October 31, 2005

Breaking News: Tovaxin(TM) Phase IIb Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Trial Protocol Accepted by FDA

"PharmaFrontiers Corp. announced today that the protocol for its Phase IIb clinical trial of Tovaxin(TM), a novel T cell therapeutic vaccine for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), has been accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). PharmaFrontiers is very excited to receive a 'green light' from the FDA for our Phase IIb clinical trial. Our earlier open-label Phase I/II clinical trials not only gave us the safety and tolerability data we sought, but we also observed a trend towards a reduction in annualized relapse rate (ARR) in excess of 90%, the lowering of the myelin-peptide reactive T cells (MRTCs) in patients blood and the improvement in patients' clinical measures," said David B. McWilliams, chief executive officer of PharmaFrontiers."MORE: "Phar"

October 29, 2005

STUDY:Stabilization & effective B-lymphocyte depletion in the cerebrospinal fluid & peripheral blood of a patient with relapsing-remitting MS

Rituximab monotherapy resulted in significant clinical improvement. Inflammatory surrogate markers on magnetic resonance imaging were also reduced. B lymphocytes were depleted in the cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood.MORE: Entrez PubMed

October 28, 2005

Anger at MS drug delays: 150 patients across Ulster have been waiting for MS treatments for up to 18 months.

MORE: Belfast Telegraph

STUDY: Effects of a Cognitive-Behavioral Program for Women With MS

MORE

October 27, 2005

Evidence for an age-dependent relationship between infection with Epstein-Barr virus and onset of multiple sclerosis

MORE

Biogen Idec profits drop 26% -

MORE- The Boston Globe: "Biogen Idec's withdrawal of multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri has forced the company to rely on older drugs to bolster earnings.

Successful Treatment of Stroke Victim Who Received Stem Cell Transplantation Therapy

MORE: "This therapy is similar
to the process of organ transplantation, only the treatment consists of the
transplantation of stem cells into the body rather than entire organs, thus
eliminating any chance of rejection or the need for expensive and
potentially dangerous immunosuppression drug therapy.

These new techniques are being applied to finding a cure for a wide range of human disorders,
including neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Disease, ALS, (also commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease), leukemia, muscular dystrophy, , arthritis, spinal cord injuries, brain injury, stroke, heart disease, liver and retinal disease, diabetes as well as certain types of cancer and can be used to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy."

Multiple Sclerosis Vaccine: Oregon Health & Science University and Portland V.A. Medical Center

WIFR | MORE: "Sue Carlson works up to 12 hours a day helping others feel better. But four years ago, she could barely muster enough energy to work a half day. Multiple sclerosis weakened the entire right side of her body. 'I had to move a body part predominantly with my left side and prop it on pillows or towels or blankets in order to do the work I needed to do,' she says.
But after six months on an experimental vaccine called NeuroVax, her strength came back. 'And it just kept getting better and better and better.'"

FEDS choose Metabolon for multiple sclerosis study - Metabolon to Identify Disease Biomarkers for CDC Multiple Sclerosis Study

MORE : "There is currently no known cause of MS, but evidence indicates
that it is a complex disease resulting from a combination of genetic
susceptibility and environmental factors, such as heavy metals and
toxic chemicals. In this study, blood samples from a group of patients
diagnosed with MS and exposed to environmental factors will be
compared with blood samples taken from a group of healthy subjects
exposed to similar conditions. Metabolon scientists will analyze the
samples to identify disease biomarkers that indicate a metabolic
difference between the two subject groups. Results from this study
could potentially lead to more effective diagnostics and treatments
for the disease."

