February 21, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Melatonin at night may help with morning balance, strength in MS Taking melatonin before bedtime may help balance and muscle strength in people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study from Tunisia. Those benefits are in addition toĀ making for more restful sleep. While the findings come from a small number of patients, they suggest melatonin supplements may…
November 9, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Swank and Wahls diets seen to improve RRMS hand, arm dexterity The Swank and Wahls diets ā two dietary strategies often adopted by people with multiple sclerosis (MS) ā were similarly effective at easing functional disability after six months among people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), according to data from a small clinical trial. These functional gains were mostly driven…
October 31, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Gut bacteria can differ among MS patients by genetic disease risk People with a higher genetic risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) were seen to have detectable differences in their gut bacteria in a small study. “There seems to be an association between genetic risk score and [changes in gut bacteria] in triggering the disease in a small cohort of MS…
October 27, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Relapses, lesions in 1st year on oral DMT seen to help predict outcomes A scoring system that accounts for relapses and MRI activity inĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during their first year on an oral disease-modifying therapy (DMT) was found to be predictive of worse short-term outcomes for people with relapsing forms of the neurodegenerative disorder, a study showed. “The occurrence of…
July 25, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Genetic risk found similar between RRMS, PPMS in Swedish study The risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) was similar between first- and second-degree family members of people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS). The findings, which were consistent with previous studies suggesting that genetics and environment are relatively equal contributors to disease risk, also…
July 18, 2023 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD RRMS patients with high chloride levels may be at more relapse risk Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients with elevated levels of chloride in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid that bathes the central nervous system, may be at a higher risk of relapse, according to a study from China. Researchers propose that CSF chloride levels equal to or higher than 123.2…
June 30, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Aubagio shifts immune cell balance in RRMS, study reveals Aubagio (teriflunomide), an approved therapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), works by shifting the balance between activated subsets of nerve-damaging immune cells to those with immunosuppressive traits, a new study reveals. Further studies to understand how changes in immune cell subsets drive Aubagioās clinical effectiveness will…
June 27, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Stem cell therapy highly effective in active RRMS: Real-world study Nearly 80% of adults with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) were free of relapses or confirmed disability worsening two years after receiving stem cell transplant, according to a real-world study in Denmark. Moreover, more than two-thirds (69%) of these RRMS patients achieved a clinical outcome called NEDA-3, or…
May 22, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Stem cell therapy may be better than some DMTs for highly active RRMS Stem cell therapy is better than Gilenya (fingolimod) or Tysabri (natalizumab) at reducing relapse rates and easing disability for people with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a new analysis suggests. In contrast, findings suggest that the efficacy of stem cell therapy is not significantly different…
March 7, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD ACTRIMS 2023: RRMS treatment may ‘give patients a better choice’ New data from a Phase 2 clinical trial testing vidofludimus calcium, Immunic Therapeuticsā novel oral treatment candidateĀ for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), show promising safety and efficacy, according to the company’s chief medical officer. The therapy was found to safely reduce brain lesions and prevent disability progression in…
February 22, 2023 News by Patricia Valerio, PhD Intermittent fasting for 8 weeks shows benefits in MS in pilot study An eight-week intermittent fasting intervention for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) led to significant improvements in cognition and manual dexterity for these patients, who also tended to have lower fatigue and pain scores at the program’s end, an exploratory study showed.
January 11, 2023 News by Hawken Miller Writer Recalls MS Odyssey While Living on the ‘Last Frontier’ The wing of the small aircraft dipped below the horizon, revealing a strip of sand in the middle of the Bering Sea. On one side, miles of ocean. On the other, a lagoon. It was 1995, and Melissa Cook, her husband Elgin, and their three small children were beginning an…
December 6, 2022 News by Patricia Valerio, PhD 2-year Copaxone Treatment in RRMS Found to Slow Loss of Gray Matter Two years of treatment with the approved therapy >Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) was found to slow the loss of cerebral gray matter and whole brain volume ā two markers of neurodegeneration ā in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Notably, individuals on Copaxone…
November 23, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Add-on Supplement May Bolster Interferon Therapies for RRMS A dietary supplement called Neuroaspis plp10 significantly lowered relapse rates and slowed disability progressionĀ among people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) on interferon beta medications, according to a small clinical trial in Greece. “The results of this study suggest that Neuroaspis plp10 may offer greater benefit to patients with RRMS…
November 16, 2022 News by Somi Igbene, PhD Treatments Seen to Account for Largest Part of MS Financial Burden Medications account for the majority of costs related to managing multiple sclerosis (MS) in Italy, andĀ secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) is associated with higher treatment and healthcare costs than those forĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a study looking at real-world data reported. āA bigger healthcare resource consumption was retrieved for…
