August 5, 2022 Columns by John Connor Pesky Leukocytes Dash My Hopes of Joining a Trial of Mavenclad for MS In December 2019, I was stopped in my tracks, or rather wheels, as I was about to have my third infusion of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), the multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapy (DMT) that Iād been taking every six months for the past year. My neurologist had decided just a few…
August 1, 2022 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Vitamin D, Brain Health, Digoxin, Natalizumab No Link Between MS Severity, Vitamin D-related Mutations: Study Several studies over the years have indicated that there could be a link between a person’s vitamin D level and the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study is slightly different. Researchers looked at whether genetic variations related to vitamin…
October 11, 2021 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Deep Brain Stimulation, Evobrutinib, Hydroxychloroquine, Ocrevus and PML Deep Brain Stimulation May Help With MS-associated Tremors Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been used to treat people with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, and in some cases, those with MS who have severe tremors, when other treatments have failed. The treatment involves implanting electrodes in the brain so…
October 7, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD 1 Year of Ocrevus Not Linked to Higher Risk of Brain Infection PML One year of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) treatment does not increase the risk for a rare brain infection ā called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) ā in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests. The study, āRisk Assessment of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in Multiple Sclerosis Patients during…
October 4, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD JC Virus Mutations May Predict Rare Brain Infection Linked to Tysabri Mutations in the John Cunningham virus may serve as an early predictor for a rare brain infection in multiple sclerosis patients receiving Tysabri (natalizumab), a study suggests. However, more research is required to investigate the specific mutations in the viral VP1 gene, and validate the risk of the…
April 15, 2021 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Ocrevus Use Linked to PML in Man, 78, With PPMS, Case Report Says A 78-year-old man withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) developed the brain infection progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) after two years of treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), a recent case report detailed. Treatment was discontinued and, as the patient’s symptoms worsened, he was moved to off-label…
February 19, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Drop in PML With Tysabri Use in Sweden Likely Due to Risk Management Plan The number of cases of Tysabri (natalizumab) that are associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) ā a serious brain infection ā in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients living in Sweden fell between 2006 and 2018, a study shows. Notably, the data highlighted that this drop was likely due to…
July 8, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Switch from Tysabri to Ocrevus Seen as Safe, Effective in RRMS Patients in Small Study Switching to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) within a relatively short period is a safe and effective option for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS) who stop treatment withĀ TysabriĀ (natalizumab), a small and retrospective analysis suggests. With a median washout period of six weeks between therapies, the 28 patients in this study…
February 25, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Age, Gender, Blood Glucose Affect Immune Cells’ Response to Tecfidera in RRMS Patients, Study Reports Immune cells from patients withĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) respond differently to Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) based on age, gender, and serum blood glucose levels, a study found.Ā The results suggest these patient-specific factors can modulate the response of immune cells, and should be…
September 12, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Plasma Exchange Ineffective for Treating Tysabri-associated PML, Study Shows Use of plasma exchange (PLEX) is not effective for treating progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a dangerous brain infection that has been associated with using the multiple sclerosis (MS) medicine Tysabri (natalizumab), a real-world study contends. The findings highlight the importance of Ā closely monitoring Tysabri users to detect…
June 18, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Immune System Activation Induced by Filgrastim Likely Beneficial for Patients with Tysabri-associated PML, Study Says Immune system activation induced by filgrastim may be beneficial for patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy associated with the use of Tysabri (natalizumab), without worsening multiple sclerosis (MS) progression, a study says. The study with that finding, “Treatment of natalizumabāassociated PML with filgrastim,” was published in…