October 26, 2005

AUDIO: Managing MS with Disease Modifying Agents

CLICK: then enter zip code...click on register to start audio: National Multiple Sclerosis Society Webcast

STUDY: Prominent Perivenular Spaces in Multiple Sclerosis as a Sign of Perivascular Inflammation in Primary Demyelination -- Ge et al. 26 (9)

Summary: In this study, we describe prominent perivenular spaces as a sign that is seen on high-resolution images in patients with multiple sclerosis. The observed widening of perivenular space is depicted as a stringlike hyperintensity projecting radially and aligned with multiple sclerosis lesions (usually small), following the course and configuration of deep venular structures. This widening may be an important sign in differentiating primary (ie, in multiple sclerosis) from secondary causes of demyelination.

MORE-- American Journal of Neuroradiology

October 24, 2005

College Student Faces MS head on

MORE: "Brandon Fischer is proof that a person can indeed be both an optimist and a realist. Fischer has Multiple Sclerosis and understands that his physical abilities could diminish at any time with little warning. But he is also optimistic that a cure is right around the corner"

October 22, 2005

STUDY: MRI as a marker for disease heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis

MORE: Entrez PubMed
: "CONCLUSIONS: The inflammatory activity and destructiveness of the multiple sclerosis process are to some degree independent of each other, and the successive evaluation of both of these variables can strengthen prediction of clinical outcome in individual patients."

October 21, 2005

The latest in robotics to help MS patients work on walking

MORE The AutoAmbulator is a way to help patients who have gait problems -- from multiple sclerosis, a stroke, or a spinal cord injury. The AutoAmbulator combines a treadmill, a suspension system, two robotic arms and a computer......The suspension system keeps the patient in an upright position and governs how much of his weight is on the treadmill. What sets the AutoAmbulator apart are the robotic arms, which move the patient's legs in a normal gait, work that normally would be done by the physical therapist.

Biogen confident on Tysabri - Mullen expects FDA to rule by June 30 on restarting sales

CLICK FOR MORE - The Boston GlobeBiogen Idec Inc.'s chief executive, James C. Mullen, said he expects the Food and Drug Administration to rule by June 30, 2006, on the company's application to restart sales of its multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri. In an interview with Boston Globe editors and reporters, Mullen spoke with confidence about Tysabri's return, at one point speculating about ''when it comes back."

TIPS: Parenting a Child with MS

CLICK HERE FOR TIPS Kids can get MS too and some of those people diagnosed as young adults actually had their initial symptoms much earlier. The majority of youngsters with MS, however, are between the ages of 10 and 17.

October 20, 2005

"Mother is able to walk thanks to a revolutionary stem cell treatment."

icLiverpool - MORETHIS is the moment four-year-old Reece Wilks dreamed of.His mother Jan arrived to walk him home from school for the first time since pioneering treatment meant she could leave her wheelchair at home.The mother-of-two, once crippled by multiple sclerosis, is now able to walk Reece to his classroom door thanks to revolutionary stem cell treatment.

This summer Mrs Wilks, of Stockbridge Lane, Page Moss, had a controversial medical procedure in a private clinic in a last-ditch attempt to keep her MS at bay.

October 19, 2005

Richard Pryor ( a MS patient for many years) Mad over CD Release

The moral of this lawsuit is: Don't mess with Richard Pryor..The ailing 64-year-old funnyman(MS) is bustin' loose with a lawsuit alleging Universal cheated him out of substantial royalties by selling 11 recordings without permissionMORE

October 18, 2005

Study lifts prospects for return of Tysabri

Biogen, Elan say no more cases found of rare brain disease....The news bolstered prospects for Tysabri's return to the market in a limited fashion.MORE - The Boston Globe

HAVE MS? HERE'S A VERY IMPORTANT REASON TO STOP SMOKING TODAY...Harvard Medical

"...people who were current or past smokers were nearly four times more likely to develop secondary progressive MS than patients who never smoked...."MORE

MS PODCAST: PRODUCED BY THE MD HEALTH CHANNEL

"I WAS DEVASTATED AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH MS"...Andrew Kinney

Click to Listen


MP3 File

MS PODCAST: PRODUCED BY THE MD HEALTH CHANNEL

"MS: INTERESTING FACTS YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW"...Andrew Kinney:

Click to Listen


MP3 File

Neurovax works by increasing the number of disease-fighting white blood cells in the immune system

....a new vaccine is showing promise. It's not a cure, it's not even approved yet for widespread use. It has given a few patients, like Sue Carlson, her strength back.KCBD - NewsChannel 11 /...MORE...

