safety

November 28, 2018December 4, 2018

Artificial Intelligence May Help Reduce Dosage of Gadolinium in MRIs, Researchers Suggest

News

Artificial intelligence can help reduce the amount of gadolinium used as a contrast agent in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, preventing the agent’s potential toxicity when ... Read more

November 26, 2018November 29, 2018

FDA Warns of Rare Risk of Severe Worsening in MS Disability After Stopping Gilenya Use

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert, warning that people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) who stop using Gilenya (fingolimod) may experience disease worsening beyond ... Read more

May 31, 2018May 31, 2018

HPV Vaccine Not Seen to Raise Risk of Autoimmune Disease in Canadian Study

News

Girls given the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV4) vaccination, commercialized as Gardasil, showed no increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new ... Read more

May 21, 2018May 21, 2018

Fat-Derived Stem Cells a Potential Safe, Feasible Treatment for Secondary Progressive MS, Trial Shows

News

Fat-derived stem cells are a safe and feasible treatment strategy for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, results from a Phase 1/2 clinical trial show. Findings ... Read more

May 11, 2018May 10, 2018

MS, Walkers, Wheelchairs, and Guns (Part 2)

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

A little over a year ago, in this column, I asked if it was safe for someone with MS to handle a gun. I wondered whether ... Read more

April 27, 2018May 1, 2018

#AAN2018 – Stem Cell Transplant is Effective Treatment for ‘Aggressive’ MS, Study Shows

News

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, also known as aHSCT, has been shown to be safe and highly effective to treat patients with “aggressive” multiple sclerosis. Tested ... Read more

April 13, 2018May 1, 2018

Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis Linked to Lemtrada Use in RRMS Patients, FDA Reports

Lemtrada, News

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is a rare but potentially life-threatening adverse effect linked to treatment with Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to ... Read more

March 28, 2018May 21, 2018

Ocrevus a Year After Approval: Views of Some MS Experts

News, Ocrevus

A year after U.S. regulators approved Genentech’s Ocrevus as the first treatment for both the relapsing and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, a prominent neurologist involved in the ... Read more

March 9, 2018March 9, 2018

NIH Trial Confirms Raxone’s Safety Profile in PPMS, Santhera Reports

News

An exploratory Phase 1/2 clinical trial in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) conducted at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirms the safety profile of Raxone ... Read more

February 15, 2018February 20, 2018

Clinicians Who Prescribe Cannabis Should ‘Start Low and Go Slow,’ Study Advises

News

Use of medicinal cannabis may pose risks as it may trigger psychiatric problems, but also because it lacks standardized chemical composition, according to a study published ... Read more

January 16, 2018January 16, 2018

Long-term Rituxan Treatment Is Effective and Safe in MS, Study Shows

News

The approved lymphoma therapy Rituxan (rituximab) has shown promise as a treatment for  multiple sclerosis. A new study indicates the Genentech treatment is effective and safe ... Read more

January 9, 2018January 11, 2018

American CyroStem Warned by FDA to Stop Using Stem Cell Therapy Without Approval and to Correct Safety Issues

News

American CryoStem has received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing its adipose-derived stem cell product Atcell without required regulatory ... Read more

December 15, 2017December 14, 2017

Using Biotin? It Could Impact Your Lab Results

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Be careful if you’re using high-dose biotin (vitamin B7). The biotin in your blood could lead to some false readings when you have that blood tested. ... Read more

November 6, 2017November 6, 2017

National MS Society, Corrona to Launch Registry Comparing Approved MS Therapies

News

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has officially announced its collaboration with Corrona on the launch of the Corrona Multiple Sclerosis Registry to compare the safety and ... Read more

November 1, 2017November 13, 2017

#MSParis2017 – EVOLVE-MS-1 Interim Trial Data Shows Alkermes Therapy Safe for Treating Relapsing MS

News

Preliminary data from the Phase 3 EVOLVE-MS-1 trial shows that ALKS 8700 — an investigative therapy developed by Alkermes to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis — has a good ... Read more

October 30, 2017October 30, 2017

#MSParis2017 – RADIANCE Trial Data Shows Ozanimod’s Potential Over Interferon Beta-1a for Relapsing MS

News

Celgene‘s investigative drug ozanimod has been shown to be more efficient than an intramuscular injection of interferon beta-1a (marketed as Avonex by Biogen) in reducing relapses and disease ... Read more

October 30, 2017November 4, 2017

#MSParis2017 – GNbAC1 Promotes Restoration of Protective Myelin Coating, Phase 2b Trial Shows

News

GeNeuro‘s humanized antibody GNbAC1 promotes the rejuvenation of the myelin coating that protects nerve cells in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, or RRMS, a Phase 2 clinical trial shows. ... Read more

October 30, 2017October 31, 2017

#MSParis2017 – Ibudilast Slows Loss of Brain Tissue in MS Patients, Phase 2 Trial Shows

News

The Japanese company MediciNova‘s anti-inflammatory agent ibudilast slows multiple sclerosis patients’ brain shrinkage and their loss of the protective myelin coating around nerve cells, a Phase 2 clinical ... Read more

October 27, 2017May 1, 2018

#MSParis2017 – Lemtrada Shows Good Safety and Lasting Efficacy Over 7 Years, Doctor Says in Interview

Lemtrada, News

Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) remains a “game-changer” of a treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), with benefits continuing and no new side effects seen in a study of ... Read more

October 27, 2017October 27, 2017

#MSParis2017 – Phase 3 Trial Data Show Ozanimod Safe, Effective in MS Patients

News

Ozanimod (RPC1063) was seen to lower relapse rates and reduce brain and spinal cord lesions among patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) participating in a Phase ... Read more

