Latest Conference Coverage

Jan Hillert, MD, PhD: Treating the Non-Inflammatory Aspects of MS

The professor and senior physician in the department of clinical neuroscience at the Karolinska Institutet spoke to the aspects of MS—such as brain volume loss—which are not currently being addressed by the available disease-modifying therapies.

Relapsing MS Treatment With Natalizumab Linked to High NEDA Rate Over 4 Years

According to new data from STRIVE, 75.4% of those treated with natalizumab achieved overall No Evidence of Disease Activity status by year 4, and no patients had incidence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Siponimod Delays Time to Wheelchair Use in Secondary Progressive MS

After showing significant benefits in delayed disease progression in patients with secondary progressive MS, new data suggests siponimod can delay the time to wheelchair dependence by 4 years.

Ocrelizumab Reduces MS Disease Activity in Patients With Prior DMT Failure

Nearly 87% of patients enrolled in the phase 3b CASTING study had no evidence of disease activity following treatment with ocrelizumab after having an inadequate response to prior DMTs.

Ocrelizumab Is Beneficial Across Long-Term Multiple Sclerosis Outcomes

The global head of neuroimmunology at Genentech spoke about the wealth of data being presented on its anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody ocrelizumab, as well as the success thus far in trials of its NMOSD agent, satralizumab.

Satralizumab's Efficacy in NMOSD Boosts the Case for IL-6 Inhibition

Study coauthor and professor of neurology and ophthalmology at the University of Colorado provides insight into phase 3 study results of satralizumab, presented at ECTRIMS 2019.

Alberto Ascherio, MD, DrPH: Using Vitamin D to Treat MS

The professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health discussed what might be an optimal dose of vitamin D supplementation in MS, and how vitamin D deficiency should be addressed as a modifiable risk factor.

Ponesimod Superior to Teriflunomide in Lowering MS Relapse Rates

New phase 3 data from the OPTIMUM head-to-head trial show that 20-mg ponesimod resulted in a significantly lower annualized relapse rate in adults with multiple sclerosis compared to 14-mg teriflunomide at 108 weeks.

Satralizumab Reduces Neuromyelitis Optica Relapse Risk Across Spectrum of Disease

The humanized monoclonal antibody was particularly effective in patients who were seropositive for aquaporin-4 autoantibodies.

Dimethyl Fumarate Treatment Maintains Low MS Relapse Rates Long-Term

New decade-long data have suggested that multiple sclerosis treatment with dimethyl fumarate is associated with stable EDSS scores ≤3, and a low number of patients with confirmed disability progression.

Danielle Andrade, MD, MSc: Coordinating Epilepsy Care Transition Between Physicians

The professor of medicine, neurology, at the University of Toronto discussed the need for physicians to work together while transitioning patients with epilepsy—who may have any number of comorbidities—from pediatric care to adult care.

Bruce Cree, MD, PhD, MAS: Exploring Clinical Utility of Siponimod, Fingolimod in MS

The clinical research director of the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center discusses recent data on siponimod and its impact on cognitive measures in patients with secondary progressive MS, as well as results of the 3-arm ASSESS study comparing low-dose fingolimod and glatiramer acetate.

Ocrelizumab Analyses of Neurofilament Light Levels Reveals Disease Progression Insights

New data from clinical trials of ocrelizumab showed that the anti-CD20+ B cell therapy lowered serum NfL levels, and that the NfL levels offered prognostic value for disease progression in MS.

Ozanimod Lowers ARR, Reduces Grey Matter Loss Compared to Interferon Beta-1a

Data from the phase 3 SUNBEAM trial of the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator have suggested that the Celgene treatment lowers annualized relapse rates and reduces the rate of cortical gray matter loss, improving cognition measures, compared to IFN-ß1a.

R. Edward Hogan, MD: Diazepam Nasal Spray Offers Benefits and Long-Term Safety

The director of the adult epilepsy center at Washington University in St. Louis spoke about the use of diazepam nasal spray in patients with epilepsy ­and detailed the advantages it offers these patients and their physicians.

Danielle Andrade, MD, MSc: Transitioning Patients With Epilepsy to Adult Care

The professor of medicine, neurology, at the University of Toronto spoke to the hurdles faced by both pediatric and adult neurologists when transitioning a patient with epilepsy from childhood care to adult care.

Richard Lipton, MD: Interpreting Eptinezumab's Impact on HIT-6 Score

The director of the Montefiore Headache Center will provide further insight into migraine care at the 1st Annual International Congress on the Future of Neurology, to be held September 27-28 in New York City.

Ofatumumab Superior to Teriflunomide in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Novartis’ CD20+ B cell- targeting, fully-human antibody has outperformed teriflunomide (Aubagio) in a pair of phase 3 studies. The top-line data were presented at ECTRIMS 2019 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Paul Durham, PhD: A Combination Approach With nVNS in Migraine

The distinguished professor and director of cell biology at Missouri State University discussed the use of nVNS in migraine treatment and whether or not it can replace the use of or be used in conjunction with triptans—a medication on which many patients fail or report poor response on.

Bruce Cree, MD, PhD, MAS: Inebilizumab in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

The clinical research director of the University of California, San Fransciso’s Multiple Sclerosis Center discussed the findings of a 230-patient study of inebilizumab versus placebo in NMOSD.

Paul Durham, PhD: Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation

The distinguished professor and director of cell biology at Missouri State University discussed the findings of a model of nVNS which suggested it operates through a novel mechanism compared to available migraine therapies.

The Impact of Noninvasive Epilepsy Interventions

The director of comprehensive epilepsy center and professor of neurology at Thomas Jefferson University spoke to the evolution of epilepsy interventions over the last decade and its effect on the level of care for patients.

Rebecca Stainman, MD: Identifying, Addressing Physician Burnout

The child neurology resident at NYU Langone spoke about ways for residents to identify and address impaired colleagues that suffer from depression and burnout.

Trends in Migraine Care Reveal Treatment Gaps and Education Barriers

The director of the MedStar Georgetown Headache Center and associate professor of neurology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital discussed the ongoing efforts in drug development and what the ideal future may hold for migraine medicine.

Dementia Emergency Department Use Can Be Reduced With Specialized Telemedicine

The professor of emergency medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health discussed the impact that telemedicine, conducted in senior living communities, can have on emergency department visits for individuals with dementia.

Annette Langer-Gould, MD, PhD: Lowering Postpartum MS Relapse Rates With Breastfeeding

The regional lead in clinical and translational neuroscience at Kaiser Permanente discussed subgroup findings from a study of pregnancy in women with MS which suggested that breastfeeding in the postpartum period can drastically decrease the risk of disease relapse.

Antje Bischof, MD: Understanding Vasculitic Neuropathy

The postdoctoral scholar at the University of California San Francisco discussed the findings from her study that gives comprehensive insight into prevalence and organ associations of vasculitic neuropathy.

Joseph Berger, MD: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Neurology

The associate chief of the MS division and professor of neurology at Penn Medicine described the ongoing relationship between artificial intelligence and neurologists, and how it may evolve in the future.

Nina Riggins, MD, PhD: Predicting Outcomes of Botox Treatment in Chronic Migraine

The assistant professor and neurologist at the University of California San Francisco discussed how the presence of cranial autonomic symptoms (CAS) can be a predictor of the effect of Botox on chronic migraine.

Joseph Berger, MD: Can AI Replace Neurologists?

The associate chief of the MS division and professor of neurology at Penn Medicine spoke to neurologist’s reliance on physical examination, and how the use of almost-rudimentary but longstanding tools allow for critical 1-on-1 time with the patient.