May 8, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Research Suggests Extended Interval Dosing of Tysabri Can Decrease Risk of PML New data suggests that treatment withĀ TysabriĀ (natalizumab) in an extended interval dosing regimen is associated with a significantly lower risk ofĀ progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathyĀ (PML) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), compared with the standard interval dosing. The data was presented byĀ Lana Zhovtis Ryerson, MD, on May 7 at the 2019Ā …
April 16, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias Cancer Medication Shows Promise in Treating Dangerous Brain Infection PML, Small-scale Study Finds Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, more commonly referred to as PML, is a brain infection that’s frequently fatal.Ā PML is particularly dangerous to people with MS, which is why I’m interested in a report about a medication that’s showing promise as a PML treatment. The concern for people with MS is…
April 10, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD MS Misdiagnosis Too Common, Puts Patients in Unnecessary Peril from Therapies, Study Reveals Nearly 18% of new multiple sclerosis (MS) patients referred to two speciality clinics in Los Angeles, California, had been misdiagnosed with the disease, according to a recent study. Most of them actually were affected by migraines, among other…
February 12, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein MMP-9 Protein a Possible Marker of PML in Tysabri-treated RRMS Patients, Study Suggests A protein called MMP-9 could be a predictive marker of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy development in patients withĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)Ā who are being treated withĀ Tysabri (natalizumab), a study suggests. The study, āDynamic changes of MMP-9 plasma levels correlate with JCV reactivation and immune activation in natalizumab-treated multiple sclerosis patients,ā was published in the journalĀ Nature Scientific Reports. Brain inflammation in multiple sclerosis patients occurs when immune cells breach the blood-brain barrier. This layer of cells protect the brain and its supporting fluids, such as cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), from dangerous agents circulating in blood. How easily immune cells can break through the blood-brain barrier depends on its porousness. For instance, it is known that decreasing the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) increases the protective layerās permeability. Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of proteins responsible for the degradation of collagen and other proteins in the extracellular matrix, which provides structural and biochemical support to surrounding cells. One metalloproteinase, called MMP-9, has been extensively studied in multiple sclerosis. MMP-9 levels are elevated in the CSF of multiple sclerosis patients and considered a potential biomarker of disease activity and possible therapeutic target. Tysabri (marketed by Biogen) is one of the most effective treatments for RRMS currently available. It works by blocking the entry of immune cells into the brain. Tysabri is known to decrease MMP-9 levels in the CSF and serum in RRMS patients. However, Tysabri has been associated with an increased risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This rare and often fatal viral disease, caused by the John Cunningham virus (JCV), is characterized by progressive damage and/or inflammation at multiple sites in the brain. The reduced migration of immune cells across the blood-brain barrier induced by Tysabri is thought to be the cause of this increased PML risk.Ā Whether MMP-9 is involved in this process has not been studied. To look at this, a team led by researchers from Sapienza University and Aldo Moro UniversityĀ in Italy investigated MMP plasma levels following Tysabri treatment in the context of JCV. The team specifically looked at how levels of MMP-9 were linked to disease-related processes. Samples from 34 RRMS patients being treated with Tysabri (intravenous dose of 300āmg every four weeks) were analyzed. As expected, results showed that MMP-9 plasma levels stabilized within one year of Tysabri treatment (up to 12 Tysabri infusions), although they began to steadily rise afterward (between 12 and 24 infusions). These increased MMP-9 plasma levels were not associated with clinical relapses in RRMS patients. "MMP-9 levels increased in plasma accordingly with [Tysabri] infusion number," the researchers wrote. In comparing JCV-positive and JCV-negative samples, the researchers observed an increase in MMP-9 plasma levels in JCV-positive samples. This result suggested that JCV circulation in peripheral blood could be implicated in the increase of MMP-9 levels. Interestingly, increased MMP-9 plasma levels were found to be correlated with immune cell activation. "Our findings suggest a potential pathogenic role of MMP-9 in the development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy during [Tysabri] treatment, and its possible use as a marker of JCV reactivation,ā the researchers wrote. Future studies are nonetheless needed to confirm these findings in larger groups of RRMS patients.
