Teva Ends Work on Oral Copaxone: "Additionally, Teva is involved in MS pill research thanks to its recent acquisition of Ivax,. The Ivax-Serono product, called Mylinax, is a pill version of injectable cladribine, which treats a form of leukemia. 'Previous clinical trials had demonstrated the positive effect of injectable cladribine in patients with multiple sclerosis as well as a dramatic reduction in new lesion development,' Teva says. Last year, Serono commenced a two-year clinical trial of Mylinax involving 1200 MS patients.

Tysabri poised for return to market : "Competition looming
It remains to be seen how Tysabri will fare in terms of sales when it is back on the market. Schering Ag Adr's Betaferon/Betaseron (interferon beta- 1b), Teva Neuroscience's Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), Serono S.A's Novantrone (mitoxantrone hydrochloride) and Serono/Pfizer's Rebif (r-IFN-B1a) loom as Tysabri's main competitors, while Serono's Mylinax (cladribine) (expected to file for regulatory approval in 2008) and Autolmmune Inc's MBP8298 are two drugs in Phase III trials that are also expected to be in competition with Tysabri

"Researchers have found that in the northern hemisphere, being born in May has been tied to an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis later in life,
:"being born in November carries the lowest risk.Researchers published their findings on bmj.com and suspect that complex interactions between genes and the environment before or shortly after birth may help to explain this link."

"Multiple sclerosis patient Suzann Paul faces paying $1,300 per month for Betaseron if she changes to the Medicare Part D.":

Marathon — Running while pulling a tire is no drag — she routinely bears a training weight no less onerous than any tire — multiple sclerosiss

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Delivered By Telephone Reduced Depression in MS With Functional Impairment
"CONCLUSION: In patients with multiple sclerosis who have functional impairment and received telephone-delivered psychotherapy for depression, cognitive behavioral therapy was more effective than supportive emotion-focused therapy at 16 weeks. Source of funding: National Institute of Mental Health."

Pharmacopeia today announced that the company has discovered a new class of compounds that target a novel kinase involved in metabolic diseases.:
" Building on this achievement, the series will progress into the next phase, focused on compound optimization and advancement of the program towards development"

Doctors in MS Stem Cell Case Probed
"MS patients are handing over EUR18,000 for three hoursof stem-cell treatment in a bid to get relief. Now the Irish Medicines Board is investigating a clinic offering the controversial therapy for MS. A Department of Health spokesman said the use of stem-cell therapy in the treatment of MS is not licensed in Ireland."

Why You Should Get On and Stay On MS Drug Therapy!

MEDICARE: "urgent message for Dual Eligibles (people who have Medicaid and Medicare) who also have retiree coverage with a former employer/union, for themselves or for a spouse or other dependent"...Fax Transmittal: MS Society

High rate of MS in Cleveland remains a mystery : "Ohio has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in
the nation, and that remains a mystery. One in 1,000 people in Ohio have been diagnosed. This is one of the highest incidence rates of any disease, but we donot know why. What we do know is that the further one gets from the equator by latitude, the higher the prevalence."

Biogen Idec, Elan resume Tysabri trials
"Biogen Idec and Elan Corp. said they have resumed Tysabri trials and dosed the first patients in the monotherapy safety extension study program for MS."

How Many Americans Have MS? No One Knows With Absolute Certainty

MS drug works in surprise way. It is already prescribed to prevent rejection of organ transplants.
"The The drug could also be used to treat cancers and autoimmune disorders, which include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and some thyroid diseases. Daclizumab is now in phase-2 trials as an MS treatment in Europe and the United States"

"Mononucleosis increases risk of MS": "Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), resulting in infectious mononucleosis, which primarily effects adolescents and young adults, more than doubles the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life, results of a large review of studies suggest."

PERSEVERANCE:HEROS- Woman manages MS by staying positive, taking medication, walking for a cure

MS: Diagnosis and Management Strategies-"From Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing eJournal"
Classification of MS, Symptoms of MS, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Breaking the News, Disease Management,A Comprehensive Approach to Care

The Clinical Importance of NAbs in Relapsing-Remitting MS.

MS By the Numbers: New Initiatives May Provide Clues to its Cause
The National MS Society estimates that some 400,000 Americans have MS. The NIH estimates 250,000 to 350,000, while others suggest there are many more. Why is it difficult to be certain how many people have MS? More importantly, why do we need to know?

Inside an MRI machine at Columbia University...[CLICK]

New insights into how anti-rejection drug daclizumab helps MS patients
"'Not only did the number of regulatory natural killer cells increase in patients treated with daclizumab, but that expansion correlated with the treatment outcome--the more these cells expanded, the better the MS patients did during the trial. And the longer the patients were on the therapy, the more regulatory natural killer cells they had and the better they responded to treatment.'

