July 22, 2015 News by admin New Study Evaluates The Role of MRI in Monitoring MS Progression Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating, progressive disease of the nervous system. It is caused by loss of myelin, aĀ fatty substance that wraps around nerve cells and allows them to conduct impulses and communicate. When myelin is lost, areas of damage called “lesions” result, which appear in the brain and…
June 29, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Novartis’ Gilenya Found to Have Long-Term Positive Effects on Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis A new study recently published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry revealed that long-term fingolimod therapy (marketed as Gilenya by Novartis) can maintain a low disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The study was conducted by an international team of researchers and…
May 11, 2015 News by admin Problem Drinking in MS Associated with Anxiety and Family History Multiple sclerosis (MS) presents many life-altering challenges, but mostĀ patients naturallyĀ focus most often on the physical challenges associated with the condition: problems with movement, sensation and vision that occur as part of disease progression. Unfortunately, depression and suicidal thoughts are common as well. New research suggests that thereĀ could be a relationship…
May 7, 2015 News by admin Myelin Repair Foundation and NIH to Study Guanabenz for MS The Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF) and National Institutes of HealthĀ (NIH)Ā will initiateĀ a clinical trial of guanabenz in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Guanabenz is FDA-approved for high blood pressure, but it may also prevent myelin loss. The drug could be the first for MS to protect myelin from…
April 27, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD FDA Accepts Bayerās BETACONNECT License Application for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Bayer HealthCareĀ recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the filing of a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for BETACONNECT forĀ the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). BETACONNECT isĀ a new drug delivery option for patients under Bayerās BETASERONĀ® (interferon beta-1b) therapy. MS is a…
April 23, 2015 News by admin Phase III Study of Experimental MS Therapy Meets Primary Endpoint, Results to be Presented at ANN Meeting MedDay, a French biotechnology company that studies treatments for nervous system disorders, including multiple sclerosis, announced that MD1003, a highly-concentrated biotin, is effective forĀ treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis, according to results from a recent Phase III trial. MD1003 may have two beneficial effects: 1) increasing myelin, the fatty nerve-insulating…
April 22, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Biogen To Present Data On The Effectiveness of TECFIDERA In Newly-Diagnosed MS Patients During The ANN Annual Meeting BiogenĀ hasĀ recently announced novelĀ results to support the effectiveness of TECFIDERAĀ (dimethyl fumarate) inĀ the treatment of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The results revealed that TECFIDERA significantly reduced disability progression andĀ relapses in RRMS patients who received their diagnosis for the first time and had a highly active form of the disease.Ā TECFIDERA…
April 22, 2015 News by admin Two Already-Approved Medications Could Treat MS Two already available medicationsĀ could be used to treatĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). In a newĀ study titled, “Drug Based Modulation of Endogenous Stem Cells,” published in the journal NatureĀ on April 20, 2015, scientists report that twoĀ drugs couldĀ activate stem cells in the brain, possibly repairing MS-induced damage to…
April 17, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD First Generic Version of Copaxone Approved by FDA to Treat Multiple Sclerosis The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the approval of the first generic version ofĀ CopaxoneĀ (glatiramer acetate injection) for the treatment ofĀ relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The administration has grantedĀ Sandoz marketing authorization forĀ glatiramer acetate in 20 mg/1 ml…
April 16, 2015 News by admin Co-existing MS and FM Influences Pain Threshold, According to New Study People with multiple sclerosis (MS) commonly experience a low pain threshold and sensitivity to heat and cold. If a person has multiple sclerosis along with fibromyalgia (FM), that could make this sensitivity even more intense. Until now, no group has studied this phenomenon. In a study titled “…
April 13, 2015 News by admin Biogen to Focus on RRMS Disease Management, Treatment at Upcoming Conference Biogen plans toĀ present new clinical data at the 67th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in Washington D.C., April 18 ā 25, 2015, including numerous presentations focusing on multiple sclerosis. Ā In a company press release, Biogen statedĀ āAt AAN, we will feature new scientific data, including research highlighting the…
February 16, 2015 News by Maureen Newman Stem Cells Used to Treat Secondary Progressive Patients in Clinical Trial What may work better than existing drugs to treat severe multiple sclerosis? Stem cells. A phase 2 clinical study from an international group of research centers compared head-to-head autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) and mitoxantrone in treating patients with secondary progressive or relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The findings showed that…
January 30, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Inspiration Offers Sports Tickets on Campaign with Tyler Campbell and Chris Wright Tyler Campbell, the son of the NFL Hall of Famer Earl Campbell, and professional basketball player Chris Wright are not only well-known sports figures, but also for inspiring others with their life journey and struggle with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Now, Campbell and Wright are inviting other patients who…
December 19, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Mapi Pharma Treats First RRMS Patient with Once-A-Month GA Depot Mapi Pharma Ltd.,Ā a development stage pharmaceutical company specializingĀ in the development of high-barrier to entry and high-added value generic drugs, announced it has treated the first patient in theĀ Phase IIa study of GA Depot forĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Lead investigatorĀ ProfessorĀ Ariel Miller, M.D., Ph.D., Head of the Multiple Sclerosis & Brain…
December 2, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Aubagio for Relapsing-Remitting MS Now Funded in Alberta Genzyme, a Sanofi company with over 30 years of dedication to researching and developing novel treatments for rare and orphan diseases, has just announced the Alberta Drug Program has finally decided to include AubagioĀ® (teriflunomide) 14mg in the provincial drug formulary, indicated for the first-line…