October 17, 2005

Dr. Vollmer Recently Presented His Study at the 21st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS in Greece

October 16, 2005

VIDEO: Patient with MS illustrates nystagmus with both horizontal and vertical components

...Click to watch video...

VIDEO: Intension Tremor in this patient is characteristic of cerebellar dysfunction

...Click to watch video...

MS Interactive Tutorial from the National Institutes of Health

click here to view this multimedia presentation

October 15, 2005

A MD HEALTH CHANNEL PODCAST: Heather Johnson has had MS for 2 1/2 years

"The molecule governing myelin production found: New York University School of Medicine"




Click to Listen....Download to your iPOD or any MP3 Player


MP3 File

TIPS FROM A MS PATIENT: A MS NEWS CHANNEL PODCAST

"EXERCISE FOR MS"....Heather Johnson

Click to Listen


MP3 File

Study Shows Increased Multiple Sclerosis Risk in Area of El Paso

MOREResults of a five-year study show that children who grew up in one El Paso neighborhood during the 1940s through 1960s have a twofold increased risk for multiple sclerosis (MS).

VIDEO: 3-D construction of a Multiple Sclerosis Brain Lesion

CLICK HERE...THEN CLICK ON:"Multiple Sclerosis Brain Lesion"

CBS VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH MONTIEL WILLIAMS

CBSNews.com /CLICK HERE

October 14, 2005

How to come to terms with a disappointing diagnosis

Being able to cope with a diagnosis from a doctor is as much about expectation as anything else. In my case, a sense of uneasiness had been haunting me for a long time. But that diagnosis was nonetheless a life-altering event for me. And to some extent, like most people, I went through the five stages of grief theorized by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her 1969 book, "On Death and Dying."...MORE...Scripps Howard News Service

OUR NEW
"MS Book Club"

"Climbing Higher"
by Monteil Williams
(Hardcover)

BUY THIS BOOK FOR ONLY 1-cent...plus postage!
simply click on the: "Best Price $0.01" button below:



Book Description
"Television icon, New York Times bestselling author-and powerful example of the strength to overcome obstacles-Montel Williams reveals his true story of struggle and triumph in this compelling memoir that proves not only a fascinating read, but an inspiration.

In 1999, after almost twenty years of mysterious symptoms that he tried to ignore, Montel Williams, a decorated former Naval intelligence officer and Emmy(r) Award-winning talk show host, was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. What followed was a fierce determination not to be beaten down by MS, and to live the most vital and productive life possible while becoming a dedicated spokesperson and fundraiser for the disease."

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR NEW "MS BOOK CLUB"

October 13, 2005

 

Relationships, Intimacy & Sexuality in MS

World of MS...CLICK FOR ARTICLE AND FREE DOWNLOAD"The material has been written and compiled by health professionals to help people make informed decisions about managing the problems that can occur with relationships, intimacy and sexuality. However, because of the nature of these problems much of the material is necessarily of an adult nature"

 

First-hand accounts of pregnancy with MS...

Kim Strydom, a 31 year old MD who does full time pharmaceutical research, shares her first trimester with us.