"Biogen regaining jobs since Tysabri layoffs":

"The Immune Response forms Scientific Advisory Board to provide scientific and clinical direction in its development of NeuroVax-for the treatment of MS. - Forbes.com:

New UK MS Society Assistance card

Live webcast: Let's Talk About Sex
Thursday, March 30

TRANSCRIPT: Protecting and repairing the nervous system
"As part of the MS Awareness Week, the NMSS has a different webcast each day. Monday's webcast was with Dr Peter Calabresi on repairing damage and protecting the nervous system. Existing drugs are being examined to protect the nervous system

LiveScience.com - Sick and Disabled Don't Wallow, Study Shows:
"People with severe illnesses and disabilities don't wallow in misery as much as conventional wisdom might suggest, according to a new study. In fact, they may be as happy as the healthy.

The ill and disabled adapt to their condition and show a resilience of spirit that many healthy people can't imagine, researchers said today."

The reproductive effects of beta interferon therapy in pregnancy: a longitudinal cohort
CONCLUSIONS: Beta interferon therapy in the first trimester of pregnancy appears to be associated with an increased risk for fetal loss and low birth weight.

Israeli Researchers: Trials Are On for New MS Treatment :
"The new treatment uses the bodys own cells as a vaccine against autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), according to Professor Irun R. Cohen of the Weizmann Institute who invented the treatment and is leading the study."

Biotech company reports discovery of new gene involved in MS
Although the gene and some of its functions are already known, this is the first evidence of involvement with the disease state of MS. The research also provides evidence that RPI-78M modulates the expression of this gene in laboratory assays. RPI-78M is the lead drug candidate of Nutra Pharma's holding, ReceptoPharm, Inc. and is being studied in preclinical assays for its efficacy in treating MS.

Hopes raised for MS drug

MS HEROS: Experience spurs anti-MS campaign

PharmaFrontiers to Present Data on Adult Human T-Cell and Stem Cell Technologies at the International Society for Cellular Therapy Annual Meeting

"FREE MS KIDS CAMP for children ages 7-12 who have multiple sclerosis. Sponsored by National Multiple Sclerosis Society":good idea

"MS is in India but are doctors ready?"

HERO Stories: "Dianna Ordway had a turning point in life when she was diagnosed with MS at 36. Instead of becoming depressed, Ordway said she decided to go back to school.":

MS support group works to ‘do a world of good'

Hero Stories: "Life with MS"

"Avoid donation scams with some research...Take the new Coffey M.S. Foundation, for example..."

! Many players on the field...Hailed MS drug Tysabri is in FDA limbo, but researchers continue to attack the disease from all angles- Los Angeles Times
"There's a whole pipeline of drugs coming down," says Dr. Elliot Frohman, a neurologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas...."

GENERAL LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH MS - UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER: CLICK TO READ MORE

Clinic help put face on MS: When Jennifer Hauxhurst received confirmation she had MS, she wept - but she also was relieved..."

"Dear Mayo Clinic: What do you think of low-dose naltrexone and NeuroVax?"Wonder drugs don’t exist for MS; stick with proven options".....MORE:

MS Heroes: Meeting MS with hope and a smile
Support group members share problems and a positive attitude

Journal Of Clinical Investigation Findings: Clarifying controversy in MS

Los Folletos: Que es la Esclerosis Multiple?

The effect of cannabis on urge incontinence in patients with MS: a multicentre, randomised placebo-controlled trial (CAMS-LUTS) - PubMed

"Conclusion: The findings are suggestive of a clinical effect of cannabis on incontinence episodes in patients with MS. This is in contrast to the negative finding of the CAMS study, where no difference was seen in the primary outcome of spasticity."

Interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha: model of immunomodulation in MS - PubMed

"Osteoporosis in long-term care residents with MS"
:

Protein co-expression with axonal injury in MS plaques

Epidemiology of disease risks in relation to vitamin D insufficiency

Increased axonal mitochondrial activity as an adaptation to myelin deficiency in the Shiverer mouse PubMed

The effects of gabapentin and memantine in acquired and congenital nystagmus - A retrospective study PubMed

Induction and blockage of oligodendrogenesis by differently activated microglia in an animal model of MS- PubMed

A randomized study of two interferon-beta treatments in relapsing-remitting MS...National Institute of Health

"Mary is a typical north suburban mom - But hidden in her bedroom is a stash of marijuana and, most nights before bed, Mary smokes it" [photos/story]:

'Life goes on' for MS patients-Patients, friends and families combine to fight against disease

"The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute is establishing a Neuroinflammation Research Center to study inflammations role in neurological disorders including MS":

VIDEO: Living With MS Today

Merck Withdraws After Bayer Tops Bid for Schering - New York Times:
"The drug and chemical giant Bayer looked set to win the drug maker Schering for 16.3 billion euros ($19.6 billion) on Friday after a rival, Merck of Germany, pulled out of the bidding."

