September 8, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Mental Visual Imagery Strategy Can Improve Neuropsychological Functions in RRMS Patients A new study published in the journal Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience revealed that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with relapsing-remitting forms of the disease can improve specific neuropsychological functions through a mental visual imagery strategy. The study was led by researchers at the University of Strasbourg and the…
September 7, 2015 News by admin New Study Unravels How Myelin is Repaired, May Suggest New MS Treatments Japanese scientists have discovered new information about howĀ the myelin sheath is repaired following damage. Myelin is a fatty substance that wraps around nerve cells and helps them to conduct impulses. The researchĀ could have major implications for how multiple sclerosis is understood and even treated.Ā The study, titled “Inactivation…
August 26, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Clinical Studies of Cannabinoid Capsules for MS Expected Later This Year Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease characterized by the destruction of insulating covers on nerve cells by the immune system. The most common form for the disease, relapsing-remitting MS, is characterized by clearly defined attacks of decreasing neurologic function (relapses) followed by partial or complete recovery…
August 24, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Novartis Acquires Remaining Rights to Ofatumumab by GSK for Multiple Sclerosis and Other Autoimmune Diseases Pharmaceutical giant Novartis recently announced it has signed an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline for exclusive rights to GSK’s investigational CD20-specific monoclonal antibody,Ā Ofatumumab, indicated forĀ relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and other autoimmune diseases. Novartis had previously acquired rights to the drug for its indications in oncology, effectively marketing it under brand nameĀ ArzerraĀ®.
August 10, 2015 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Apitope Completes Enrollment for Phase IIa Trial for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Apitope, a biocompany devoted to drug discovery and development for autoimmune diseases, announced that its partner Merck Serono has concluded the recruitment of participants forĀ its Phase IIa Trial on relapsing multiple sclerosis, (known as a Phase IIa study of ATX-MS-1467 or also M2736) The drug, ATX-MS-1467, is an…
August 4, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Pfizer Acquires Exclusive Commercialization Rights to Generic Copaxone for Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Netherlands-based international pharmaceutical company Synthon, best known for developing complex generic therapeutics, has officially entered into an agreement with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, Inc., effectively transferring the exclusive rights in the US to glatiramer acetate to Pfizer. Glatiramer acetate is an experimental generic formulation of Copaxone, which is indicated as a…
July 30, 2015 News by Maureen Newman MSPrecise Shown to be Accurate in Diagnosing RRMS in Study Cohort A new study testingĀ Amarantus Diagnostics’Ā MSPrecise on multiple sclerosisĀ patients identified the test as a specific and sensitive diagnostic test for multiple sclerosis. The test accurately diagnosed 84% of multiple sclerosis patients from a broad range of subjectsĀ with potential neurological diseases. These results further support Amarantus Diagnostics’ ability to design next generation…
July 30, 2015 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Altered Immune Cells in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients Cause Reduced Immune Capacity In a new study entitled āPolymorphonuclear Cell Functional Impairment in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Preliminary Dataā researchersĀ investigated how polymorphonuclear cells — important players of the innate immune system — are altered in multiple sclerosis patients. The study was published in the journal PLOS…
July 27, 2015 News by Charles Moore Biogen’s Tecfidera Now The Most Prescribed Oral MS Therapy Globally Cambridge, Massachusetts based Biogen Inc. has reported its second quarter 2015 results, posting a year-over-year seven percent revenue increase to $2.6 Billion in the quarter. āBiogen remains focused on improving the lives of people living with complex diseases,ā says Chief Executive Officer George A. Scangos, Ph.D. āTecfidera, which is now…
July 22, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD NHS Wales Approves Biogen’s Plegridy for Relapsing Remitting MS Relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) treatment PlegridyĀ (peg interferon beta-1a) by Biogen Idec, has just received Welsh NHS approval, which should make it available to patients by late October 2015. The decisionĀ follows NHS Scotland’s approval earlier this year, however, theĀ biweekly interferon beta shot has yet to be madeĀ available in England’s NICE…
July 17, 2015 News by Charles Moore Celgene to Acquire Receptos, Advancing Leadership in Immune-Inflammatory Diseases Such As MS and IBD Summit, New Jersey based Celgene Corporation and Receptos, Inc. of San Diego, California, a biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutic candidates for the treatment of immune and metabolic diseases, have announced their joint signing of a definitive agreement in which Celgene will acquire Receptos. Under terms of the merger agreement,…
July 16, 2015 News by admin Study Shows Skin Problems Can Be Caused by Interferon-Ī² MS Therapy Skin problems may be caused by interferon-Ī², a common treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study published by a German research group at the Klinik und Poliklinik fĆ¼r Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, in WĆ¼rzburg, Germany. The work, entitled “Cutaneous Adverse Events Associated with Interferon-Ī²…
July 8, 2015 News by Isaura Santos 1200 People With Relapsing MS Needed For RPC1063, Avonex Clinical Trials Clinical investigatorsĀ worldwide are beginning to recruitĀ 1,200 patientsĀ with relapsing multiple sclerosisĀ for a study assessingĀ the effectiveness of two different doses of RPC1063 (Receptos, Inc.), an experimental oral therapy, and AvonexĀ® (interferon beta-1a, Biogen Inc.) in order toĀ reduce relapse rate in patients. This study, called the Sunbeam Study, is being funded by…
July 1, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Rocheās Ocrelizumab Found to be Superior to Standard Interferon Therapy in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Patients Roche recently announced encouraging results on its investigational medicine ocrelizumab as a therapy for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, which includesĀ either RRMS or SPMS with relapses. Ocrelizumab was evaluated in two pivotal studies (OPERA I and OPERA II), where it was compared to interferon (IFN) beta-1a (RebifĀ®), the standard-of-care…
