MS and Demyelinating Disorders

Experts say that while CBD and THC may have potential in multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, research on the endocannabinoid system is in its infancy—and the literature isn’t perfect.

Neurology News Network for the week of March 30, 2019.

The EMD Serono product was approved based on data which displayed a significant decrease in the number of relapses experienced by patients with MS who had ≥1 relapse in the previous year, compared to placebo.

The multiple sclerosis specialist at the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS at Mount Sinai spoke about improving a patients' quality of life through symptom management.

The neurologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center provided his insight into the clinical evidence for the selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator.

The immunology expert from the University of Sherbrooke shared her insight about where she sees the future of MS research headed, and the need to focus attention on the body’s innate immune response.

The professor of neurology at the University of Colorado spoke in-depth about the treatment landscape, the biggest unmet need, and some of the challenges of research in progressive MS.

The director of the multiple sclerosis research unit at Ottawa Hospital spoke about the results of BENEFIT 15 that support early intervention of interferon beta-1b treatment at or shortly after CIS.

With the lack of a gold standard diagnostic test, a study has shown through latent class analysis that cerebrospinal fluid immunoglobulin G may be a practical tool for determining the onset of MS in patients, particularly those who tested negative under the 2005 and 2010 McDonald criteria.

Marketed as Mayzent, the selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator is the first treatment for patients with active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis in almost 15 years.

Celgene is supporting its new drug application for the S1P receptor modulator with data from the RADIANCE and SUNBEAM phase 3 trials in MS.

The research assistant at the University of British Columbia-Vancouver detailed the success of myelin water imaging in the spinal cords of both healthy controls and patients with multiple sclerosis.

The multiple sclerosis specialist at the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS at Mount Sinai spoke about risk mitigation in patients with MS and why it's important to choose medicines in an effective way.

The director of the multiple sclerosis research unit at Ottawa Hospital spoke about the need for clinicians to select the right patient for the right treatment in the MS clinic.

The Global Head of Neuroimmunology at Genentech discussed the results of a substudy that found that the use of advanced imaging metrics in MS clinical trials may provide specific information about tissue damage and potential repair.

Neurology News Network for the week of March 22, 2019.

The therapeutic head of neuroinflammation and pain at Novartis spoke about his desire to work to a point where physicians can use NfL to monitor disease activity, make therapeutic decisions, and give perspective to patients.

The staff neurologist at Cleveland Clinic's Mellen Center spoke about his clinical experience in switching patients from their current disease-modifying therapy to ocrelizumab.

With a pair of sBLAs under FDA review, the Allergan treatment may finally have an official indication for use in spasticity after years of off-label use by physicians.

Because dark chocolate is relatively inexpensive-and many people like its taste-it could be a pragmatic adjunct to treatment in MS.

Gharagozloo spoke about the early phase model of MS she and her colleagues developed to explore the use of Nlrx1, a mitochondria-located innate immune sensor, in CNS inflammation.

The postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, San Francisco, spoke about a prognostic marker that can be used to study the role of genetic, epidemiologic and immune variables on MS, and to measure the long-term impact of treatment in clinical trials.

This is the first and largest study that explored mortality associated with beta interferon for treatment of MS in the clinical setting.

The professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School spoke about the long-term correlations between neurofilament light chain and MS outcomes.

Scientists find that Schwann cells protect nerves against blood clotting factors that cause degeneration.

The multiple sclerosis specialist at Baylor Scott & White Health spoke about which symptoms present the biggest challenges for providers.

The Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California San Francisco spoke about a longitudinal study that evaluated the utility of spinal cord atrophy measured from brain scans as a surrogate marker for impending conversion to secondary progressive MS.

The staff neurologist at Premier Neurology, a partner in care with the National MS Society, spoke about how to best overcome the challenges presented by the symptomatic management of MS.

The staff neurologist at the Mellen Center shared the findings from a poster the group presented from the cohort of patients in which they evaluated quantitative MRI.

Understanding risk perception and risk tolerance can lead to greater satisfaction with treatment choices and adherence for patients with MS.