"Have Congress & the President Given Up on Biomedical Research?"...National MS Society | Federal Focus on Advocacy
"2006 Political Outlook:WARNING: The NIH Budget is Un-doubling"

Study Suggests Cymbalta Significantly Reduces Core Anxiety Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder ....Patients Taking Cymbalta Also Reported Reduced Painful Physical Symptoms and Improved Functioning

MS PATIENT VIDEO: FEAR OF THE FUTURE HELD ME BACK!...THEN I LET GO OF THE FEAR!!! [CLICK HERE TO VIEW]

One of the chief instigators of multiple sclerosis (MS) has a split personality. Immune cells known as microglia usually protect the nervous system, but when things go wrong, they strip neurons of myelin--their protective coating--leading to muscle spasms and memory difficulties. Now researchers have uncovered new clues into what turns these cellular Dr. Jekylls into Mr. Hydes....[MORE: Michal Schwartz: Professor of Neuroimmunology
The Maurice and Ilse Katz Professorial Chair in Neuroimmunology]

Frat presents $12,500 to MS society

Bayer Plans to Cut 6,000 Jobs After Schering Purchase (Update1)

"An Olympic medalist from West Texas hopes to help the National MS Society jump to higher levels.":

Rhode Island follows through on medical marijuana: Becomes the 11th state to legalize medical marijuana — and the first to do so since the US Supreme Court ruled last June in Gonzales v. Raich that the federal government can prosecute sick people who use the drug to ease their discomfort

Good news for Teva/Copaxone: FDA delays Tysabri return

Bayer to bid $19.7B for Schering; trumps German Merck's bid

The Ongoing Battle to Legalize Medical Marijuana

Questions over accuracy of MRI in diagnosing MS: "The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not sufficient to rule in or rule out a diagnosis of MS with a high degree of certainty, finds a study published online by the British Medical Journal "

Inns open doors for free to those with MS...If you or a partner suffer from the debilitating disease, from May 7-11 you can stay two nights free while attending a variety of educational workshops and social events hosted by the Inn at Jackson, the event's creator. Don and Joyce Bilger created "MS Week" after Joyce discovered she was one of the 400,000 people in the USA that suffers from MS,

In Recognition of MS Caregivers

MS: Diagnosis and Management Strategies....From "Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing eJournal"

"Thomas Beasley is back i one more time to try and reach his goal. He has been biking across America for 15 years raising money forMS. His goal is $100,000 and he is only $1,425 short.":

Neutralizing antibodies and efficacy of interferon beta-1a: a 4-year controlled study

Hamster Study Shows Nanofibers Knit Severed Neurons Together, Restore Vision

Imaging brain damage in first-degree relatives of sporadic and familial multiple sclerosis
"This study looked at MRIs of first-degree relatives of people with MS and found that 10% of relatives with familial MS and 4% of relatives with non-familial MS showed findings similar to MS, but without symptoms."

Treatment with laquinimod reduces development of active MRI lesions in relapsing MS"In a 200 person study, laquinimod was found to reduce lesions by 40-50% in people with MS. "

TYSABRI: Delay on Drug Decision - New York Times

"A CERAMIC egg painted by JK Rowling is to be auctioned in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Society"

A VERY PERSONAL STORY: to contemplate Hope and Beauty.

Verdict on MS drug's sale delayed until June - Boston Globe

PharmaFrontiers to Present Tovaxin(TM) Research at Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers' Annual Meeting

Dow Jones & Company, Inc.: 2ND UPDATE: FDA To Extend Tysabri Review By Up To 90 Days

FDA Will Extend Regulatory Review Period for the Reintroduction of TYSABRIBiogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) and Elan Corporation, plc. (NYSE: ELN) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed the companies that the Agency will extend its regulatory review of TYSABRI(R) (natalizumab) as a treatment for multiple sclerosis by up to 90 days.

The companies have been informed by the FDA that the Agency requires additional time to review information regarding the TYSABRI risk management plan. Under this revised timeline, the companies anticipate action from FDA on or before June 28, 2006.

Massage Helping To Ease MS Symptoms

Athena Diagnostics sold for $283M

Fighting the good fight

Electrical Impulses Foster Insulation of Brain Cells, Speeding Communications, - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

MS Heros: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY...Billy Talent Drummer Living With MSAaron says that he feels "stronger both mentally and physically" then ever

11-year-old raises nearly $1,000 for MS

A Rare Takeover Attempt in Germany's Drug Industry - New York Times

Teva...the maker of the popular MS treatment Copaxone Ends Work on Oral Copaxone
Teva received discouraging results earlier this month from two midstage clinical trials, prompting the company and its partner, H. Lundbeck of Denmark, to halt development of a coated pill for MS."

Anti-inflammatory compositions for treating MS...United States Patent Application 2006/0013905

European Journal of Human Genetics - MS: Light at the end of the tunnel

MS Heros: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY... Kate Ouellette to head walk for hope

New 'Stars' In Formation Of Nerve Cell Insulation:"Astrocytes Promote Myelination in Response to Electrical Impulses"
The insulating myelin sheath enwrapping the cable-like axons of nerve cells is the major target of attack of the immune system in multiple sclerosis. Such attack causes neural short-circuits that give rise to the muscle weakness, loss of coordination, and speech and visual loss in the disease.