January 7, 2019 News by Santiago Gisler Biogen Starts Phase 3b Trial to Evaluate Tysabri Extended Interval Dosing in RRMS Patients Biogen announced the start of a global Phase 3b clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of extended interval dosing (EID) with Tysabri (natalizumab) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Results of the six-week dosing interval will be compared with the approved standard interval dosing…
May 16, 2018 News by Janet Stewart, MSc Complications from Gilenya Treatment Managed Successfully, Case Report Says A case study reported the successful management of a multiple sclerosis (MS) patient who developed a rare condition in the brain ā progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathyĀ (PML) ā due to treatment with Novartis Pharmaceuticalās Gilenya (fingolimod). The study, titled āFingolimod-associated PML with mild IRIS in MS: A…
April 27, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #AAN2018 – Extending Time Between Tysabri Doses Linked to Lower PML Risk, Analysis Suggests Extending the time between standard doses ofĀ TysabriĀ (natalizumab)Ā from four weeks to up to 12 weeks is linked to a significant decrease in the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients infected with what’s known as the JC virus, according to a recent analysis of data from…
February 9, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias Good News for Tysabri Users Who Are JCV Positive One of the many disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that I’ve been on over the many years of my treatment for MS is Tysabri (natalizumab). It worked well, holding the progression of my MS at bay for the several years that I received the infusions. I’d probably still be on it…
February 8, 2018 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Plaquenil, PML, Prevalence, and Other ‘P’ Words (Part 6 of 7) Editorās note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the “MS alphabet” with this column referencing terms starting with the letter “P.” This post comes sixth in a series of seven. Symptoms of MS Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) Though progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) isnāt an actual symptom of MS,…
February 5, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2018 ā Extending Tysabri Treatment Intervals May Reduce PML Risk, TOUCH Registry Data Suggest Extending the dosing periods of Tysabri (natalizumab) treatment may help reduce the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or PML, in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients infected with the JC virus, a study suggests. The study, āNatalizumab Extended Interval Dosing Is Associated with a Reduction in Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy…
June 27, 2017 News by admin Tysabri Shows Long-term Safety, Efficacy in Japanese RRMS Patients, Study Shows A recentĀ study has found Tysabri (natalizumab) treatment for two years to beĀ efficient and safe in Japanese patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The study, āSafety and Efficacy of Natalizumab in Japanese Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Open-Label Extension Study of a Phase 2 Trial,ā appearedĀ in the journal…
June 26, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD RRMS Patients at Risk of PML Can Safely Switch from Tysabri to Lemtrada Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) may be an effective option for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients withdrawing from prior treatment with Tysabri (natalizumab), an Italian study shows. The study, āHigh-Risk PML Patients Switching from Natalizumab to Alemtuzumab: an Observational Study,ā appeared in the journal Neurology and Therapy. Tysabri, an antibody with…
May 25, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD PML Found in Ocrevus-Treated Patient Who Had Used Tysabri for 3 Previous Years A multiple sclerosis (MS) patient treated in Germany withĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)Ā has developed the dreaded brain infection progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).Ā But it is not clear whether the recently approvedĀ Genentech/Roche-developed treatmentĀ is the cause. The patient took the last dose of a three-year course of Tysabri (natalizumab)Ā in February. Tysabri is…
April 21, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Decisions to Stop Taking Tysabri for MS Are Often Subjective, Study Concludes Many decisions to stop taking the multiple sclerosis treatmentĀ Tysabri (natalizumab)Ā appear to be based largely on subjective factors such as patients’ or physicians’ view of the risk, rather thanĀ objective assessments of the risk, a study indicates. TysabriĀ is an approved immunotherapy for active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Despite its benefits, there…
January 16, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Early Detection of PML May Lessen Damage Done to MS Patients Using Tysabri Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with Tysabri (natalizumab) is linked to better outcomes if the condition does not give rise to actual symptoms and is diagnosed early. Limited brain lesions and moreĀ protective immune responses were also seen in patients who fared better, but researchers…
August 9, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Tysabri’s Success in Impairing the Immune System in RRMS May Be Source of Its Problems Although Tysabri (natalizumab) is a highly effective in treatingĀ patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), some may developĀ progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). According to a new study,Ā this occurs because TysabriĀ impairs immune surveillance in the central nervous system and reactivates the latentĀ John Cunningham polyomavirus (JCV). The study, “Natalizumab Affects…