July 19, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Can elderly MS patients safely stop treatment? Study aims to find out. A first-of-its-kind study is aiming to determine whether older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) can safely stop taking disease-modifying therapies, also known as disease-modifying agents (DMAs). The project is being led by scientists at the new P-HOPER Center, officially the Population Health Outcomes and Pharmacoepidemiology Education and Research…
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…
May 17, 2022 News by Mary Chapman 3 Mavinsā Beer Charity Collaboration to Benefit MS Foundation The South Florida craft brew company 3 Mavinsā Beer is making it easy to support the Multiple Sclerosis Foundationās programs and services on behalf of those who have the neurological disorder. Through a new partnership with the foundation, 3 Mavinsā is donating 3% of its profits from each can of…
April 21, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Data Is Lacking on Safety of MS Treatments During Breastfeeding There is minimal data available on the safety of most disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) when used during breastfeeding, a new review indicates. The study “Disease-Modifying Drugs and Breastfeeding in Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Literature Review,” was published inĀ Frontiers in Neurology. Disease-modifying therapies, or DMTs,…
April 8, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #AAN2022 ā Phase 1 Data Shows NVG-291 Safe; Trial in MS Patients Anticipated NVG-291, an experimental therapy designed to promote nervous system repair, has so far been well tolerated in an ongoing Phase 1 study with healthy volunteers. “The Phase 1 study is progressing very well, and we are encouraged by the data we are seeing so far,” Daniel Mikol, MD, PhD, chief…
January 5, 2022 News by Yedida Y Bogachkov PhD Study Finds Lemtrada Safe for MS Patients With Other Autoimmunity Other autoimmune conditions, particularly those characterized by the presence of anti-TPO antibodies, should not preclude patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) from receiving treatment with Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), according to an analysis of pooled data from clinical trials and post-market data. The study, āAutoimmunity and long-term safety and efficacy…
October 6, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ECTRIMS2021 ā Trial Analyses Support Evobrutinib for Relapsing MS Treatment with evobrutinib, an experimental therapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), reduced the size of inflammation-associated brain lesions in a Phase 2 clinical trial, data show. The oral medication was also found to be generally safe and well tolerated, according to an analysis of trial data in…
August 25, 2021 News by Somi Igbene, PhD Ocrevus Reduces MS Relapse Risk, But Linked to More Hospitalizations Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) reduces relapse risk and slows disability progression inĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) but also is associated with higher hospitalization rates in older people with relapsing forms of the disease, a new observational study reports. Hospitalizations ā which occurred mainly due to urinary tract infections ā were more frequent…
July 13, 2021 News by Somi Igbene, PhD Patients Less Likely to Stop Taking Tecfidera Than Aubagio: Study Tecfidera has a lower risk of discontinuation due to treatment failure than Aubagio in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new observational study in Norway suggests. In the study, people receiving Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) were 38% less likely to experience treatment failure and stop use than those receiving…
March 22, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD National MS Society Encourages Patients to Get COVID-19 Vaccine Most patients with relapsing and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) are encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 ā and any vaccine of three authorized for use in the U.S. is safe to receive ā according to recent guidance from the National MS Society. Despite mounting evidence that…
February 22, 2021 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Switch From Tysabri to Moderate-efficacy DMTs Linked to Worse Disability Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) switching from Tysabri (natalizumab) to moderate-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are at a higher risk of showing signs of MS activity and experiencing disability progression than those switching to high-efficacy DMTs, a real-world study found. Based on these findings, the researchers are arguing that,…
October 2, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD MS Patients Should Avoid ‘Silver’ Tooth Fillings Due to Mercury, FDA Advises People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are among theĀ high-risk groups advised to avoid dental amalgams āĀ silver-colored fillings that are 50% mercury ā underĀ new recommendations issued by theĀ U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationĀ (FDA). Amalgams can be used by dentists to restore the structure and surfaces of teeth damaged by decay.