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…
June 24, 2015 News by Isaura Santos Association Of British Neurologists Releases New Guidelines For Multiple Sclerosis The Association of British Neurologists (ABN)Ā recently published newĀ guidelines forĀ how Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs) for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis should be monitored and prescribed in the United Kingdom, emphasizing theĀ “right treatment at the right time.” There are currently ten DMTs available on the National Health System (NHS) and elevenĀ in…
June 17, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Researchers Suggest Short Transition Period Between Natalizumab and Fingolimod Therapies to Control RRMS Disease Activity An international team led by researchers at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland revealed that a short period of 8 to 12 weeks is the optimal timing to be considered when patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are switched from natalizumab to fingolimod therapy. The study was recently published…
June 10, 2015 News by Maureen Newman RedHill Biopharma Enrolls Final RRMS Patient in RHB-104 Clinical Trial RedHill Biopharma Ltd. enrolled the final patient for its Phase IIa, proof-of-concept study testing RHB-104 in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who test positive for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). RedHill is evaluating RHB-104 as an add-on therapy to interferon beta-1a for a treatment…
June 8, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Review Suggests PEG-IFN Therapy for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Significantly Reduces Relapse Rates A study recently published in the journal PLoS One compared the use of a specific treatment based on interferon beta-1a with other approved injectable therapies in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The study is entitled āA Network Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Evaluation of…
June 3, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Jack Osbourne and Teva Launch New Educational Multiple Sclerosis Website Reality TV star Jack Osbourne has partnered with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. to launch aĀ new website as part ofĀ aĀ three-year campaign called You Don’t Know Jack About MS. The site can be viewed here: www.youdontknowjackaboutms.com. The campaign is meant to raise awareness about…
May 19, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Case Study Explores Hypnosis as Potential Treatment For Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms Two Dragons Hypnotherapy recently announced the results of a one-year case study that assessed the effects of hypnotherapyĀ on a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) named Kristen. Case studies such as these, while not enough to establish new scientific conclusions on how to effectively treat a disease such as MS, add…
May 14, 2015 News by admin PA Hospital Begins Offering LEMTRADA as Treatment for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis The Allegheny General Hospital in Pennsylvania is now offering a new treatment option for people with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS) — the most common form of multiple sclerosis.Ā Ā The treatment may help people with RRMS who have not responded to other medications. MS is an autoimmune disorder in which the…
May 4, 2015 News by Maureen Newman EXCLUSIVE: Opexa Developing Tcelna as a True Personalized MS Therapy For SPMS, RRMS After the Phase 2b clinical trial named Abili-T achieved full enrollment with 190 secondary progress multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients, The Woodlands, Texas-based Opexa TherapeuticsĀ is patiently awaiting results for the company’s lead candidate, Tcelna, which are expected in the second half of 2016.
May 1, 2015 News by admin Genzyme’s LEMTRADA Maintain’s Effectiveness in Reducing Brain Atrophy According to Recent Study Results GenzymeĀ presentedĀ new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from the LemtradaĀ® (alemtuzumab) clinical development programĀ onĀ April 23, 2015, at the 67th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting. The company showed that in the extension phase of two Phase III trials (years 3 and 4), the drug continued to protect the nervous…
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…
January 21, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Receptos Launches SUNBEAM Phase 3 Trial for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Biopharmaceutical companyĀ Receptos, Inc. has enrolled the first participantĀ withĀ relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) in its SUNBEAM phase 3 trial, which will evaluate the potential therapyĀ RPC1063 in patients who suffer from the disease. The company’s phase 3 RADIANCE trial, also…
January 14, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Plegridy for Relapsing MS Now Approved in Scotland The Scottish Medicines Consortium has just approved Biogen Idec’sĀ Plegridy (peg interferonĀ beta-1a) for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients between 18 to 65 years old, making the Consortium the first United Kingdom-based regulatory body to endorse the disease-modifying drug on the…
January 7, 2015 News by Charles Moore Nova Scotia First Of Canada’s Atlantic Provinces To Fund Aubagio Treatment For Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Canada has one of the world’s highest Multiple Sclerosis (MS) prevalence rates. Some 100,000 Canadians live with the disease, and three people are newly diagnosed each day. Most people are diagnosed with relapsing MS in their twenties and thirties, and MS is the most common neurological disease affecting young adults…
January 6, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD RRMS Study Using MRI Reveals Benefits of Experimental Therapy in Achieving No Evidence of Disease Activity Results from aĀ Phase 3 clinical trial entitled “AVANCE” revealed promising clinical outcomes in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treated forĀ one year with peg interferon beta-1a. The analysis wasĀ published in the journal BMC Neurology, in a study entitled āEffect of peg interferon beta-1a on MRI measures and…
January 5, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Immunosuppressive Therapy, Cell Transplantation Offers Promising Treatment for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Immunosupressive therapy in combination with hemotopoietic cell transplant was found to induce remission of Multiple Sclerosis activity for up to 3 years. The new findings could usher in a new mode of effective treatment for MS that could greatly improve quality of life for those with the disease and…