Now, Douglas Fields of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and his colleagues have reported in the March 16, 2006, issue of Neuron that supporting cells called astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) promote myelination by releasing an immune system molecule that triggers myelin-forming cells to action. The finding, they say, "may offer new approaches to treating demyelinating diseases."

MS Heros: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY - "Two years ago, Dustin Brotherson was an aspiring physician and active weightlifter with a stressful job in the emergency room":

A Tale of Two Advanced practice nurses [APNs]: Addressing Blurred Practice Boundaries

MS Patient Wants To Make A Difference

Spouses help cope with disease
"'I'm very fortunate because I have an extremely good support group - my family, my husband,' Sandy Taylor of Tilton said.
"

LONDON (Reuters) - Differences between a cell signaling protein in humans and animals may explain the unexpected severe reaction in six young men given a new drug in a clinical trial in Britain, an expert said on Sunday. The previously healthy men were the first humans to receive the drug

Disgraced S. Korean stem cell Hwang scientist fireda>

FACE OF MS: The Stories of Others With MS

MS Heros: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY... David Krolick serves as a active reminder that living with MS isn't the end of an dynamic, successful life. "There's a lot about having something like this that can be really positive," Krolick said after his Thursday night match.

Genentech Boosts Earnings Forecast; Shares Rise - Los Angeles Times"Rituxan: The non-Hodgkin's lymphoma drug Rituxan, which recently won approval for rheumatoid arthritis, will also be studied in lupus, multiple sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes."

Clinical testing under scrutiny after London drug calamity...The drug involved in the London accident, TGN 1412, has been under development since 2000 for immunological diseases such as MS, rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers": "

Sativex: cannabis-based medicine...PRESS RELEASE: Preliminary Results from Sativex Phase III MS spasticity study

MORE PHOTOS...JK Rowling made a rare public appearance when she hosted the ball on behalf of the MS Society..Ms Rowling has said that the loss of her young mother to MS in 1990 inspired her to make Harry Potter an orphan

"Schering AG Chief Executive Officer
Hubertus Erlen, battling a 14.6 billion-euro ($17.6 billion)
takeover by family-owned Merck KGaA, may make acquisitions to
try to thwart the unsolicited offer.":

Study shows potential of Pfizers Lipitor in MS - Pharmaceutical Business Review: "A pre-clinical study has suggested that Pfizer's cholesterol lowering drug Lipitor could prove an effective therapy for preventing the progression of, and reversing the severity of, multiple sclerosis"

UCSF News Office - New evidence suggests statins could
prove useful in treating MS...Stanford University Medical Center News Release: "Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco and Stanford University Medical Center are reporting compelling new evidence that the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin could prove an effective therapy for preventing the progression of, and reversing the severity of MS."

VolunteerMatch and the National MS Society Partner to Engage Volunteers in the Fight Against MS

Dog to begin training to assist with woman's MS

Glucosamine, touted for joint problems, may also provide some relief to individuals with MS (MS)

Autoreactive CD8 may be a new target for MS

Determination of Regulatory Review Period for Purposes of Patent Extension; TYSABR...[FEDERAL REGISTER]

Judge Orders Biogen to Turn Over MRIs in Tysabri Case

A Statin Improves Performance of MS Drug..Dual therapy reduced inflammation, eliminated paralysis in mice, study finds

FREE: On-line Creative Writing Workshop...The National MS Society, New York City Chapter.."available to everyone" : "Whether you've been writing most of your life, have always dreamed of writing your memoirs, poetry or the great American novel, these online workshops are structured to make the process easy...Selected works may be published in MS Society publications."

TIPS: What causes MS? [Harvard Medical School]

PATIENT STORIES: Teacher's videotaped oral histories

'Walking for Wanda' sets big goal

: "Fisher Scientific International Inc. (NYSE: FSH)
announced two transactions that will significantly enhance its
capabilities in molecular diagnostics...MS"

TIPS: Coping with MS: "As diseases go, multiple sclerosis, or MS, would be right up Forrest Gump's alley. Symptom-wise, you just never know what you're going to get.."

VIDEO: "Schering Hires Morgan Stanley for Takeover Defense":

UK... "MAb Causes Reactions In Phase 1; Six In Hospital":

Cycling the country for a cause: Thomas Beasley has raised nearly $100,000 to fight MS

Program eases financial burdens for MS patients

MBP8298 to be tested in second major MS patient population

Experimental option offers hope for MS victim

Pair striving to cope with MS

My workout Yoga, horseback riding eases her MS

STUDY: Allergy, histamine 1 receptor blockers, and the risk of MS: "CONCLUSION: These results do not support a strong link between allergic conditions and multiple sclerosis (MS) risk but suggest a possible beneficial effect of antihistamines on the onset of MS"

VIDEO: "Health Anchor Monica Robins reports on why Cleveland Clinic researchers are studying MS in children":

Mothers With MS...CBS VIDEO: "Years ago, women with M.S. were told to avoid pregnancy, but not anymore.33-year-old Andrea Tyszka is a proud new mother. Along with the ordinary challenges of raising her new born, Christopher, Andrea is dealing with a challenge of her own.She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just two years ago...."