I've had a fairly high relapse rate in the year or 2 leading up to the pregnancy - about 3 new symptoms per 12-month period. I had only 1 new (sensory) symptom early on in the pregnancy, around the time I had … a cold. Other "buzzies and tinglies" have been well-behaved, I can't exercise hard enough to trigger muscle fatigue due to "pregnancy-related shortness of breath", so all's well at this stage

CLICK FOR KIM'S STORY

 

Personal Story: A mayor with momentum

"Mayor Joseph Heywang never uses MS as an excuse not to be part of any activity or situation. ... It doesn't stop him from taking his scooter in the Memorial Day parade," said James Lampmann, borough administrator and former councilman. He can't stand for long periods or walk long distances, but he smiles as he picks up the cane resting against a desk."....MORE

October 12, 2005

 

Suicide Risk in MS Double General Population

This study done in Denmark that compared the MS Registry to the Cause of Death Registry found that the risk of suicide in people with MS was twice as high as in the general population. The risk was three times as high in the first year.more...Entrez PubMed

 

"Oral drug shows early trial promise"...MS Society of UK

"It has been shown to halve relapse rates over a 12 month clinical trial"
"Novartis, makers of the drug, which is known as FTY720, also reported that patients who switched from placebo to the treatment after six months of the phase II trial saw their yearly relapse rate reduced by at least 70%. MORE - www.mssociety.org.uk

 

MS is here...but are doctors ready? NO!

"This onset of symptoms can already be treated as MS. But most doctors sometimes diagnose it as other diseases so when the disease has spread to other parts of the nervous system, it is too late to do anything">The Jakarta Post - MORE:

 

Molecule May Drive Multiple Sclerosis-Linked Disorder

HON - News : MORE: "Researchers report that a single molecule called IL-6 is the cause of transverse myelitis (TM), an autoimmune disease in the central nervous system that's related to multiple sclerosis. The study found that levels of IL-6 are dramatically elevated in the spinal fluid of people with TM. The finding may help in the development of treatments for both TM and multiple sclerosis. 'This is the first time a single culprit has been identified as causing a CNS (central nervous system) autoimmune disease,' researcher Dr. Adam Kaplin, a psychiatrist and assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a prepared statement."

October 11, 2005

 

trial of the tolerability of interferon beta-1a (Rebif) administered by autoinjection or manual injection in MS

The decreased incidence of ISRs with the autoinjector compared to manual injection seen in this short-term study, coupled with ease of use of the autoinjector, suggest that it could improve compliance, and therefore therapeutic outcomes in some patients.MORE...Entrez PubMed

October 10, 2005

 

Golfer Drew fights multiple sclerosis

....no magic formula exists in terms of who will someday find themselves sitting in a doctor's office to hear the words, "You have MS. "Heather Drew heard those words 10 years ago.....Golf was sport in which Heather excelled - her talents were so promising that she went to the University of Arizona on a full-ride scholarship to play golf.....MORE

 

Evidence for progressive gray matter loss in patients with relapsing-remitting MS -- Valsasina et al. 65 (7): 1126 -- Neurology

Little is known about the temporal evolution of gray matter damage occurring early in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS). The authors investigated the evolution of gray matter volume loss in 117 patients with relapsing–remitting MS, scanned monthly for a 9-month period. Time-trend analysis revealed a decrease of gray matter volumes over the study period (p < 0.001). This study shows that gray matter damage in relapsing–remitting MS evolves markedly over a short period of observation.

MORE -- Neurology

October 07, 2005

 

Therapy by Phone Helpful When Office Visit Difficult -- Psychiatric News

MORE -- Psychiatric News

 

WSOCTV.com - Health - Multiple Sclerosis And The Wheelchair Raptor

People in wheelchairs often have difficulty reaching for objects or picking up dropped items. Scientists at Applied Resources Corp. have developed a special robotic arm for patients in wheelchairs, called the Raptor. It's mounted directly on a power wheelchair. Depending upon the preference of the user, it can be placed on the right or left side of the wheelchaWSOCTV.com - MORE

 

A disease with no language barrier

MORE - OrlandoSentinel.com: "'This is my mission,' said Cuevas -- an MS patient herself -- explaining why she founded the support group she christened the MS-sketeers"

October 06, 2005

 

A Personal Story of MS:

Tammy Lippert can no longer mount a horse by herself, but with a boost from her husband, Robert, the Clinton couple has continued riding since their first date 21 years ago.....But they've had to make some adjustments. During the past 16 years, Tammy Lippert has lived with multiple sclerosis. Now, she uses rubber bands to secure her numb feet to the stirrups.....Horseback riding is a form of exercise, reaching muscles that usually go unused during daily routines. Caring for the horses is just as therapeutic. "I couldn't stand up for an hour, but I could sit on a horse for an hour," Nelson said Monday. Herald ..MOREt

 

Ms Drug May Raise Risk of Miscarriage..

