Multiple Sclerosis News and Research

Latest Multiple Sclerosis News and Research

Scientists find cause for lupuslike disease in mice

Macrophages, the scavenger cells of the body's immune system, are responsible for disposing of dying cells. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have identified one pathway in this important process in mice that, if disrupted, causes a lupuslike autoimmune disease.

19 Oct 2009

New data on Phase 3 SIMPONI clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis

New long-term data from two pivotal, Phase 3 clinical trials showed that patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving SIMPONI(TM) (golimumab) every four weeks achieved sustained improvements in signs and symptoms and physical function response through one year. These new data were presented today at the 2009 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting.

19 Oct 2009

Discovery may yield better understanding of protective gut-dwelling bacteria

Medical researchers have long suspected that obscure bacteria living within the intestinal tract may help keep the human immune system in balance. An international collaboration co-led by scientists at NYU Langone Medical Center has now identified a bizarre-looking microbial species that can single-handedly spur the production of specialized immune cells in mice.

19 Oct 2009

Researchers find the genetic mutation that is linked with changes in brain development

For decades, scientists have thought the faulty neural wiring that predisposes individuals to behavioral disorders like autism and psychiatric diseases like schizophrenia must occur during development. Even so, no one has ever shown that a risk gene for the disease actually disrupts brain development.

19 Oct 2009

Multi-million dollar cooperative agreement for SMA drug development program

Paratek Pharmaceuticals (Boston, MA) and Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (Elk Grove Village, IL) announced today that a jointly funded drug development program for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) has been awarded a multi-million dollar cooperative agreement from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

19 Oct 2009

Cobroxin OTC pain reliever is now available online

Nutra Pharma Corp., a biotechnology company that is developing treatments for Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), HIV and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), has announced today that its over-the-counter pain reliever, Cobroxin, is available for sale online at Cobroxin.com.

15 Oct 2009

Control and coordination may aid multiple sclerosis patients perform daily activities independently

While gripping, lifting or manipulating an object such as drinking from a cup or placing a book on a shelf is usually easy for most, it can be challenging for those with neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's, or for people who had a stroke.

15 Oct 2009

Postive vote from FDA Advisory Committee for Fampridine-SR 10

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs (PCNSD) Advisory Committee voted 12 to 1 that clinical data on Fampridine-SR 10 mg twice daily demonstrated substantial evidence of effectiveness as a treatment to improve walking in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and voted 10 to 2 (1 abstention) that it is clinically meaningful and can be safe for use.

15 Oct 2009

Antisense Therapeutics completes repeat-dosing toxicology studies for ATL1103

Antisense Therapeutics Limited is pleased to announce that the Company has now completed repeat-dosing toxicology studies for ATL1103 in two species -- mouse and non-human primate. Draft study reports from the study contractors in the United States have been received, and the toxicology outcomes from these studies support ANP's plans for the continued development of ATL1103.

14 Oct 2009

Geniom RT Analyzer provides accurate diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and lung cancer disorders

Data published in BMC Cancer and PLoS ONE show that microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers provide reliable and highly differentiated diagnosis from blood samples for lung cancer and multiple sclerosis.

14 Oct 2009

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals announces results of Zenvia double-blind Phase III STAR trial

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced detailed results from the confirmatory double-blind Phase III STAR trial evaluating two doses of the investigational drug Zenvia™ (dextromethorphan/quinidine) compared to placebo in the treatment of pseudobulbar affect (PBA) in patients with underlying multiple sclerosis (MS) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

14 Oct 2009

Pharmaceuticals to provide safe needle collection and disposal programs for patients

It is illegal in the state of California to unsafely dispose of "sharps" (medical waste such as needles and syringes) in the home, and thanks to California State Senator Joe Simitian's Senate Bill 486, and contributors from his annual "There Oughta Be A Law" contest, 1 million Californians will not be breaking the law anymore (see http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/hhw/sharps/).

13 Oct 2009

Female lawmakers shape health care with their own stories

CQ Politics reports that Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Ohio, is one of several women lawmakers who is using her own history with multiple sclerosis to lobby for changes in the health care system: "As the health care debate rages on, [Kilroy] has decided to use her personal story to help fellow lawmakers understand how important it is to make health care available for all Americans. In a 'Dear Colleague' letter she sent last week, Kilroy told them about her own diagnosis."

12 Oct 2009

PPA bus tour to raise awareness of patient assistance programs

The 'Help is Here Express' bus tour will be stopping in Iowa, Southern Illinois, and Southern Indiana throughout the week of October 12 -- 16th at various cities in order to help uninsured and financially-struggling Midwesterners access information on programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free.

12 Oct 2009

Additional Zenvia Phase III results in multiple sclerosis announced by AVANIR

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVNR) today announced additional detailed results from the confirmatory double-blind Phase III STAR trial evaluating two doses of the investigational drug Zenvia™ (dextromethorphan/quinidine) compared to placebo in the treatment of pseudobulbar affect (PBA) among patients with underlying multiple sclerosis (MS) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Over the course of the 12-week study in the MS patient subset, Zenvia 30/10 mg met the primary efficacy endpoint by reducing PBA episode rates by an incremental 11.9% beyond placebo

9 Oct 2009

Inclusion of vitamin D values in National Nutrient Database

The next time you run nutritionals using the government's database, you might be pleasantly surprised that some of your favorite foods seem to have received a nutrient boost, virtually overnight.

9 Oct 2009

Plexxikon commences patient dosing in PLX3397 Phase 1 clinical trial

Plexxikon Inc. today announced that dosing of cancer patients with PLX3397 has started in a Phase 1 clinical trial. PLX3397 is a novel, oral investigational drug for treating multiple diseases, including metastatic cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

9 Oct 2009

New cancer drugs boost drug spending

Cancer treatments are on track to become the biggest driver of specialty pharmacy spending as its contribution to overall drug spending hit five percent for the first time in the first half of 2009, according to Medco Health Solutions, Inc.

8 Oct 2009

New Leaf Brands' initiative to find cure for MS, will sponsor a participating team for bike ride event

New Leaf Brands, a wholly owned subsidiary of Baywood International, Inc. (OTCBB: BAYW) ("Company"), today announced that the Company will sponsor a participating team in the Multiple Sclerosis/Tappan Zee Bike Ride taking place on Sunday, October 18, 2009 in Tarrytown, New York.

8 Oct 2009

Global pharmaceutical market to grow by 4 - 6 percent: IMS Health

IMS Health reported today that the value of the global pharmaceutical market in 2010 is expected to grow 4 - 6 percent on a constant-dollar basis, exceeding $825 billion, driven by stronger near-term growth in the U.S. market.

8 Oct 2009