Betaferon...."Shares of drugmaker Schering AG soared more than 25 percent Monday as markets seemed to believe another bid could exceed Merck KGaA's $17.7 billion offer for the company. :
Investors sent the company's stock up to close at $100.27, suggesting Merck may have to raise its offer of $91.77 per share or face a competing bid for the maker of Betaferon, a treatment for multiple sclerosis"

BioMS Plans Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Trial : "today announced that it is expanding the clinical development program for its lead drug candidate MBP8298. The drug is currently undergoing an international pivotal phase II/III clinical trial with secondary progressive MS patients (SPMS). BioMS now plans to initiate a clinical trial for MBP8298 in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients in the second half of 2006.

Molecule is designed to treat multiple sclerosis
: "Gemacbio has announced the successful conclusion of a Phase IIa clinical trial on patients suffering from MS."

Three Siblings are affected by disease their father also had: MS

Merck KGaA of Germany made an unsolicited 14.9 billion-euro ($17.8 billion) cash offer for
Schering AG

"St. Joseph's is constructing a new patient care tower which will expand the hospital's capacity by 25 percent and allow us to meet the healthcare needs of our growing community."

On March 19, 2006, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center will celebrate its 111th anniversary by dedicating the new Barrow Patient Care Tower. The 430,000-square-foot building is currently under construction on the southwest corner of Third Avenue and Earll Drive. When completed, it will house:

• 144 new patient beds (all of which will be devoted to acute or intensive care)
• 48 new emergency beds
• Six trauma bays
• 11 operating rooms
• Three MRIs (one surgical)

When the new tower opens, St. Joseph's will have approximately 724 patient beds, making it the largest hospital in Arizona.The new building is part of a $203-million expansion and improvement project that also includes renovating a portion of the hospital's existing 1.6 million square feet of patient-care space.

St. Joseph's will expand its Research labs and its Neuro-Rehabilitation Department, increasing the number of Neuro-Rehab beds from 38 to 53. This project is expected to be completed in spring 2006.
MORE

Slide show: Balance exercises improve stability, help prevent falls - MayoClinic.com

Return to market of Tysabri would mark rare moveA promising drug for multiple sclerosis should be returned to the market despite questions about a rare brain disease, scientific advisers told the government Wednesday – even as they continued to grapple with just who should be allowed to use it.
The unanimous vote by advisers to the Food and Drug Administration came amid regulators' own concerns about the drug Tysabri, and whether there is any way to minimize risk from the apparent rare side effect.

Serono in turmoil as Glaxo quits bid
>> "THE $15bn sale of Serono was this weekend plunged into turmoil with a decision by GlaxoSmithKline to abandon talks to buy the Swiss group".
Serono’s hopes of a sale faded further late last week after it became clear that the group’s lead product would soon face increased competition. Rebif, its key multiple sclerosis treatment, will be forced to fight for market leadership with Elan Corporation’s Tysabri.

[personal story] "Turning an affliction into a conviction":

[UK] EU to rule on Tysabri approval

MS PATIENT WRITES NEW BOOK...FORMER BODYBUILDER...[MORE]: "Burke's Law: A New Fitness Paradigm for the Mature Male" (Trafford; $40)...But the most therapeutic element of all may be exercise.'If I don't work out I feel my strength going away quickly,' he said. 'I would be in a wheelchair if I didn't continue to train.'"

!!!!!..There is new hope for MS patients. Right now there's no drug targeted to stop the memory loss many patients with MS have. But as Dr. Dean Edell reports, a drug used for Alzheimer's may help. "[ ABC news: click]: "A common Alzheimer's drug is being used for patients with a different disease. Dr. Dean Edell reports.

WEBCAST SERIES: Six Great Minds Changing the Face of MS...[MORE]: "National MS Society is introducing, through a special webcast series, six great minds in MS research who are changing the face of the disease. Tune in each day during MS Awareness Week to learn how we are getting closer to the cure %u2013 one face at a time"

"PharmaFrontiers, a U.S. pharmaceutical, is ready to begin testing custom-made vaccine it claims helps slow the progress of MS":

VIDEO: Children and Multiple Sclerosis...New cases of MS in children and young adults are at an all-time high....[ABC News...CLICK]

VIDEO: .Primer on Multiple Sclerosis....What is MS, and how can it be treated? ABC News...[CLICK]

Neurocrine abandons development of multiple sclerosis therapy - More: "Following the failure of its altered peptide ligand technology for multiple sclerosis to meet its primary efficacy endpoint in a phase II trial, Neurocrine Biosciences has decided to discontinue development of the program."

Elan Shares Jump After US FDA Panel Backs Tysabri-MORE
"Tysabri may have sales of more than $1 billion a year, stealing revenue from rival products such as Rebif and Betaseron...if used for the wider group of patients the panel recommended, instead of about $300 million if use of the drug were to be more restricted"

TYSABRI: "On the strength of the FDA decision, Deutsche Bank raised its target price for Biogen Idec from $38 a share to $63, a 40% premium over its current price.":

Multiple sclerosis research into reparative cells offers new avenue for fighting disease..[MORE

Federal agency sues Hooters over waitress with MS....CBS...[CLICK]: "The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit claims Hooters discriminated against Melissa Vicari by not scheduling her for shifts she was able to work."

