May 14, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM ā Use of Highly Effective Treatments for RRMS Increasing but Still Limited, Study Says Although the use of highly effective disease-modifying treatments (HETs) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) has increased, they still represent a minority among the treatment strategies used, according to a study. The study, āTrends in the use of Highly Effective Disease Modifying Treatments in Multiple Sclerosis…
May 6, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – IV Therapy May Be More Effective Than Oral Treatment in Younger RRMS Patients, Research Suggests Infusible disease-modifying treatment ā that is, therapies given intravenously ā might have greater benefits for younger people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than oral ones, new research suggests. The research was presented at the ongoing American Academy of Neurology (AAN)’s annual meeting (May 4-10) by Brandi Vollmer,…
April 18, 2019 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell The DMT Decision: Tried and True or Shiny and New? I spend a great deal of time in my head. I think. A lot. Perhaps I do so more than I should, but then again, it is a haven at times. My thoughts run the gamut from the serious to the inane. Today my thoughts…
April 15, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: MS Misdiagnoses, Mineral Intake Risk Study, Hormonal Changes, Rituximab and Vitamin D MS Misdiagnosis Too Common, Puts Patients in Unnecessary Peril from Therapies, Study Reveals Many people who have multiple sclerosis (MS) report that it’s taken doctors years to come up with their diagnoses. So, it’s interesting to read a story about the opposite: those whose MS diagnoses were…
April 11, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Higher Vitamin D Levels in Rituximab-treated MS Patients Linked to Lower Inflammatory Activity, Study Suggests Rituximab-treated multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who takeĀ vitamin D supplements have less inflammatory activity, a study reports. Increased levels of vitamin D were associated with beneficial treatment outcomes, such as better self-perceived health and reduced levels of the inflammation marker C-reactive protein…
March 18, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Non-contrast MRIs, Stem Cell Study Seeks Subjects, Postpartum Relapses, Which DMT? Non-contrast MRI Effective in Monitoring Progression of MS, Study Shows There’s been increased interest in the risks versus the benefits of using gadolinium to make lesions more visible on an MRI. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory last year raising the level of…
March 4, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: New DMT, Stem Cell Trial, Pediatric MS Treatment Study FDA Will Review New Drug Application of Diroximel Fumarate for Relapsing Forms of MS The good news: Another disease-modifying therapy (DMT) has taken a step toward approval in the U.S. The discouraging news: It’s another DMT designed to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. More than a…
February 28, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein #ACTRIMS2019 – No Evidence of Disease Activity Seen in POMS Adolescents Taking Rituximab, Small Study Shows Data supporting the off-label use of rituximab in adolescents with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) was presented atĀ the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2019. The session, titledĀ āNo Evidence of Disease Activity in the Majority of Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Patients Receiving Rituximab,ā…
January 24, 2019 Columns by Tamara Sellman Need to Know: The Link Between the Epstein-Barr Virus and MS Editor’s note: “Need to Know” is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about multiple sclerosis? Visit our forum. This week’s question is inspired by the forum topicĀ “Can there be a connection between Epstein-Barr virus…
January 15, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Ocrevus Targets Certain T-Cells, Along with B-Cells, in MS Patients, Study Reports Treatment with a single dose of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) depleted a subset of immune T-cells within two weeks in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) or primary progressive MS (PPMS), according to a study. The study, āOcrelizumab Depletes CD20+Ā T Cells in Multiple Sclerosis Patients,ā was published in the journal Cells. AutoreactiveĀ immune T-cells, which attack the bodyās own tissues, have been regarded as the primary mediator of MS; however, this view has been challenged by the effectiveness of therapies targeting immune B-cells that contain the CD20 cell surface protein in reducing disease activity. One such therapy isĀ Genentechās Ocrevus, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, which was first approved in the U.S. in 2017 for patients with relapsing MS or PPMS. Because CD20 is mainly expressed by B-cell precursors and mature B-cells, Ocrevus is often considered to selectively deplete CD20-containing B-cells. However, CD20 is also expressed by highly activated T-cells with the CD3 protein marker, characterized by the increased production of proinflammatory molecules, or cytokines. These T-cells are found in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid ā the liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord ā and chronic brain lesions of MS patients, and show an elevated expression of the CD8 and CD45 markers. Off-label use of rituximabĀ (marketed as Rituxan in the U.S. and MabThera in Europe), a lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis treatmentĀ that also targets CD20, has been associated with the depletion of CD20-containing T-cells in MS patients. Therefore, targeting this T-cell subtype has been hypothesized as an additional mechanism for rituximabās clinical effectiveness. However, scientists did not know whether Ocrevus, which is different from rituximab in terms of CD20 binding and cell toxicity, also depletes CD20-positive T-cells. To address this unknown, a team from Hannover Medical SchoolĀ in Germany analyzed blood samples of MS patients through a technique called multicolor flow cytometry prior to the first dose of Ocrevus and after two weeks, immediately before the second dose. They intended to evaluate the characteristics of the patientsā peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which include T-cells, B-cells, monocytes, and