October 19, 2017October 20, 2017

#MSParis2017 – TG Therapeutics’ Ublituximab Depletes Harmful B-cells and Lowers MRI Lesions, Trial Shows

News

TG Therapeutics’ ublituximab nearly eradicated a type of immune B-cell believed to be involved in multiple sclerosis, according to a Phase 2 clinical trial. The result was that none ... Read more

October 2, 2017May 1, 2018

Long-term Lemtrada Treatment Benefits Demonstrated in Extension Study

Lemtrada, News

A five-year study demonstrated that Sanofi-Genzyme’s Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) provides long-term benefits for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients, reducing relapse rates and preventing the progression of the disease. Importantly, ... Read more

September 20, 2017September 19, 2017

Data Differences: Better Records, Better Care

Columns, MS in Motion - A Column by Mike Knight

“I’m sorry, these files take forever to copy,” the woman at the registration desk says, breaking the silence that had settled between us while she uploaded ... Read more

September 12, 2017September 13, 2017

Swedish Study Suggests Stem Cell Transplants as Possible Treatment for Aggressive RRMS

News

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplants for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis are superior to currently approved disease-modifying drugs, according to a Swedish study published in the Journal of ... Read more

August 8, 2017August 8, 2017

‘Easy Rider’ Dreams? Say Yes to the Motorcycle

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Reading some social media posts the other day, I found myself humming a line from a late 1960s Arlo Guthrie song: “I don’t want a pickle. ... Read more

July 11, 2017July 14, 2017

Europe Restricts Use of MS Therapy Zinbryta After Liver Damage Cases and a Death

News

The European Medicines Agency has restricted the use of Zinbryta (daclizumab) for relapsing multiple sclerosis after reports of patients experiencing severe liver damage and one dying ... Read more

July 10, 2017July 14, 2017

Experts Call for Tighter Regulation of Stem Cell Therapies in Use at Clinics Worldwide

News

Advertising for stem cell therapies not supported by clinical research — often made directly to patients and sometimes promoted as a “cure” for diseases like multiple ... Read more

May 16, 2017May 16, 2017

Multiple Sclerosis Experts Offer Guidelines on Contraceptive Use Among Women with MS

News

Two studies that recently appeared in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal shed light on how contraceptive use may affect women with MS, as well as how the disease might affect ... Read more

May 12, 2017May 21, 2018

MSAA’s Dr. Jack Burks Responds to Readers’ Questions About Ocrevus and Its Use

News, Ocrevus

Recently approved, Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) should now be available nationwide for patients prescribed the therapy. But as with any new treatment, concerns about safety and practical issues ... Read more

April 27, 2017May 21, 2018

Genentech Highlights Rapid Actions of MS Therapy Ocrevus at AAN Meeting

News, Ocrevus

Within the first two months of treatment, Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) reduced relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by more than half compared to those on Rebif, and ... Read more

April 20, 2017May 21, 2018

AAN Annual Meeting Offers First Ocrevus Data Update Since MS Therapy’s Approval by FDA

Faith of the Mustard Seed - a Column by Debi Wilson, Lemtrada, News, Ocrevus

New data on the recently approved multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) will be presented at the upcoming American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting 2017, ... Read more

April 19, 2017May 21, 2018

Are Ocrevus and Rituxan Similar? Neurologists Respond to Patients’ Concerns

News, Ocrevus, Rituxan

While many multiple sclerosis patients celebrated the recent approval of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), others argued that the drug is largely a rebranded version of rituximab. Rituximab — sold as Rituxan ... Read more

April 4, 2017May 21, 2018

Transcript of Interview with Dr. Robert Lisak, a Neurologist and MS Expert, About Ocrevus

News, Ocrevus

Here is a transcript of the Multiple Sclerosis News Today interview about Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) with Dr. Robert Lisak of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). ... Read more

April 4, 2017May 21, 2018

Ocrevus Holds Promise, But Needs to Prove Itself in ‘Long Term,’ Says Dr. Robert Lisak with CMSC

News, Ocrevus

Interest in  Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), the first FDA-approved treatment for both relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis, is running high among patients and the organization representing them — as, ... Read more

March 20, 2017March 20, 2017

Alkermes Begins Phase 3 Study of ALKS 8700 as Relapsing MS Treatment

News

Alkermes has started a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating ALKS 8700, the oral monomethyl fumarate (MMF) prodrug it is developing for the treatment of relapsing forms of ... Read more

February 27, 2017February 27, 2017

#ACTRIMS2017 – Novantrone Lowers Relapse Rates over Long Term, But Carries Cancer Risk

News

Ten years after completing treatment with Novantrone (mitoxantrone), a chemotherapy drug, multiple sclerosis (MS) patients showed evidence of markedly lower annualized relapse rates, but the therapy’s effects began ... Read more

February 24, 2017May 21, 2018

#ACTRIMS2017 – 3 Trials Show MS Patients Receiving Ocrevus Had No Elevated Infection Risk

News, Ocrevus

A detailed analysis of relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the three Phase 3 trials of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) showed that the treatment did not ... Read more

February 3, 2017February 3, 2017

How MS Patients Judge Their Treatments Differs from Doctors’ Views, Study Reports

News

Considerable differences exist in how multiple sclerosis patients, healthcare providers and insurance companies assess the value of current MS treatments, according to a literature review study ... Read more

August 15, 2016August 15, 2016

New Pre-HSCT Treatment May Make Stem Cell Transplants a Safer Option for MS Patients

News

Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a method for stem cell transplants that may do away with the need for prior systematic treatment with ... Read more

July 15, 2016July 26, 2016

Patients Need To Know What Drugs Do Inside Our Bodies

Columns, What's Important Now -- An MS Column by Ian Franks

Oral therapy Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) seems to be emerging as a first-line treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis – according to Biogen, the company that developed it. ... Read more