March 26, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD FDA Approves Zeposia (Ozanimod), Oral Therapy for All with Relapsing MS The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ZeposiaĀ (ozanimod) oral capsules to treat adults with relapsing forms ofĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), includingĀ relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), Ā active secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and clinically isolated syndromeĀ (CIS). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, when it will arrive in clinics…
March 11, 2020 News by Ana Pena PhD Blood NfL Potential Marker of MS Therapies’ Effectiveness, Study Suggests Starting treatment with aĀ disease-modifying therapy (DMT) reduces blood levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) ā a potential biomarker of disease progression and activity ā to varying degrees depending on the therapy used, according to a large real-world study of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The findings support…
February 28, 2020 News by Ana Pena PhD #ACTRIMS2020 – Pregnancies and Menopause Affect Age of Progressive MS Onset Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have never given birth and those who began menopause prematurely tend to develop progressive forms of the disease earlier, a study from theĀ Mayo ClinicĀ suggests. These findings were presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum…
February 20, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Bone Marrow Transplant Can Replace Overactive Immune Cells, Preventing Inflammation in MS, Study Says A bone marrow transplant can remove the majority of overactive immune T cells from the central nervous system (CNS) in patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), allowing the body to replace them with healthy ones, a study has found. This opens up new treatment avenues to…
February 14, 2020 News by Ana Pena PhD Ocrevus Use Rises Among New Starters with RRMS, Loses Ground to Other Therapies in PPMS First-line use of Genentech‘s Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has remained stable through 2019 compared to 2018, according to the latest Spherix Global Insights‘ report. However, the latest edition of “RealWorld Dynamix: DMT New Starts in Multiple Sclerosis (US),” based…
February 12, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Rituximab Appears Safe for Women to Use While Breastfeeding, Small Study Finds RituximabĀ is barely detected in breast milk of women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who took the therapy while breastfeeding their child, small study shows. Results suggest that women with RRMS can continue with a disease-modifying treatment while breastfeeding. The study āMinimal breast milk transfer of…
February 10, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Mavenclad May Be Added to RRMS Treatments on Quebec’s Public Health Plan The agency in charge of health and social services for Quebec, known as theĀ Institut national d’excellence en santĆ© et en services sociaux (INESSS), is recommending thatĀ Mavenclad (cladribine) be offered at discount to adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) enrolled in the province’s health system. INESSS’ opinions…
January 27, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS NICE Approves Plegridy as RRMS Treatment Offered by NHS England The National Institute for Health Care and Excellence (NICE) in the U.K. issued its final decision, approving the inclusion of Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) to treatĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in England within the National Health Service (NHS). This decision follows a cost-effectiveness review done in May 2018,…
January 10, 2020 News by Catarina Silva Vitalis Plans to Launch Phase 3 Trial Testing VTS-72 as Treatment for RRMS-related Flushing Vitalis will soon test VTS-72, a new formulation of fumarate and VTS-Aspirin, in a Phase 3 trial as a treatment for flushing ā facial redness, itching or rash ā in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS). Flushing is a common side effect of an oral MS therapy called…
December 13, 2019 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc EMD Serono, Canada Sign Agreement for Public Health Plan Funding of Mavenclad for RRMS People with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) across Canada are a major step closer to having access to EMD Seronoās Mavenclad (cladribine). EMD Serono, known as Merck KGaA outside of North America, has finish negotiations with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA)Ā that oversees new drugs coming in,…
December 11, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Tysabri May Promote Inflammatory B-Cell Activation in MS Patients, Study Says Tysabri (natalizumab), an effective T-cell targeting treatment for multiple sclerosisĀ (MS),Ā seems to also promote the activation of pro-inflammatory immune B-cells in people with this disease, a studyĀ found. The study, “Natalizumab promotes activation and pro-inflammatory differentiation of peripheral B cells in multiple sclerosis patients,” was published in the…
December 6, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD FDA Approves Three Generic Versions of Novartis’ Gilenya for Treating Relapsing MS The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three generic versions of Gilenya (fingolimod) for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). A generic is a nearly identical, lower-priced version of an original brand medication. The three generic applications approved Thursday by the…
November 22, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Black and Hispanic RRMS Patients Show High Levels of Immune Cells Linked to Antibodies, US Study Reports African-AmericansĀ and Hispanics with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) have higher blood levels of plasmablasts,Ā a type of inflammatory immune cell that produces antibodies, than do Caucasians with this disease, a study found. The study āBlack African and Latino/a identity correlates with increased plasmablasts in MSā was published in the journal…
November 18, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Novel MRI Marker Better at Predicting MS Progression, Study Reports A large retrospective study suggests that a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) marker ā called ābrain atrophied T2 lesion volumeāĀ ā could help predict the timing of multiple sclerosis (MS) progression. According to the study, this marker was the only MRI parameter capable of predicting disease progression, compared with other…
November 15, 2019 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Depression, Fatigue Influence Health-related Quality of Life More Than Physical Impairment of MS, Study Reveals Depression and fatigue have a more powerful influence on the overall health-related quality of life, compared to physical impairment, among patients with multiple sclerosis, a new study shows. The study, āContributing factors to healthārelated quality of life in multiple sclerosis,ā was published in the journal Brain and…
November 14, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD 7T MRI Reveals New Insights into Some RRMS Features With the help of 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), investigators discovered that leptomeningeal enhancement ā a radiographic finding indicative of brain inflammation ā is more common than previously thought in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), and is tied to lesions in specific regions of the brain.