macrophages. A total of 21 patients (13 women) were included, with a median age of 43 years (range 22-65 years). Of the participants, 17 had the relapsing form of the disease forĀ a median of 14.6 years, while four had PPMS for a median of 5.6 years. The analysis found T-cells containing CD20 and CD3 in all patients. These cells accounted for 2.4% of all CD45-expressing lymphocytes ā white blood cells that include T- and B-cells ā and for a significant proportion (18.4%) of all CD20 cells. Evaluation of the cellsā fluorescence intensity revealed that CD20 levels were significantly lower on T-cells than on B-cells also expressing this marker. Treatment with one dose of Ocrevus substantially lowered the levels of CD20-positive T- and B-cells within two weeks, reflected by a frequency of 0.04% and an absolute cell count decrease from 224.9 to 0.57/microliter. āOur results demonstrate that treatment with [Ocrevus] does not exclusively target B-cells, but also CD20+ T-cells, which account for a substantial amount of CD20-expressing cells,ā the researchers wrote. āThese findings suggest that CD20+ T-cells might play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of MS, and we speculate that depletion of CD3+CD20+ cells by anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies might contribute to the efficacy of anti-CD20 therapy,ā they added. However, they also emphasized that the findings need to be confirmed in studies with larger groups of MS patients.
January 2, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Top 10 Multiple Sclerosis Stories of 2018 Multiple Sclerosis News Today brought you daily coverage of key findings, treatment developments, andĀ clinical trials related to multiple sclerosis (MS) throughout 2018. We look forward to reporting more news to patients, family members, and caregivers dealing with MS during 2019. Here are the top 10 most-read articles of…
November 8, 2018 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell MS and Your Immune System: ‘Tis the Season for the Flu Fall is my favorite season. I love the change in temperature, the falling of amber leaves, trading flip-flops for loafers, the din of football games, and the joy of the holiday season. There is so much to enjoy, yet this particular Sunday I am sick. I have acquired the…
October 11, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2018 – Rituximab for MS Does Not Increase Cancer Risk Compared to Gilenya and Tysabri, Swedish Study Finds Treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with rituximab does not increase breast cancer risk in women, and is not associated with a higher risk for malignant cancer of any type in men or women, when compared to Gilenya (fingolimod) orĀ Tysabri (natalizumab), according to a nationwide study in…
October 11, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2018 – Lower Mortality Rate in US, Sweden for MS Patients Treated With Rituximab, Study Reports Treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with rituximab leads to lower-than-reported mortality rates, according to a large real-world study in the U.S. and Sweden. The findings also revealed no deaths due to infusion reactions or to systemic inflammation. The study, āMortality rates in large US and…
September 7, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD How B-cells Work to Promote T-cell Attacks on Myelin That Lead to MS Detailed in Study B-cells in the immune system play an important role in the unfolding of inflammation and brain lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS), largely by how they influence the actions of another immune system cell, called T-cells, a new study reports. Its findings help explain why therapies…
August 23, 2018 News by Stacy Grieve, PhD Case Study Suggests Need for New Treatment Strategy When Switching from Gilenya to Rituximab Discontinuing Gilenya (fingolimod) treatment and starting on rituximab therapy may be more complicated than originally thought. A new report chronicles the medical journey of a man with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with these drugs, and proposes a new treatment regimen. Both Gilenya (an approved MS therapy marketed by…
May 18, 2018 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Rituximab Seen as Effective and Generally Safe RRMS and PMS Treatment in Study Rituximab is generally safe and effective in treating multiple sclerosis ā with comparable effectiveness to Tysabri (natalizumab) in people with relapsing-remitting forms of the disease, a Swiss study reports. But patients using this therapy can develop recurrent infections, its researchers noted, and doctors should be vigilant. The observational study, ā…
May 14, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: An MS Program for Young Adults, Rituximab Report, Repairing Myelin, and Reducing Inflammation Organizations Join Forces to Launch New Adventure Program for Young MS Patients It seems we too often ignore the needs of younger people who have MS. (I’ve written a couple of columns about this.) This program isn’t a medical approach, but it may serve some other…
May 8, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Rituximab Seen to Ably and Safely Treat Refractory RRMS Patients in French Study An approved lymphoma treatment,Ā rituximab was found to be effective and safe for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients whose active disease has failed to respond to immunosuppressive therapies, a retrospective French study reports. Published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal in an article titled, āEfficacy of…
January 16, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Long-term Rituxan Treatment Is Effective and Safe in MS, Study Shows The approved lymphoma therapy Rituxan (rituximab) has shown promise as a treatment for Ā multiple sclerosis. A new study indicates the Genentech treatment is effective and safe against neurological diseases like MS for up to seven years. The research, āLong-term safety of rituximab induced peripheral B-cell depletion in…
January 11, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Newly Diagnosed MS Patients Stay Longer on Rituxan Than Other Therapies, Study Finds Multiple sclerosis patients whose first treatment is Genentech'sĀ Rituxan (rituximab) stay on it longer than other disease-modifying drugs that patients start with, a Swedish study reports. When they stop taking Rituxan, Ā it usually isn't for lack of effectiveness or side effects...