November 4, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD #ECTRIMS2022 ā Vumerity Lowers RRMS Activity Over 2 Years Up to two years ofĀ Vumerity (diroximel fumarate) treatment was generally well-tolerated and led to significant decreases in disease activity in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a final analysis of data from the open-label EVOLVE-MS-1 Phase 3 clinical trial. Indirect comparisons of Vumerity-treated patients against those…
October 5, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Direct Electrical Stimulation of Brain Found to Ease MS Spasticity Electrical stimulation of the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp may ease some measures of spasticity for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to results from a small clinical trial. Using this novel route of brain stimulation was shown to impact muscle contractions in patients with spasticity…
September 1, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS More Microscopic Brain Damage Seen in SPMS Than in RRMS People with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) have more microscopic damage in normal-appearing brain tissue than do patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a new imaging study. These patients also have a greater number of chronic active lesions than those with RRMS. “Using advanced diffusion MRI…
July 19, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Natalizumab, Tysabri Biosimilar, Up for Approval in Europe The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has agreed to review a request to approveĀ Polpharma Biologics‘ biosimilar natalizumab for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). This marks the first time the regulatory agency accepted a marketing authorization application for a biosimilar of Tysabri, anĀ approved MS treatment. “The acceptance…
July 11, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Early MS Symptoms May Help Predict Diagnosis, Disease Course Some prodromal symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) ā symptoms that are evident before the disease begins in earnest ā could help to predict the course of MS, a new study proposes. In particular, its researchers suggest that MS patients with prodromal depression are more likely to be diagnosed…
July 7, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Smoking Linked to Worse Outcomes in RRMS Patients After 10 Years Smoking is associated with lower brain volume, more brain lesions, and greater disability and attention deficits among people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) after 10 years,Ā according to a study in Norway. “The findings imply that patients should be advised and offered aid in smoking cessation shortly after diagnosis, to…
July 1, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Efficacy, Safety of Mavenclad in Real World Similar to That of Trials The safety and efficacy of the approved multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā therapy Mavenclad (cladribine) in a real-world group of patients were similar to what had been demonstrated in clinical trials, a new study reports. Among 243 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), more than 60% showed no…
June 17, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Vidofludimus Calcium Safely Reduced RRMS Brain Lesions Treatment with the experimental immune-modulating therapy vidofludimus calcium reduced disease activity on MRI scans in adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), data from the Phase 2 EMPhASIS clinical trial shows. Top-line results from EMPhASIS were reported by the therapy’s developer Immunic Therapeutics in 2020. Researchers at…
June 7, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS No Disease Activity for 58% of Those on Aubagio After 2 Years: Study More than half of the people with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated withĀ Aubagio (teriflunomide) showed no evidence of disease activity after two years on treatment, according to aĀ study in Italy. The study, “Evolution of teriflunomide use in multiple sclerosis: A real-world experience,” was published in theĀ Journal of…
May 18, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Marriage, Education, DMT Affect Patients’ Treatment Adherence Among people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), those who are married and have more formal education are more likely to take treatments as recommended, according to a new study from Iran. The study, “Effects of Disease-Modifying Treatments discontinuation in patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A 5…
May 17, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS ‘Hidden’ Disabilities Fairly Common at RRMS Diagnosis, Study Finds Many people newly diagnosed withĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) experience substantial “hidden disabilities,” such as depression or fatigue, a study highlights. Findings indicate that treatment with disease-modifying therapies generally does not affect the severity of these problems, at least in the short term. “Considering the substantial impact that hidden…
May 6, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Keto Diet Improved Life Quality of RRMS Patients in Trial Eating a ketogenic diet ā one low in carbohydrates and high in fats ā led to markedly less fatigue and depression for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in a small clinical trial that was designed to assess the tolerability of the dietary intervention. Measures of disability and quality…
April 27, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Kesimpta Now Reimbursable for Patients in 2 Canadian Provinces Kesimpta (ofatumumab) is now accessible to eligible Canadians with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) through public drug plans in Ontario and Quebec. The treatment has been included as an exceptional medication under both the Ontario Drug Benefit Exceptional Access Program and the RĆ©gie de lāassurance maladie du QuĆ©bec. This…
April 19, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Long-term Gilenya Use Safe, Effective in Real-world Czech Study Treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod) for up to four years was found safe and lowered relapse rates among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Czech Republic, according to a real-world study called GOLEMS. Older age, lower disability level, and fewer relapses prior to the treatment’s start were all…
April 5, 2022 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD #AAN2022 ā Long-term Evobrutinib Safe, Effective in Relapsing MS Long-term treatment with evobrutinib safely and effectively reduces the rate of relapses in adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to 2.5 years of data from a Phase 2 extension study. These findings ā supporting evobrutinibās therapeutic potential in relapsing MS ā were shared in an…