September 16, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – 13-year Data Find Tecfidera Safe, Reduces RRMS Relapses Long-term treatment with Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) continues to be safe and effective at reducing the frequency of relapses and disability progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), according to 13-year data from a Phase 3 extension study. The study findings were presented at MSVirtual2020 by Ralf…
September 14, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 ā Low Rituximab Doses Are Safer, as Effective as Higher Ones Low doses of rituximab, an anti-inflammatory medication used off-label to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), are safer and as effective as higher doses at reducing the frequency of relapses and the number of MS lesions, a clinical study shows. The study findings were presented at MSVirtual2020 by Luciana…
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 12, 2020 News by Forest Ray PhD Aubagio Shows Long-term Safety, Efficacy in Relapsing MS Extension Study AubagioĀ (teriflunomide), taken as a 14 mg tablet once a day, shows long-term safety and efficacy in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to results of the Phase 3 TOWER extension study. Treatment was generally well tolerated by the 751 patients using Aubagio for a median…
June 29, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Tecfidera Safe and Effective Over Years of Use, RRMS Study Finds Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) is safe and effective as a long-term treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a study of clinical trial data covering up to 11 years of treatment suggests. The study, “Safety and efficacy of delayed-release dimethyl fumarate in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis:…
June 16, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Aubagio Safely Used by 5 MS Patients With Active COVID-19 Infection Five people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who tested positive for COVID-19Ā whileĀ being treated with Aubagio (teriflunomide)Ā Ā all developed a mild infection, had good outcomes, and experienced no disease relapses, a case study reported. These findings suggest that use of Aubagio, a disease-modifying therapy that acts on the immune system,…
April 13, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Tysabri Shows Safety, Effectiveness in Real-world RRMS Use: 10-year TOP Data Tysabri (natalizumab) is safe and shows robust, real-world effectiveness at reducing the frequency of relapses in people Ā with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), 10 years of data from a large, observational study report. Findings were reported in āLong-term safety and effectiveness of natalizumab treatment…
February 4, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplant Safe and Helps Delay MS Progression, Analysis Shows Transplanting patients’ ownĀ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a safe therapeutic approach and can delay disease progression in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a meta-analysis review shows. The study also showed that cells transplanted to the spinal cord (intrathecal injection) were associated with significantly slower disease progression rates, compared…
January 9, 2020 News by Vanessa Pataia New Trial Compares Stem Cell Treatment to Available Therapies for Severe Relapsing MS A new clinical trial is comparing the best available therapies to an experimental stem cell therapy to treat severe forms of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). At the moment, more than a dozen therapies have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of relapsing forms…
November 5, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD EMA Safety Group Advises Lemtrada Be Limited to ‘Highly Active’ RRMS Patients at Hospitals with ICUs Seven months after starting a safety review of Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), the Pharmacovigilance Risk…
October 22, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Long-term Gilenya Treatment Safe and Effective for Relapsing MS Patients, Phase 3 Trial Shows Long-term treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod) in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) is safe and effective, results from a Phase 3 trial show. Trial findings were reported in the study, “Extended treatment with fingolimod for relapsing multiple sclerosis: the 14-year LONGTERMS study results,” published in…
October 4, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Is Rituximab a Reasonable Option for MS Patients? No, Researcher Says Editorās note: This is the third story in a three-part report examining the question, āIs rituximab a reasonable alternative treatment for MS?ā, which was a topic discussed at this yearās Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). Here, we take an in-depth look…
September 20, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Ahead for Mavenclad: Fuller Understanding of What Makes It ‘Unique,’ Serono Exec Says in Interview Real-world data continues to support the safety and effectiveness ofĀ MavencladĀ (cladribineĀ tablets) in treating multiple sclerosis (MS), and several studies underway will help scientists gain in-depth understanding of how Mavenclad works, its impact on the immune system, and the durability of its benefits, an executive with EMD SeronoĀ said in an…
September 18, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Data Shows Ublituximab’s Long-term Safety in Relapsing MS, TG Therapeutics Announced Ublituximab continues to be safe and well-tolerated by people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) after a median follow-up of 124.7 weeks ā more than 2 years ā according to data from an extension Phase 2 trial. The data were shown in a…
September 17, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Tysabri During Pregnancy and After Delivery Seems Safe, Reduces Relapse Risk, Study Finds Continuing Tysabri (natalizumab) treatment up to week 28 of pregnancy, and restarting soon after birth, reduces the risk of relapses in women with multiple sclerosis and appears to be safe for the mother and the baby, new research suggests. Doriana Landi, MD, PhD, from Italy’s University of…
September 13, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplants Safe and Help Stop Progressive MS, Trial Data Show Transplanting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is safe and can delay disease progression in people with active, progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), according to results from a single-center clinical trial conducted in Israel. Six months after the transplant, a considerable proportion of patients showed no signs of disease activity, compared to…
September 11, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #ECTRIMS2019 – Remyelinating Therapy Liothyronine Well-tolerated by MS Patients, Phase 1b Trial Finds Treatment with a potential remyelinating agent called liothyronine was safe and well-tolerated by people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a Phase 1b trial. Preliminary results also suggested benefits in cognition, motor function, and fatigue. The study, āA Phase 1b, open-label study to evaluate the safety…
August 6, 2019 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Phase 1 Study Finds T20K, Plant Protein-derived Compound for MS, Safe and Tolerable, Cyxone Says A Phase 1 clinical trial foundĀ T20K, Cyxone’s investigational plant protein-derived treatment forĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), to be safe and well-tolerated in healthy men, and raising the possibility that it might work at low doses, the company announced. A next step is to develop an oral formulation for the…