November 24, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Experimental Drug for RRMS, SPMS Enters Phase 2 Trial Lexington, MA-based biopharmaceutical companyĀ Xenetic Biosciences, Inc.Ā has just announced its new license partnerĀ Pharmsynthez has completed dosing in its ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial with pipeline product MyeloXenā¢ forĀ relapsing remitting and secondary progressive (SPMS) multiple sclerosis. The MyeloXen trial is currently underway in Russia with…
November 17, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Teva Pursues Regulatory Approval in Japan for MS Drug Copaxone Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the company that developed the injectable multiple sclerosis treatment Copaxone (Glatiramer acetate), Ā has announced their pursuit of regulatory approval in Japan. This development comes a year after signing an agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. According to a…
November 5, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Genzyme Clinical Trial for Relapsing-Remitting MS Enrolls 1st Patient Sanofi subsidiary and rare disease treatment specialistĀ GenzymeĀ has just announced the successful enrollment of the first participant in their multicenter Phase II clinical trial for the company’s pipeline intravenous drug forĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), vatelizumab. This novel drug is composed of humanized monoclonal antibodies that specifically target…
October 21, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD David Osmond Sings for Novartis MS Awareness Campaign A member of the musical Osmond family, David Osmond, recently released a music video for his inspirational song “I Can Do This.” He has dedicated it to men and women all over the world who are faced with challenges that make them doubt their abilities and self-worth, but the real…
October 9, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD New Long-lasting Multiple Sclerosis Drug Will Come At a Steep Price Now more than ever, groundbreaking, new therapies for chronic diseases and infections come with high price tags. Earlier in the year, Gilead Sciences’ drugĀ Sovaldi for Hepatitis C, as well as Vertex’s Kalydeco for Cystic Fibrosis, both raised eyebrows over their cost. Now, a new MS therapy is doing the…
September 24, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Multiple Sclerosis Summit in Quebec to Feature “Deepelling” As Encouragement for Active MS Lifestyles Deepelling International conferences on multiple sclerosis (MS) typically gather the most accomplished experts and leading biotech companies under one roof to exchange discoveries and celebrate new hope for MS patients all over the world. Quebec is one of North America’s epicenters for MS research and developments. This year, on…
September 15, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Teva, Active Biotech Present Positive Findings for RRMS Experimental Therapy Laquinimod During the 30th Congress of the European Committee for Research and Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) last week in Boston, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA), together with Active Biotech (NASDAQ OMX NORDIC:ACTI), presented new follow-up data evaluating the clinical safety of laquinimod in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)…
September 11, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Receptos to Present Data on RMS Treatment Trial at MSBoston 2014 Biopharmaceutical companyĀ Receptos, Inc. announced that they will review data from the phase 2 portion of theĀ RADIANCE trial,Ā the company’s phase 2 / 3 study testing RPC1063 in the treatment ofĀ Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS).Ā The data is being presented at theĀ largest meeting dedicated to multiple sclerosis…
September 8, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Novartis to Present New Gilenya Data at ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting Those attending this week’sĀ ACTRIMS-ECTRIMSĀ conventionĀ set to take place on the 10th of September until the 13th in Boston, can expect Swiss pharmaceutical companyĀ NovartisĀ to present promising findings on Gilenya (fingolimod)Ā — the company’s leading oral formulation for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). In previously completed studies and clinical trials,…
September 4, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Walking Speed in MS Patients May Indicate Worsening of Disease A dynamic research team composed of doctors and scientists recently completed and published a study that sought to gain a better understanding of walking impairment, as it is manifested in patients living with multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurodegenerative disease wherein the impulse-conducting myelin sheath is attacked by the body’s own…
September 1, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD New Multiple Sclerosis Drug May Repair Nerve Demyelination As researchers continue to develop a clearer understanding of the underlying causes ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), it is becoming increasingly apparent that the future of treating the disease is likely to center on neural protection and a reversal of the demyelination process that strips away the critical insulation…
August 21, 2014 News by admin Researchers Find MS Drug Fingolimod Decreases Gd-enhancing Lesions Fingolimod is a disease modifying therapy (DMT) used to treat relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients as well as patients who continue to present with relapses despite treatment with beta interferon drugs, and is the first oral medication to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug…
August 20, 2014 News by admin New Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Drug Approved By FDA Biogen Idec, a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hematologic conditions and autoimmune disorders, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved PLEGRIDYTMĀ (peginterferon beta-1a), a new treatment for people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis…
July 28, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Biogen Idec’s Injection Plegridy Approved in Europe to Treat RRMS The European Commission granted marketing authorization for the use of Plegridy, a drug developed by Biogen IdecĀ as a treatment for adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS),Ā the most common form of multiple sclerosis (MS). The approval comes at a time when…
May 20, 2014 by Patricia Silva, PhD Combination Therapy For Multiple Sclerosis Offers Promising Results In Recent Study Positive study results from a preliminary phase II clinical trialĀ for a new potential therapeutic intervention for the treatment of patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) were recentlyĀ released at the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting in Philadelphia by Dr.Ā Rhonda Voskuhl, M.D., from the University of California, Los Angeles.