F.D.A. Panel Recommends M.S. Drug Despite Lethal Risk -READ MORE
New York Times: "The committee voted 7 to 5 that the drug could be used as an initial therapy, rather than only after one or more other drugs had been tried without success. All patients getting the drug will be entered in a registry. They and their doctors will have to sign forms acknowledging the risk. Biogen had proposed making the registry voluntary but the F.D.A. staff objected. Drugs will be distributed directly to authorized infusion centers. Before each monthly infusion a nurse will go through a checklist with patients to make sure they have no new symptoms that could indicate P.M.L. Some panel members said they thought patients might cover up symptoms to keep getting Tysabri."

JOIN A MS TRIAL AT BARROW...CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

"TIPS FROM THE CLEVELAND CLINIC: Exercise and MS....[CLICK]"Exercise can help ease the symptoms of MS, but it's important to take certain precautions if you want your exercise program to be successful. The most important thing to remember is to not overdo it.

You might have heard the mottos "stretch till it hurts" or "feel the burn," but those approaches are counterproductive for people with MS. If you overdo it, you can end up straining an already compromised muscular system, increasing pain, and causing your body and mind to become overstressed, overworked, and overtired....(more)"

"BioMS Medicals multiple sclerosis drug delays disease by five years"...[CLICK]
Pharmaceutical Business Review: "Follow-up from a phase II clinical study has shown that BioMS Medical's proprietary drug candidate MBP8298 delayed disease progression for five years in progressive multiple sclerosis patients with HLA-DR2 or HLA-DR4 immune response genes."

765 PHOTOS.... 2005 MS WALK ON THE WILD SIDE AT THE ZOO...[CLICK TO VIEW]

UK: Personalized vaccine to counter MS approved for trials on patients...Treatment uses immune system to fight disorder

Genentech and Biogen Legal Troubles - When It Rains It Pours

The Tysabri Game Plan -READ MORE: "Some analysts, such as Deborah Knobelman of Piper Jaffray expect the FDA to approve a re-entry of Tysabri but with significant restrictions. Her firm's recent survey of 140 neurologists revealed that doctors continue to be wary of safety risks: More than three-quarters of the neurologists polled said they would prescribe the drug--but to just 10% of their patients.Still, with a hefty price tag of about $23,500 for one year of treatment, even 10% of multiple sclerosis patients translates roughly to 34,000 patients in the U.S., according to Piper Jaffray. This bodes well for Elan, since it needs about 20,000 patients on Tysabri to stay out of the red, said Chief Financial Officer Shane Cooke in January during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call.

And while the FDA usually follows the advice of advisory committees, it's not always a slam-dunk. This was seen after an advisory panel's February 2005 blessing of painkillers Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx, a class of drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors.

Two months after the committee said the drugs should be made available despite increased risks of heart attacks, the FDA banned Pfizer's (nyse: PFE - news - people ) Bextra and placed its strongest warning label on the company's other drug, Celebrex, while Merck's (nyse: MRK - news - people ) hopes for a Vioxx return were dashed."

FDA Advisers Endorse Return of Multiple Sclerosis Drug -READ MORE
Forbes.com

Esclerosis Multiple (EM)

10:30a.m. TODAY: "Shares in Swiss biotech firm Serono slipped to a 4-month low on Wednesday, under pressure ahead of a decision by U.S. regulators on whether to back the relaunch of a MS drug Tysabri...made by rivals.":

3/8/06-9;08 a.m.-CNN.com - "Only one prescription drug has ever been returned to the market after being pulled because of dangerous side effects. Tysabri, a promising multiple sclerosis drug, could become the second. [click for more]":

"Federal health advisers are reviewing studies about Tysabri's risks and benefits, along with testimony from multiple sclerosis patients who tearfully pleaded for the drug's return.

Tysabri has been linked to a potentially fatal brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or PML. The drug's manufacturers voluntarily pulled it from the market last year, following the deaths of two patients. The drug had been sold for just four months.

Dozens of multiple sclerosis patients told a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee Tuesday that they should be allowed to choose whether to take Tysabri.

"I am at the end of my road, in terms of what I can take. I want it to be my choice," said Barbara Crooks, 48, shortly before testifying. She and her husband, David, traveled from the Pittsburgh area to speak."

Will Yanked MS Drug Get Another Run? - CBS News...[READ MORE]
"Quote"
'There will be additional cases of PML and perhaps many cases and there will likely be considerable mortality associated with use of the drug and this is a fact that is not likely to change.
'Dr. Russell Katz,
director of the FDA's Division of Neurology Products"

TYSABRI: Panel to Weigh Reinstating Drug for MS on Tuesday & Wednesday - New York Times...[read more]:

"An advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration will begin discussing Tuesday whether to permit a promising multiple sclerosis drug to return to the market, according to documents released Monday.