October 31, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #MSParis2017 – Scant Difference Seen in Inflammatory Response to Ocrevus or Rituxan in Small Study Both Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) and Rituxan (rituximab) trigger a similar release of inflammatory mediators after a first infusion, with little difference seen in infusion reactions among a small group ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with either therapy, said researchers from the Rocky Mountain MS Center at the University of…
May 30, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC17 – Rituxan-treated MS Patients Three Times More Likely to Have Improved Brain Scans Multiple sclerosis patients who start Rituxan (rituximab) treatment are three times more likely to have unchanged or improved brain-scan readings than worse ones, according to a study. Holy Name Medical CenterĀ researchers presented theĀ findings at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meeting in New Orleans, May 24-27. The presentation…
May 5, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Switching from Rituxan to Ocrevus: An Interview with Dr. Timothy Vollmer on Both MS Treatments A multiple sclerosis (MS) trial now underway in Colorado is assessing the safety and tolerability ofĀ switching fromĀ Rituxan (rituximab)Ā toĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab),Ā and its lead investigator, Dr. Timothy L. Vollmer, largely expects no problems. The neurologist believes the two GenentechĀ therapies āĀ both antibody-based drugsĀ that target the CD20 molecule on B-cells ā…
April 19, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Are Ocrevus and Rituxan Similar? Neurologists Respond to Patients’ Concerns While manyĀ multiple sclerosis patients celebrated the recent approval of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), others argued that the drug is largelyĀ a rebranded version ofĀ rituximab. Rituximab ā sold as Rituxan for indications like non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,Ā chronic lymphocytic leukemia, andĀ rheumatoid arthritis ā is used off-label to treat relapsing MS. In online forums and social media,…
February 27, 2017 Columns by Laura Kolaczkowski #ACTRIMS2017 – Keynote Lecture Focused on Two Disease-Modifying Therapies Editor’s note: Columnist Laura Kolaczkowski writes from theĀ Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) 2017 ForumĀ in Orlando, Fla., (Feb. 23-25). Two MS disease-modifying therapies, Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) and Rituxan (rituximab) were featured in this year’s Kenneth P. Johnson, MD, Memorial Lecture…
January 24, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD 2 Cases of Brain Inflammation Raise Questions of Lemtrada Safety, But Link Uncertain Two multiple sclerosis (MS) patients developed severe brain inflammation after being treatedĀ with Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), researchers report, raising questions about the therapy. A definite link between the lesions and the treatment, however, was not established. The patients’Ā symptomsĀ were successfully controlled with a blood transfusion and treatment with rituximab (brand name Rituxan,…
January 4, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Top 10 Multiple Sclerosis Articles of 2016 A number ofĀ important discoveries, therapeutic developments, and events related to multiple sclerosis (MS) were reported dailyĀ by Multiple Sclerosis News Today throughout 2016. Now that the year is over, it is time to briefly review the articles that appealed most toĀ ourĀ readers. Here are the top 10 most-read articles of 2016, with…
July 21, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Study of Potential Therapy for Relapsing MS That Targets B-Cells Now Recruiting Patients in US Patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā are being recruited forĀ aĀ clinical trial evaluatingĀ an experimental monoclonal antibody called ublituximab, the National MS Society announced in a recentĀ newsĀ release. The study, being conducted at seven U.S. sites, will enroll at least 24 patients, but this number can go up to 100. MSĀ is considered to be…
July 6, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD ICER Draft Report Evaluating Therapies for RRMS Now Open for Public Comment TheĀ Institute of Clinical and Economic Review (ICER)Ā released the early draft of a paper intended toĀ informĀ a future report evaluating the effectiveness and value of disease-modifying therapies for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The paper, called aĀ draft scopingĀ document, is titled “Disease Modifying Therapies for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Effectiveness and…