November 13, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD FDA names Elecsys NfL blood test for MS a breakthrough device A test called Elecsys NfLĀ ā developed by Roche to measure blood levels of the nerve damage biomarker neurofilament light chain (NfL) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) ā has received breakthrough device designation in the U.S. That status, granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),…
January 24, 2023 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Scientists Seek to Understand Effects of Pregnancy on Immune System Roche has teamed up with researchers in Australia to study the immune and biological mechanisms leading to better outcomes for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who are or have been pregnant. The four-year project, led by Vilija Jokubaitis, PhD, a neuroscientist and group leader at Monash University, is expected…
August 3, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Ocrevus Outperforms Rebif in Preventing Myelin Loss in Trial Two years of treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) outperformed Rebif (interferon beta-1a) at preventing myelin loss in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new analysis of data from the OPERA II clinical trial. Ocrevus’ protection against demyelination was observed both in MS lesions,…
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 9, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Roche and UK University Team Up to Test Floodlight App Effectiveness Roche is teaming up with the University of Plymouth in the U.K. to help develop Floodlight MS, the company’s app to monitor multiple sclerosis (MS). “We were pleased to collaborate with Roche on an innovative project to validate the Floodlight MS app and, as with everything we do…
December 15, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Ublituximab as Relapsing MS Therapy Under FDA Review The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to review TG Therapeuticsā application seeking the approval of ublituximab as a treatment for people with relapsing forms ofĀ multiple sclerosis. An FDAās decision is expected on or before Sept. 28. The agency is not currently planning to hold an…
September 16, 2021 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Roche, Temedica Launch Brisa App to Improve Lives of German Patients Temedica, a Munich-based digital health company, has joined efforts with Roche to launch a free mobile app that aims to improve care for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) living in Germany. Available in German only, the Brisa app will make a record of individual disease progression in…
August 19, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Smartphone App Floodlight Found to Reliably Measure MS Data A smartphone-based app called Floodlight can reliably assess cognition, arm and hand function, and walking abilities in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new analyses. “Detection of progression onset or worsening is critical to optimally adapt the therapeutic strategy” patients are using to treat the neurodegenerative disease,…
August 18, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Trial Will Test Ocrevus on Arm, Hand Function in PPMS A Phase 3 clinical trial testing the effect of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) on upper limb disability progression in people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) is recruiting participants. The trial, called O’HAND (NCT04035005), expects to enroll approximately 1,000 adults with PPMS, ages 18 to 65, at more than…
July 15, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Anti-CD20 Antibodies Reduce Myelin Loss in MS Rats Treatment with anti-CD20 antibodies reduced the loss of myelin and improved the survival of neurons in a rat model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study reports. The findings imply that B-cells ā the immune cells that are killed by anti-CD20 antibodies ā play a central role in the…
May 6, 2021 News by Forest Ray PhD Global Phase 3 Trials of Fenebrutinib Enrolling Relapsing and PPMS Patients Two global Phase 3 clinical trials comparing fenebrutinib, anĀ investigational oral BTK inhibitor by Roche, with Aubagio (teriflunomide) are now enrolling adults withĀ relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), the National MS Society announced in a press release. The twin studies, called FENhance 1 (NCT04586023)…
April 27, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AANAM – Early Ocrevus Treatment Helps to Protect Nervous System Editorās note: TheĀ Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17ā22. GoĀ hereĀ to read the latest stories from the conference. TreatingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) in its earlier stages with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) can substantially lower disease activity and lessen damage…
February 16, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Rituximab Before or During Pregnancy Not Linked to Major Complications Treatment with rituximabĀ before or during pregnancy was not associated with major pregnancy or infant complications, according to a case series of 19 women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases. These findings add to the limited available evidence on the use of rituximab by expectant mothers either…
December 15, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD FDA Approves Shorter Infusion Time for MS Therapy Ocrevus The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a shorter infusion time of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) for treating relapsing or primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Infusion refers to the slow delivery of a therapy directly into the bloodstream over a period of time. The decision shortens the twice-yearly infusion…
November 23, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Early Use of Ocrevus Best for Slowing PPMS Progression, Long-term Data Show Early and continuous use ofĀ OcrevusĀ (ocrelizumab) significantly slows disability progression and delays the time until wheelchair reliance in people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), new Phase 3 data spanning more than six years show. Findings fromĀ the ORATORIO trial, comparing immediate use with a two-year delay, support Ocrevus’ sustained…
September 22, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Gilenya Remains Favorite S1P Receptor Modulator in US, But Zeposia May Catch Up, Survey Finds Among oral sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators for multiple sclerosis (MS), Novartisās GilenyaĀ (fingolimod) remains physiciansā favorite in the U.S., but prescriptions of recently-launched Bristol Myers Squibbās Zeposia (ozanimod) are beginning to rise,Ā according to a survey conducted by Spherix Global Insights. Also, COVID-19Ā not…