Pregnant women being treated with beta-interferon, a drug used to fight multiple sclerosis and other diseases, face an increased risk of miscarriage or having a low birthweight baby, according to two new reports. Offspring in the group exposed to interferon also weighed approximately 200 grams less at birth than those born to healthy mothers, the investigators report in the medical journal Neurology. "Women who become pregnant while taking beta interferon should not terminate pregnancy but rather discontinue the drug until delivery," Koren's team advises.MORE..MedlinePlus:

October 05, 2005

 

Multiple Sclerosis Linked to HHV-6A Virus

Dr. Claude Genain of the University of California San Francisco Medical Center presented evidence at the American Neurology Association Annual Meeting this week that shows a direct link between human herpes virus 6 variant A (HHV-6A) and a multiple sclerosis-like illness....A direct link between infection with HHV-6A and multiple sclerosis has been lacking until now...According to Dr. Genain, "For the first time, scientists will be able to look into the biological process leading to multiple sclerosis at its very beginning, when no one suspects the disease and people have not yet experienced its symptoms."MORE

 

Multiple Sclerosis Navigating the Medicare Maze to Treat MS

The new Medicare plan goes into effect next year, making it more complex to pay for multiple sclerosis treatment. How do you navigate the maze to make sure your MS care is covered? Here's what experts have to say.ABCNews - MORE

October 04, 2005

 

Are There Risks of Taking MS Drugs While Pregnant?

For the first time, studies give a glimpse into what the risks of these drugs may be.
If a woman does become pregnant while on therapy, it may not be necessary to seek an abortion for fear that the child will have birth defects.
ABCNews - CLICK FOR MORE

October 03, 2005

 

Most Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Who Continue Therapy Have Reduced Disability, Researchers Report: Presented at ECTRIMS

"Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who continue to take their disease modifying therapy (DMT) up to 5 years appear to put off the progression of disability, researchers reported...In addition, the researchers observed an association between discontinuation of DMT and worsening of the disease.

These findings suggest that most patients with MS who continuing on DMT benefit from their compliance..."CLICK FOR MORE

 

PharmaFrontiers Corp. presented positive interim research findings of its Phase I/II clinical trials of Tovaxin(TM)

The trial results not only indicated that the treatment appeared safe and well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities, but that Tovaxin depletes the myelin-peptide reactive T cells that may contribute to the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease processes.

MORE

 

Viagra Increases Brain Blood Flow in MS Patients and Could Treat Cognitive Impairment Associated With the Disease: Presented at ECTRMS

"Viagra appears to help cerebral blood perfusion and brain activation in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), reported here on September 29th at the 21st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS).

Viagra could become a treatment for the cognitive impairment which affects more than 50% of MS patients,," said investigator and presenter Stephanie Manson, MD, Researcher.

