Multiple Sclerosis News and Research

Latest Multiple Sclerosis News and Research

Psoriasis patients still need long-established treatment alternatives

For patients with severe psoriasis, a new class of intravenous and injectable biological medicines known as "biologics" has brought about a near revolution in treatment.

21 Apr 2011

Biogen Idec first quarter revenues increase 9% to $1.2 billion

Biogen Idec Inc., a global biotechnology leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative therapies, today announced its first quarter 2011 results.

21 Apr 2011

Adeona, TG United enter commercial-scale manufacturing agreement for reaZin

Adeona Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a developer of innovative medicines for serious central nervous system diseases, announced today that it has executed an agreement with TG United, Inc. of Brooksville, Florida, to provide commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities for reaZin. Adeona is developing reaZin, its product candidate for the dietary management of Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment, as a prescription medical food.

20 Apr 2011

Combination therapy restores skilled use of limb in rodent model

After the acute treatment window closes, the only effective treatment for stroke is physical/occupational therapy. Now scientists from Children's Hospital Boston report a two-pronged molecular therapy that leads to significant recovery of skilled motor function in a rat model of stroke.

20 Apr 2011

Acorda receives patent for AMPYRA tablets to improve walking in MS patients

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has allowed U.S. Patent Application No. 11/010,828 entitled "Sustained Release Aminopyridine Composition."

20 Apr 2011

FDA approves Rituxan-corticosteroid combination for Wegener's Granulomatosis and Microscopic Polyangiitis

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group and Biogen Idec announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rituxan® (rituximab), in combination with corticosteroids, as a new medicine for adults with Wegener's Granulomatosis (WG) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA).

20 Apr 2011

EMA CHMP grants positive opinion for Biogen Idec's AVONEX PEN

Biogen Idec announced today that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a positive opinion recommending the approval of AVONEX® PEN™ for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and patients with a single demyelinating event.

19 Apr 2011

People with infectious mononucleosis, low UVB exposure may face high risk of MS

New research suggests that people who are exposed to low levels of sunlight coupled with a history of having a common virus known as mononucleosis may be at greater odds of developing multiple sclerosis than those without the virus.

19 Apr 2011

CHMP adopts EU positive opinion for TYSABRI labeling with anti-JCV antibody status

Biogen Idec and Elan Corporation, plc today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has adopted a positive opinion for inclusion of an additional risk factor, anti-JC virus (JCV) antibody status, to the product label for TYSABRI in the European Union.

18 Apr 2011

Ipsen, Active Biotech sign deal to co-develop and commercialize TASQ

Active Biotech AB and Ipsen announced today that they have entered into a broad partnership to co-develop and commercialize Active Biotech's investigational compound Tasquinimod "TASQ".

18 Apr 2011

Scientists develop new compound for multiple sclerosis treatment

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have developed the first of a new class of highly selective compounds that effectively suppresses the severity of multiple sclerosis in animal models.

18 Apr 2011

Opexa's Tovaxin Phase IIb study data in MS presented at AAN meeting

Opexa Therapeutics, Inc., a company developing Tovaxin, a novel T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis, today presented important efficacy data at the American Academy of Neurology 63rd Annual Meeting.

16 Apr 2011

Study: CCSVI may result from multiple sclerosis progression

A just released study on the relationship between multiple sclerosis and chronic cerebral venous insufficiency, a narrowing of the extracranial veins that restricts the normal outflow of blood from the brain, found that CCSVI may be a result of MS, not a cause.

15 Apr 2011

Pharmacy costs for multiple sclerosis patients increase at a faster rate than medical costs

Analysis of direct pharmacy and medical costs for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) showed pharmacy costs are increasing at a slightly faster rate than medical costs, but new MS medications are expected to shift the majority of the direct health cost burden to pharmacy, according to a new study by Prime Therapeutics (Prime). The study will be presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy's 23rd Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minn.

15 Apr 2011

Treatment of vascular risk factors may lower risk of Alzheimer's disease

Treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other vascular risk factors may help lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease in people who already show signs of declining thinking skills or memory problems. The research is published in the April 13, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

15 Apr 2011

Genzyme reports positive data from 5-year alemtuzumab Phase 2 study in MS

Genzyme Corp., a subsidiary of sanofi-aventis Group, today reported additional five-year patient data from its completed Phase 2 multiple sclerosis (MS) trial showing that nearly two-thirds of alemtuzumab treated patients remained free of clinically-active disease as much as four years after most patients received their last course of the investigational drug.

15 Apr 2011

AAN, PDF honor Boston researcher with Clinician Scientist Development Award

A clinician scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is receiving $240,000 to further his research into how stem cells may be used to treat Parkinson's disease through the American Academy of Neurology Foundation and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation Clinician Scientist Development Award in Parkinson's Disease Research.

15 Apr 2011

Perampanel drug can effectively treat seizures in patients with epilepsy

A new drug called perampanel appears to significantly reduce seizures in people with hard-to-control epilepsy, according to results of the first clinical trial to test the higher 12 mg dose of the drug.

15 Apr 2011

Teva presents new CNS products study data in RRMS, Parkinson's at AAN meeting

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced that several new studies further support the efficacy and safety of the company's innovative central nervous system products.

12 Apr 2011

Positive results from laquinimod Phase III ALLEGRO study in multiple sclerosis to be presented at AAN

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Active Biotech announced today results from the two-year Phase III ALLEGRO study of laquinimod, an oral, once-daily, investigational immunomodulator for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). These data will be presented as late-breaking research at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN).

12 Apr 2011