The risks of a rare brain disease and other infections from the drug, Tysabri, remain a concern for regulators, according to the documents.

If Tysabri returns to the market, F.D.A. officials said, its use should be restricted and patients monitored during treatment and for at least five years afterward to curtail the risk they run of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or P.M.L., and other opportunistic infections.

The panel is to spend Tuesday and Wednesday discussing whether to recommend that the F.D.A. allow Tysabri back on the market. The F.D.A. typically follows the advice of its advisory committees. One concern of F.D.A. officials is the 'absence of tools with documented effectiveness to manage' the risks associated with use of the drug. Tools like regular neurological examinations, magnetic resonance imaging scans and the testing of spinal fluid and blood serum, might not be useful in monitoring for the presence of the JC virus, which is believed to cause P.M.L., the FDA staff wrote......"

Series examines the effects of aging...[MORE: "Suzanne Videgar was diagnosed with MS in 1972..."

TYSABRI PRESS RELEASE: "STANFORD DOCTORS SPOTLIGHT FATAL FLAW IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS DRUG TRIAL"...Stanford University School of Medicine..[CLICK TO READ

"When Anita Louise Smith enrolled in an experimental drug trial in 2002 in Colorado, she had a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis but no symptoms and was looking to reduce the chances of being ravaged by the disease. Last year, she died at the age of 46 from an infection linked to the drug.

This tragedy — recounted in an article in the March 4 issue of The Lancet by two Stanford University School of Medicine neurologists — serves as a telling case study of what can go wrong in clinical trials. In their article, Annette Langer-Gould, MD, and Lawrence Steinman, MD, warn of the pitfalls of testing a drug with unknown side effects in patients who would do fine without the drug.......more"

"TYSABRI: Studies Suggest Controversial Multiple Sclerosis Drug Is Safe" - Forbes -[READ MORE] - Forbes.com

"COPING WITH MS DOESN'T KEEP THIS GRANDMOTHER DOWN"....[clIck]

Firefighter raises funds to fight MS...[click for more]
"Bundled in sleeping bags inside a makeshift jail cell, Uniontown firefighters battled freezing temperatures and wind gusts for two nights in a row in order to raise money for the fight MS...."

NBC-Broadband Video: Woman joins the fight for the recirculation of Tysabri...[MORE]

Now a South Bend resident is on her way to Washington D.C. to defend the drug on Capitol Hill.Tysabri was introduced in 2004, and it showed so much promise that the FDA prematurely approved it only to find it would produce lethal side effects.On the flip side, Tysabri also produced some miracles and that's why people are fighting to get it back on the market.....

Tysabri Studies Suggest MS Efficacy May More than Balance PML Risk : A GOOD OVERVIEW OF THE THREE ARTICLES IN THE NEJM...CLICK HERE TO READ

"Review
AMSTERDAM, March 1 - Although the promising multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri (natalizumab) was pulled from the market in 2005 for safety concerns, an initiative to bring it back from limbo gained support from three studies released today.

The three studies were published in the March 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. They followed by two weeks a move by the FDA to allow resumption of clinical trials for Tysabri for patients with MS who were previously treated with the drug.

Considered a major advance for MS treatment, the drug was approved for marketing by the FDA in late 2004 but was withdrawn three months later in light of the first two cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), two of them fatal. Biogen-IDEC and Elan suspended trials a year ago.

The FDA has scheduled an advisory committee meeting next week to discuss an application for Tysabri for use in treating patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.

In one study in the NEJM, a multinational randomized trial comparing Tysabri with placebo for relapsing MS found that the drug reduced the clinical relapse rate and the risk of sustained progression of disability compared with placebo. Patients taking Tysabri had 92% fewer MS lesions on MRI than controls, reported Chris H. Polman, M.D., of Vrije University Medical Center here and colleagues in the AFFIRM study group.

In a second study, Tysabri in combination with Avonex (interferon beta-1a) was significantly more effective than Avonex alone at preventing relapses over two years, reported Richard A. Rudick, M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic and colleagues in the SENTINEL trial.

In this study, however, two of 589 patients on Tysabri developed PML and one died of the progressive and often fatal demyelinating disease.

But a third study reviewing records of more than 3,100 patients who received Tysabri in clinical trials found no new cases of PML beyond the three that had already been reported. The estimated risk for PML was about one in 1,000 patients treated with Tysabri for a mean of 17.9 months, wrote Eugene O. Major Ph.D., of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues in the United States and Europe.

The studies "extend the efficacy of the drug to the two-year mark and provide reassurance that the risk of PML is small with relatively brief use," wrote Allan H. Ropper, M.D., a neurologist at Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston, in an accompanying editorial.

"Beyond these findings, clinicians and patients are left wondering if and when natalizumab will be made available and what precautions might be taken to prevent the emergence of the JC virus, the causative agent of PML," Dr. Ropper added.