September 17, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Early Use of Ocrevus Slows Thalamic Atrophy in Relapsing MS and PPMS Early use of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) significantly slows shrinkage of the thalamus ā a brain region involved in sensory and motor functionsĀ ā inĀ peopleĀ with relapsing forms ofĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) and primary progressive MSĀ (PPMS), according to new analyses from three Phase 3 trials that compared immediate use with a two-year…
September 11, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Roche Launches Phase 3 Clinical Program to Test Fenebrutinib Roche has launched a Phase 3 clinical trial program to evaluate fenebrutinib, its investigational oral BTK inhibitor, in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS). Data on fenebrutinibās potency and selectivity, as well as the design of the clinical…
September 9, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD #MSVirtual2020 ā No Evidence of Disease Activity Seen in Most RRMS Patients After Switching to Ocrevus, Data Show Switching to Genentechās OcrevusĀ (ocrelizumab) following suboptimal treatment responses significantly lessens symptoms and leads to high rates of no evidence of disease activity in people withĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), according to data from a Phase 3b clinical trial. That finding, as well as data about patients’ adherence and…
August 26, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Infection Risk Higher for Ocrevus Than Rituximab, But Cancer Risk Lower Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), a second-generation anti-CD20 antibody, may be associated with a greater risk of infections. But it carries a lower risk of cancer and immune reactions than first-generation rituximab inĀ people with multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), according to a real-life study. The higher incidence of infections linked with Ocrevus’…
August 11, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Rituximab More Effective Than Gilenya, Tecfidera, and Comparable to Tysabri, Study Finds Rituximab is more effective and leads to fewer treatment discontinuations in people with multiple sclerosisĀ (MS)Ā than Gilenya (fingolimod) and Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), according to real-world data based on two years of therapy. Rituximabās effectiveness appeared to be comparable to that of Tysabri (natalizumab), but with fewer…
July 20, 2020 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Roche and PicnicHealth Partner Around Data, Open FlywheelMS Study To speed research and work on more personalized treatments for serious diseases, Roche and its subsidiary GenentechĀ announced a partnership with PicnicHealth to access its collection of real-world data. Eligible adults with MS in the United States are also being invited to join a multiyear study assembling such…
June 1, 2020 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Two-hour Ocrevus Infusion Time Approved for MS Patients in Europe The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved a shorter infusion time for Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), an approved treatment for people with relapsing or primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The approval follows a positive recommendation from EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP),…
May 22, 2020 News by Mary Chapman MedTech Breakthrough Cites RxMx and Roche for MS Patient App For a comprehensive support app developed for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients,Ā RxMxĀ and Roche have won the Patient Engagement Innovation Award from Medtech Breakthrough. The fourth annual awards program recognized top health and medical technology products and companies. Healthcare company RxMx and pharmaceutical company Roche collaborated to produce…
May 12, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD COVID-19 May Not Be Severe in MS Patients, Early Data from Italy Suggest People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may not be at higher risk of developing a severe COVID-19 infection, according to preliminary data from patients in Italy. āAt the moment, these results seem to be quite reassuring for most people with MS,ā Marco Salvetti, MD, PhD, professor at Sapienza…
May 6, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD COVID-19 Infection Not Severe in PPMS Patient on Ocrevus, Case Report Finds COVID-19 infection in a multiple sclerosis (MS) patient being treated withĀ Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) ā an immunosuppressive therapy ā was not associated with any serious complications, a case study reports. This finding supports current suggestions that immunosuppressive therapies, by dampening immune and inflammatory responses, may help to protect…
April 29, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Ocrevus’ Early Use May Lower Need for Walking Aid by 49% Over 6 Years StartingĀ treatment with OcrevusĀ early can lower almost by half the need for a walking aid inĀ peopleĀ with relapsing forms ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) over six years, new analyses of Phase 3 trial data that compared immediate initiation with a two-year delay show. A separate analysis also found…
April 21, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Shorter Ocrevus Infusion Time Up for Approval in US and Europe The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have accepted applications from Genentech to shorten the infusion time for Ocrevus, an approved treatment forĀ multiple sclerosis. If approved, the time to administer Ocrevus will be shortened to a two-hour session, instead…
April 14, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Ocrevus Use Still Growing in Europe But Challenges on Horizon, Spherix Reports Prescriptions ofĀ RocheāsĀ OcrevusĀ (ocrelizumab) among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients initiating or switching aĀ disease-modifying therapy (DMT) continue to rise in Europe, according toĀ a surveyĀ conducted byĀ Spherix Global Insights. Ocrevus, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody administered directly into a vein,Ā was approved in the European UnionĀ to treat active forms…
April 3, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Ocrevus Lowers Progression Risk in More Disabled MS Patients, Study Suggests For multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with considerable disability, Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) appears to lower the risk of continued progression in both relapsing and primary progressiveĀ forms of the disease, data from an exploratory and post-hoc analysis of three Phase 3 trials report. These findings were in the study, ā…