"MS patients have reduced cerebral flow as part of the onset of the disease. This starts at a very early stage of the disease," Dr. Manson said. "We took secondary progressive patients and we gave them one dose of Viagra. We found that it acutely increased their cerebral blood flow, which means that the neurons are getting more oxygen. It is quite dangerous to have a low cerebral blood flow."
"MORE

 

Stretching Exercises Enhance Botox Therapy for Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis: Presented at ECTRIMS

"For MS patients with spasticity, a stretching exercise program for 15 consecutive days following injection of botulinum toxin type-A (Botox) improves adds to the benefits of the injection....."The most important findings are that the botulinum toxin injections are very helpful to [patients with spasticity], and that this efficacy is significantly enhanced by specific stretching exercise physiotherapy following each injection treatment, which are repeated every 3 months." MORE

 

Treatment Costs for Multiple Sclerosis Rising In Sweden: Presented at ECTRIMS

"Costs of treating multiple sclerosis (MS) in Sweden correlate closely to scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and are approximately 18% higher than they were a decade ago, with about half of this increase attributable to inflation, researchers reported here on September 29th at the 21st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS).
"MORE

 

Initial Disability Scores and Progression Rather than Relapses Affect Duration of Interferon Beta 1-a (Avonex) Treatment: Presented at ECTRIMS

"Low scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at the beginning of treatment with interferon beta-1a (Avonex) in multiple sclerosis patients is associated with a longer duration of treatment, according to research presented here on September 29th at the 21st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS).....In addition, said the investigators, treatment failure is mostly due to progression of disability rather than persistence of a high relapse rate....."We found that the discontinuation of treatment is more frequent in patients with baseline higher EDSS scores but there is no significant difference in terms of disability progression with subjects with low baseline EDSS and subjects with high EDSS." MORE

 

Efficacy and Safety of Interferon Beta-1a (Avonex) Appears Unaffected by Gender of Patient: Presented at ECTRIMS

"Treatment of multiple sclerosis with interferon beta-1a (Avonex) is equally efficacious in men and women, with similar safety profiles in both genders, researchers reported here on September 29th at the 21st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS).
"MORE

 

News - Fatigue and Depression, But Not Cognitive Dysfunction, Significantly Reduces Quality-of- Life in Early MS Patients: Presented at ECTRIMS

"Among newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, fatigue and depression significantly affect quality of life, but cognitive dysfunction does not, researchers reported here on September 29th at the 21st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS)....In a third of the subjects fatigue and sensory disturbances were the two symptoms most severely diminishing quality-of-life. Difficulties in walking (17%) was third....."We found that cognitive deficits, although they are present, don't have an impact on quality-of-life. But fatigue and depression have an impact on quality-of-life," ...The authors concluded, "Both cognitive dysfunctions and fatigue are frequently demonstrable in newly diagnosed MS patients. Fatigue and depression, but not cognition, have negative consequences for quality of life already at time of diagnosis. Mild cognitive impairment at time of diagnosis could be a reason for the missing association between cognition and quality of life. On the other hand, the impairment often affects only one cognitive function, so the other functions can compensate deficits in daily demands." MORE

 

Copaxone Safe For Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis: Presented at ECTRIMS

"Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) treatment of children with multiple sclerosis is safe, with a safety profile similar to that found among adults, researchers reported here on September 29th at the 21st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS).
"CLICK FOR MORE

 

Stem cell hope for spinal injuries

Scientists in the U.S. have successfully used neural stem cells to regenerate damaged spinal cord tissue in mice, raising hopes that the technique could be used to treat disabilities caused by spinal cord injuries and human neurological disorders.

Within just nine days the mice showed marked improvement in their walking ability, according to the results of the study published in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.....The transplanted stem cells developed into cells that restored myelin, a fatty layer that insulates nerve fibres and is crucial for maintaining electrical conduction in the central nervous system. The cells also formed new neurons that created synaptic connections with the mouse neurons...."We were excited to find that the cells responded to the damage by making appropriate new cells that could assist in the repair. This study supports the possibility that formation of new myelin and new neurons may contribute to recovery." CNN.com -MORE

October 02, 2005

 