November 11, 2019 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Early Damage on Brain Scans and Greater 5-Year Disability Help Predict 30-Year Outcomes in MS, Study Finds A 30-year study of outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients reports that radiological findings in the first year of disease onset, and the amount of disability evident at five years, helps to predict both the likelihood of a person advancing toĀ secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and long-term survival. The study,…
November 7, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Generic Version of Gilenya, pms-Fingolimod, Now Available for RRMS Patients in Canada PharmascienceĀ recently launched pms-Fingolimod, a generic version of NovartisāĀ GilenyaĀ (fingolimod),Ā to treat adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS) in Canada. The new generic is now available in that country, and has demonstrated efficacy and safety similar to Gilenya. GenericĀ medicines are chemically identical to the original branded therapy, but carry a…
November 5, 2019 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Employed MS Patients Have Lower Productivity, Reduced Health-related Quality of Life, Study Shows Employed individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) have lower work productivity, reduced health-related quality of life, and use more healthcare resources than individuals who do not have multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study shows. The study, āBurden of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis on workers in the US: a cross-sectional…
November 1, 2019 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Study: 40% of SPMS Patients in Italy and Germany Unaware of Diagnosis A new study shows that 40% of patients in Italy and Germany who have Ā secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) are not aware of their diagnosis, indicating a need for significant improvement in patient-physician communication.
October 30, 2019 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc First Relapsing MS Patient Enrolled in Phase 3 Trial of Mapi Pharmaās Once-monthly Glatiramer Formulation A new Phase 3 clinical trial to explore the safety and efficacy of Mapi Pharmaās once-a-month injectable formulation of glatiramer acetate ā named GA Depot ā has started enrolling patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). The trial (NCT04121221) is expected to enroll approximately 960 participants, 18 to 55…
October 23, 2019 News by Alejandra Viviescas, PhD NfL and CHI3L1 Work as Biomarkers of Disease Activity and Progression in MS, Study Says The levels ofĀ neurofilament light chainĀ (NfL) and chitinase3-like1 (CHI3L1) in the cerebrospinal fluid ā the liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord ā serve as respective biomarkers of disease activity and progression in multiple sclerosis (MS), a study reports. Measuring levels of both proteins also helps to…
October 17, 2019 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Interleukin-22 May Be Biomarker to Monitor How Well RRMS Patients Respond to Therapy The levels of the inflammatory molecule interleukin-22 (IL-22) may be used as a potential biomarker to evaluate disease severity and the effectiveness of treatments in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a new study shows. The study, āImpact of interferon Ī²-1b, interferon Ī²-1a and fingolimod therapies on serum…
October 15, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Immunic Therapeutics Fully Enrolls Phase 2 Trial of Oral IMU-838, Potential RRMS Treatment Immunic TherapeuticsĀ announced that a Phase 2 clinical trial of IMU-838, its experimental oral therapyĀ forĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), is fully enrolled ahead of schedule. The trial, called EMPhASIS, also exceeded its target number of participants: Immunic set an initial recruitment goal of 195 patients by mid-2020, and enrolled 210…
October 7, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS RRMS Patients Not Using DMTs More Likely to Have Been Misdiagnosed, Cite Poorer Relationships with Doctors, Survey Says People with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who don’t use disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are more likely to have been misdiagnosed previously, and to have poorer relationships with their healthcare providers, the results of a new survey suggest. The survey, titled “Multiple Sclerosis In America 2019,” was conducted byĀ …
September 26, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MRI Marker May Be Better at Predicting MS Disease Progression, Study Finds The volume of atrophied (shrunken) regions in the brain, as visible through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, can predict disease progression in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), new research reveals. The finding was published in the journalĀ Radiology in an article titled, “Atrophied Brain T2 Lesion Volume…
September 17, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Age Seen as Crucial in MS Outcomes, with 40 Marking Shift from Relapses to Progression Age at disease onset is tightly linked to clinical outcomes in multiple sclerosisĀ patients, a Swiss study in those on disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) reports. It foundĀ a risk of continuous relapses more likely in pediatric MS, and that of disease progression in those with adult-onset MS. Patients at age 40…
September 16, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 ā Glia Score May Differentiate Progressive MS from RRMS, Study Suggests Patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) have higher levels of protein markers of activated glial cells than those with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or patients with other neurological disorders, according to a new study. The findings also indicated that scoring the extent of glial involvement in relation to nerve…
September 5, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Sandoz Enters Agreement with Polpharma Biologics to Develop and Commercialize Tysabri Biosimilar Sandoz, a division of Novartis dedicated to the development of biosimilars, has entered an agreement with Polpharma Biologics, a biopharmaceutical company also dedicated to the manufacture of biosimilars, to develop and market a biosimilar to Biogen‘sĀ Tysabri (natalizumab). Tysabri is a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) that wasĀ …
August 28, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Mavenclad Cost-Effective Treatment for At-risk RRMS Patients Compared to Other DMTs, Dutch Study Finds Treating at-riskĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients is most cost-effective withĀ MavencladĀ (cladribine) tablets when compared to Gilenya (fingolimod), Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) or Tysabri (natalizumab),Ā according to a study in Dutch patients. The study, āCost Effectiveness of Cladribine Tablets for the Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in…