications are more effective at slowing the loss of nerve cells making up different layers of the retina ā the region at the back of the eye that enables one to see ā in patients with relapsing-remitting…
September 9, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD COVID-19 Pandemic Had Minimal Emotional Impact in Progressive MS Patients, Survey Finds While theĀ COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the psychological well-being of people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), it led to minimal changes in depression, anxiety, and quality of life, according to data from an international survey. This was true even for the 4% of patients who reported…
August 27, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – MRI Changes Can Reflect Function in Progressive MS, Study Says Certain MRI measures of the brain and spinal cord directly associate with functional improvements in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study reports. According to BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, these data will help in determining the benefits ofĀ NurOwn, the companyās stem cell-based…
July 31, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Order Seen in Motor Skills Affected by MS, With Walking Taking First Hit Walking abilities decline earlier and faster than arm and hand function in people recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), particularly those withĀ progressive MS (MS), a study showed. These findings, which are consistent with those reported in a previous natural history study called NARCOMS, suggest an ascending order of…
July 17, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Special Exercise App Wins Favor in Progressive MS Study, But Little More A multimedia smartphone application designed to precisely inform about exercise and track physical activity ledĀ primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to be more active ā but no more than a comparison patient group given only a…
June 30, 2020 News by Forest Ray PhD Study of Temelimab in MS Progression Without Relapse Enrolls 1st Patient GeNeuro announced that a firstĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS)Ā patient has enrolled in its Phase 2 trial assessing the safety and effectiveness of temelimabĀ in people whose disease is progressing in the absence ofĀ relapses. This trial, taking place atĀ the Karolinska Institutetās Academic Specialist Center (ASC), in Stockholm,Ā had been postponedĀ to reduce…