Patients' Multiple Sclerosis Lesion Type Dictates Effective Treatment

A Mayo Clinic study demonstrates that only those multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with evidence for antibody deposition or complement activation -- immune cells that can cause tissue destruction -- in their lesions are likely to respond to plasma exchange, a treatment for acute MS attacks....This is the first evidence that differences in pathological subtypes of MS may predict response to treatment. The findings will be published in the Aug. 13 issue of The Lancet..."The new findings may partly explain why some patients respond to a particular treatment and others do not," says Claudia Lucchinetti, MD, Mayo Clinic neurologist and the paper's senior and corresponding author. "Thus, MS treatments may need to be more individualized and tailored for different types of patients." MORE

 

Long-term Use Copaxone for MS Appears Safe and Efficacious: Presented at ECTRIMS

Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who used glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) for up to 26 years show sustained efficacy and safety of treatment, researchers reported here. "These were patients in the 'compassionate use' program for this drug before any multiple sclerosis drugs were approved," said investigator Rivka Riven Kreitman, MD, Vice-president for Research and Development, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Netanya, Israel...."These patients have been very stable on Copaxone [GA] for the long term, and have had very few relapses," he explained. "We saw very few safety issues and very good efficacy." MORE

 

Multiple Sclerosis Quality-of-Life Principles Set Forth Internationally: Presented at ECTRIMS

Leaders in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its treatment have developed a set of international principles to promote the quality of life of people with the disease. The project leaders categorized the principles into 10 areas: (1) Independence and Empowerment (2) Medical Care (3) Continuing (Long-Term or Social) Care (4) Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (5) Support for Family Members (6) Transportation (7) Employment (8) Disability Benefits and Cash Assistance (9) Education (10) Housing and Accessibility of Buildings in the Community.
{MORE

October 01, 2005

 

Novartis MS drug shows promising results: ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS meeting in Thessalonica, Greece

Data from the extension of a Phase II study to 12 months confirm the significant effects of FTY720, a novel oral medication, for the treatment of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS)....The data, presented at the ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS meeting in Thessalonica, Greece, showed that both patient groups taking FTY720 (1.25 mg and 5 mg) who had experienced a reduction in their annualized relapse rate of more than 50% during the first six months of the study compared to placebo maintained this low relapse rate during the subsequent six-month extension....Based on the positive Phase II study results, Novartis is in discussions with regulatory authorities about the FTY720 Phase III program, which is expected to be launched by the end of 2005.MORE

 

Definitive gene screen confirms MS suspects

A cluster of genes on chromosome six is the only one that plays a significant role in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to the most complete genetic study to date in the disorder, presented at the 130th annual meeting of the American Neurological Association in San Diego.
"Our results confirm the strong role of the major histocompatibility complex genes in MS, and provides a definitive statement that no other region of the genome harbors a gene with a similar overall influence on MS genetics," said Jonathan Haines, Ph.D, of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, who presented on behalf of the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium."

This abstract describes the results of what we would consider to be the definitive multiple sclerosis linkage screen. The power of the study is so great that it is virtually certain that all susceptibility loci with effects large enough to be detectable by linkage have been found. The value of a definitive reliable linkage map cannot be overemphasized. The results from this study have profound implications for the future study of the genetics of this complex disorder and enable accurate minimum requirements to be determined for future studies. This is clearly a critical development in the field. {CLICK FOR MORE}

 

Mapping gene activity in complex disorders: Integration of expression and genomic scans for multiple sclerosis.

Scientists studying MS are making greater use of data-intensive techniques such as genome-wide screens that use thousands of markers and microarray studies that analyze the expression of thousands of genes. While the results of one study can provide interesting information, combining the results of multiple similar studies in a meta-analysis can be even more valuable, providing greater statistical power to find associations and potentially helping to distinguish true positives from false ones.

MS researchers at UCSF recently took this approach a step further in an analysis that combined the results of several gene expression studies with the results of several genome-wide screens. A total of 55 studies were included in the analysis, which revealed new information about how genes that are differentially expressed in MS are clustered in the genome. The study also found areas in the genome where these expression-based gene clusters overlap regions thought to contain MS susceptibility genes. These areas of overlap may be good places to examine more closely in future MS genetic studies.Entrez PubMed