research

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may have a greater overall risk of developing cancer than the general population, according to the results of a 58-year follow-up study of nearly 7,000 patients in Norway. Risk seems particularly high for cancers in respiratory organs, urinary organs, and the central nervous system.

The use of gadodiamide, a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) often used to help clinicians visualize brain structures in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, leads to the accumulation of gadolinium in certain regions of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients’ brains early in the course of the disease, a study has found.

The Phase 2 clinical trial testing BrainStorm Cell Therapeutic’s investigational NurOwn therapy for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) has added a third clinical site, the company announced. The trial (NCT03799718) now will enroll patients at the Keck School of Medicine of The University of Southern California (USC), and its academic…

Scientists at the University of Huddersfield, U.K., are trying to develop a breath test to detect volatile molecules exhaled only by people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Doing so might offer a non-invasive and simple way to diagnose the disease. The research team now plans to undertake…

Targeting a protein found in immune T-cells called Oct1 may help prevent the misguided immune response seen in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), a study shows. Most importantly, a lack of Oct1 does not influence the immune system’s ability to fight viral infections. The study “T cell-selective…

An experimental treatment known as OB-002, that works to block an inflammatory molecule in the brain, prevented the development of lesions there after an early-in-life viral infection in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). The research “Brain-resident memory T cells generated early in life…

A new radiotracer called [F-18]PBR06, used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, helps detect changes in the brain’s grey matter that are linked to progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study shows. The findings support [F-18]PBR06’s potential for detecting signs of disease progression even before patients show…

EHP-101, a cannabidiol-based experimental therapy for multiple sclerosis, was able to recover myelin in damaged nerve fibers and lessen neuroinflammation in a mouse model of MS, data show. Emerald Health Therapeutics, the manufacturer of EHP-101, also announced plans to open Phase 2 clinical trials in patients by…

Results from a large observational study of pregnant women with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with an interferon (IFN) beta-1a, like Rebif, before and during the first trimester showed no elevated risk of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy compared to those not using the medicine. This finding was presented at…

NervGen wants to advance the development of NVG-291, its lead investigational therapy for spinal cord damage, as a potential remyelination treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), the company announced. Following preclinical data showing that NVG-291 promotes myelin repair and regeneration of damaged nerves in animal models of…

A protein leads to nerve fiber and myelin damage, particularly in progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, by activating brain immune cells called microglia, according to a new study. Its researchers also noted this protein is the target of experimental MS treatment called temelimab (GNbAC1), which showed potential in Phase 2 clinical trials. The…

Patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) have difficulties perceiving the thoughts and intentions, but not the emotions, of other individuals, Kessler Foundation researchers have found. Those findings were reported in a study, “Cognitive but Not Affective Theory of Mind Deficits in Progressive MS,” that was published in…

Even at a low level of disability, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have substantial indirect and informal caregiving costs due to disease progression — with unemployment markedly adding to the economic burden, a Spanish study reports. The study, “Economic burden of multiple sclerosis in a population with low physical disability,” was published in the journal BMC Public Health. MS has significant impact on health-related quality of life, with disability and fatigue — two hallmarks of the disease — hindering patients' ability to work or study. This often results in early unemployment. As MS progresses, many individuals often need the support of caregivers to perform daily life activities. Limited information is available on MS-associated economic burden imposed on patients by the costs of informal care and loss of employment. To fill this gap, Spanish researchers evaluated the cost burden of indirect and informal care for 199 people with MS. Participants (mean age 43.9 years, and 60% females) were followed at 19 MS clinical units across Spain. Among the participants, 172 (86.4%) had relapsing-remitting MS, and 27 (13.6%) had primary progressive MS. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDDS) was used to determine each individual’s level of disability. EDDS scoring is done by a trained neurologist, who quantifies a patient’s disability on a scale of zero to 10, in 0.5 increments.  EDDS also is used to monitor changes in disability levels through the course of MS. The greater the EDDS score, the higher the disability level. The team used the 23-item MS Work difficulties questionnaire (MSWDQ-23) to assess the level of hardships participants experienced at their workplace. A patient-reported survey, the questionnaire highlights the extent of psychological and cognitive, physical, and other external difficulties experienced at work by people with the disease. MSWDQ-23 scores range from zero to 100, with a higher score correlating to more significant workplace difficulties. The study population had a median EDDS score of 2, and a median MSWDQ-23 score of 31.5, indicating an overall low level of physical disability. Despite this, MS was found to have a marked impact on the individuals’ work and academic activity. At the time of MS diagnosis, 70.6% of the participants were employed. However, at the start of this study, 9.6 years later, the employment rate among the participants had dropped to 47.2%. The retirement rate increased from zero at the time of diagnosis to 23.6% at the time of study visit. Most participants retired at a mean age of 43.6 years — and 95.7% of them cited MS progression as the reason for retirement. Among the student population, 90.9% reported absenteeism in the year before the study visit. During the same time period, 30.9% of employed participants were absent from work. Overall, 10.1% of all participants took sick leaves during the prior year. Being absent from work, and early retirement, impose several indirect costs in this study population, the researchers found. Sick leave due to MS resulted in a mean annual cost of €416.6 (US$473.59), while work absenteeism accounted for €763.4 (US$867.83) yearly. Early retirement due to MS added an additional mean annual cost burden of €5,810.1 (US$6,604.92). The annual costs per patient due to premature work disability or pension increased to €1,816.8 (US$2,065.34). Caregivers accompanied 72% of the patients for the study visit. The researchers noted that participants' spouses reportedly spent a minimum of more than 200 hours annually in providing care — more than a full-time job. A total 28.1% of participants required paid professional support for their daily activities, such as person to do housework and a physiotherapist. Patients also reported the use of assistive devices and adaptations. Crutch or walking stick use was reported by 10.6% of participants, while 8% had some home adaptation to help in their daily activities. Use of non-reimbursable devices was reported by 21.6%. The mean annual cost of informal caregiving, including activities by professional staff, was €1,328.7 (US$1,510.46). Use of assistive devices added an additional €736.6 (US$ 837.37) yearly. “MS is responsible for a substantial economic burden due to indirect and informal care costs, even in a population with low physical disability,” the researchers said. “Effective therapeutic interventions to improve the management of early symptoms as well as implementing workplace strategies focused on job retention may be essential to decrease the high economic burden of MS,” they concluded.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have more genetic variants of genes that regulate the pro-inflammatory signals of protein complexes called inflammasomes, according to new research. The findings support the importance of inflammasomes, which play an important role in the innate immune system, in the development of MS. The study,…