The JC virus is a polyomavirus believed to be latent in about 80% of adults....[MORE]"

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Office of Corporate Communications

PROTEIN FRAGMENT MAY GENERATE FIRST SIMPLE TEST FOR MS

Johns Hopkins scientists report the discovery of a protein found only in cerebrospinal fluid that they say might be useful in identifying a subgroup of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or identifying those at risk for the debilita

The federally funded Johns Hopkins research, reported in the February issue of the Annals of Neurology, is important, the researchers say, because unlike other autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks its own tissues, MS cannot be diagnosed with a simple blood or other test.

While it is recognized that there might be several forms of MS, laboratory-based tests need to be developed to diagnose these subtypes.

"There is the possibility now that the protein we identified, 12.5 kDa cystatin, can be used to diagnose MS, perhaps in its earliest stages, and also to monitor treatment by measuring its levels in CSF," says Avindra Nath, M.D., a professor in the Department of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead author of the
study.

"

TYSABRI-The New England Journal of Medicine -3/2/06-Editorial- Selective Treatment of MS -CLICK HERE
"Natalizumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody against 4 integrins, is the first selective immunomodulating drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and, by several criteria, is an advance over current therapies. The antibody was developed to block the adhesion of activated T cells to endothelial cells and thereby reduce the inflammatory feature of the multiple sclerosis plaque. Parenthetically, this advance attests to the value of translational research in a disease for which there is only partial knowledge of the mechanism. Natalizumab has also evinced interest for the treatment of Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis but with less certain results in limited . . . [Full Text of this Article]"

Biogen, Elan's Tysabri Is Worth Rare, Fatal Risk, Patients Say...
READ MORE...Bloomberg
A survey of 800 MS patients released this week by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Harris Poll found most would consider using Tysabri under certain conditions, such as if their current treatment wasn't working or a reliable test existed for PML. The Society plans to release detailed results after the FDA advisory panel's meeting.

Botulinum toxin in MS

KELLY SUTTON DOES'T LET MS GET HER DOWN...SHE DRIVES NASCAR AGAIN...READ MORE
"Kelly Sutton is one of the few women driving in NASCAR events, is in the news again.Last week the young woman returned from what has become an annual sojourn to Daytona where she had competed in the famed Speed Week.Sutton, who competes in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series, drove her Team Copaxone Chevrolet in the first race of the season and finished the event in 29th place. She was 31st this past week at California Speedway."

TYSABRI 'S COMPETITORS HOPE THAT FDA DOESN'T APPROVE ITS RETURN!...READ MORE
"The FDA ruling will be closely watched by the industry because it will determine the fate of Serono, Europe's biggest biotech group.Serono makes Rebif, a leading multiple sclerosis drug, and if Tysabri does not return to the market or is restricted, then the Swiss firm could be bid for by either GlaxoSmithKline, or AstraZeneca, Serono was put up for sale by its biggest shareholder, the Bertarelli family, in November."

STUDY: Tysabri plus Interferon Beta-1a for Relapsing MS -- READ MORE
The New England Journal of Medicine: Conclusions Natalizumab added to interferon beta-1a was significantly more effective than interferon beta-1a alone in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis."

Study of the effects of rituximab in neuromyelitis optica..[READ MORE..MS Center, University of California]

"Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), is a demyelinating disease that has many similarities to MS...Six of eight patients were relapse free and median attack rate declined from 2.6 attacks/patient/year to 0 attacks/patient/year (p = 0.0078). Seven of eight patients experienced substantial recovery of neurologic function over 1 year of average follow-up..."

US approves first skin patch to treat depression...[READ MORE]

"Selegiline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO inhibitor), was first approved by the FDA in 1989 in capsule form for treatment of Parkinson's disease....Doctors also prescribe selegiline to treat depressed patients who do not respond to the more commonly used antidepressants, such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil...."

TYSABRI: "Suspended drug may be new hope for MS patients"..[read more]

UT Southwestern Medical CenterMS research into reparative cells offers new avenue for fighting disease"March 2, 2006 – Plaques that form around the nerve cells of people with multiple sclerosis are apparently what disable people with the disease. But partly developed reparative cells within the plaques provide hope for a treatment, a UT Southwestern physician reports in the New England Journal of Medicine.

MORE:

Copaxone pushes Teva profits past $1b. mark in 2005

.Tysabri cut the risk of disability progression by 42%, according to the results of two phase III trials and one safety evaluation study..[Read More]

The results also showed that treatment with Tysabri, whose generic name is natalizumab, led to a 68% reduction in the annualized relapse rate compared with the use of a placebo. A second trial studying Tysabri's use with Avonex, another multiple sclerosis treatment sold by Biogen, reported that the drug had a significant effect on disability progression, relapse rate and brain lesions compared with Avonex alone

(ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00027300 [ClinicalTrials.gov] .) A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Natalizumab for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis
Conclusions Natalizumab reduced the risk of the sustained progression of disability and the rate of clinical relapse in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Adhesion-molecule inhibitors hold promise as an effective treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Team unravelling brain damage in MS..."The myelin coating on nerves is damaged in people with MS." [CBC News]