One year of a vegetable-rich diet — combined with exercise, neuromuscular stimulation, and stress reduction techniques — is effective in easing fatigue in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers say the results may be linked to changes in blood fat levels, in particular cholesterol. This integrative…

Two researchers at Kessler Foundation were awarded grants of $35,000 each by the New Jersey Health Foundation to pursue their investigations into new ways to improve rehabilitative care for disabilities caused by multiple sclerosis (MS) and stroke. One of the awardees…

Cyxone Launches Phase 1 Trial Assessing T20K for MS This trial caught my eye because even though it’s a small, early trial, T20K is a medication derived from a plant. Animal studies have shown that the treatment can inhibit cytokines, substances that mediate inflammation. Cyxone launched the first-in-human Phase…

The burden in treating children with multiple sclerosis (MS) in terms of hospitalizations and doctor visits is extremely high, especially in the first year after diagnosis, a study from Canada reports. The study, “High rates of health care utilization in pediatric multiple sclerosis: A Canadian population-based study,”…

Inhibiting the function of a protein called sortilin — an important regulator of nerve damage-induced pain in mice — may represent a potentially effective strategy for treating chronic pain in humans, including those with multiple sclerosis, a study in mice suggests. The researchers say more work is needed…

Cyxone launched the first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial assessing the effects of T20K, its new therapeutic candidate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), in healthy volunteers. The announcement came after the company received approval from the Dutch Ethics Committee and Central Commission on Research Involving Human…

Editor’s note: “Need to Know” 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 a frequent reference made in our forums as well as in our columns and articles.

The loss of immune B-cells, and the resulting changes in the profile of immune T-cells, is a major mechanism of action for the beneficial effects seen with ublituximab treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a study suggests. B-cells are a type of immune cell best known for producing…

People with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) have a greater decline in cognitive function, and are more likely to experience cognitive impairment in adulthood, than those whose disease began when they were adults, a study reports. The study, “Long-term Cognitive Outcomes in Patients With Pediatric-Onset vs Adult-Onset…

Treatment with Sanofi Genzyme’s Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) for up to two years lowers the levels of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), a proposed biomarker of nerve damage, in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients to levels comparable to those seen in healthy people, data from the CARE-MS I study shows. Lemtrada’s effectiveness…

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 natalizumab‐associated PML with filgrastim,” was published in…

Deferiprone, a compound that lowers iron levels in the bloodstream by binding to iron molecules, can slow progression of a severe neurodegenerative disorder called pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN), a study reports. Because a toxic buildup of iron in the brain is also associated with multiple sclerosis and other neurological…

DELIVER-MS Trial Recruiting RRMS Patients to Help Improve Treatment Decision-making What’s the best way to attack multiple sclerosis when it’s first diagnosed? Do you hit it hard and fast using the most effective disease-modifying therapy (DMT), or do you start with a lower efficacy DMT and slowly ramp up?…

The relative risk of developing cancer was found to be higher in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who more frequently switched between disease-modifying treatments, according to a study. In addition, researchers found an increased incidence of cancer in male MS patients from 20 to 50 years old, and in female…

By tweaking stem cells in a laboratory, researchers were able to generate a model of the human blood-brain barrier (BBB) in a chip. The BBB is a highly selective barrier that is damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS), allowing immune cells to reach the central nervous system and damage…

A new artificial intelligence (AI)-based model is better than conventional methods for detecting brain changes in response to treatment with Tysabri (natalizumab) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a study reports. The study, “High-dimensional detection of imaging response to treatment in multiple sclerosis,” was published in…