Latest Conference Coverage

An indirect comparison study evaluated relative treatment effects of eculizumab (Soliris; Alexion), inebilizumab (Uplizna; Horizon), and satralizumab (Enspryng; Genentech), the 3 FDA-approved options for NMOSD.

The workshop included weekly virtual meetings on journaling, meditation, yoga therapeutics, among other activities.

Neurology News Network for the week ending October 15, 2021. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Investigators concluded that treatment with high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies was a protective factor in disease prognosis.

The Zimmermann Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, and Pediatrics at Stanford University spoke on the safety and efficacy of ublituximab in treating patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Data presented at the ECTRIMS Congress 2021 noted immunity was reduced in patients taking anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies.

The director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at Ochsner Health discussed the open-label extension data presented at ECTRIMS Congress on ATA188 in progressive MS. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

The vast majority of patients with MS, 63.4%, who initiated ofatumumab treatment in the 6 months after its approval had mild disability, while only 29.2% had moderate disability and 7.4% had severe disability.

The treatment effect observed from nabiximols (Sativex; GW Pharmaceuticals) was significant at all 1-week time points over the course of the 12-week study.

Data from the EXPAND trial show that after 12 months of treatment, changes on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness favored those on siponimod rather than the placebo group.

The director of the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at Cleveland Clinic provided context on whether efficacy outcomes should be weighed more than mechanistic action when evaluating MSC-NTF cell therapies. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

In addition to the data presented at ECTRIMS Congress 2021, Atara Bio is investigating the therapy in an ongoing and enrolling phase 2 study, EMBOLD (NCT03283826), which is expected to read out interim results in early 2022.

After vaccination, patients showed no increased risk of relapse activity, but had varied immune response depending on the disease-modifying therapy they were treated with.

Investigators found that Hispanic and African American patients had an increased risk of developing ambulatory disability, when compared to Caucasian patients with MS.

In data presented at ECTRIMS 2021, from years 1-5, the proportions of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis achieving NEDA-3 status ranged from 63%to 75%.

The director of the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at Cleveland Clinic discussed the use of MSC-NTF cells in progressive MS and the data backing this approach. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Gennero Pagano, MD, MSc, PhD, expert medical director, Roche, provided thoughts on the investigational agent prasinezumab, overall Parkinson drug development, and MDS Virtual Congress.

The expert medical director at Roche provided detail on results from the phase 2 PASADENA study presented at the 2021 MDS Virtual Congress. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

David R. Lynch, MD, PhD, professor of neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, discussed why omaveloxolone’s recent success speaks to the progress made within the FA treatment space.

When used for at least 30 days, it was reported that patients with essential tremor reported improvement in tremor power following 54% of sessions.

The professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine discussed the state of care for Friedrich ataxia and omaveloxolone’s potential to become its first approved therapy.

Following her presentation at MDS 2021, the PhD candidate in epidemiology at Erasmus University Medical Center discussed highlights from this year’s virtual congress. [WATCH TIME: 2 minutes]

The professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine discussed whether omaveloxolone’s therapeutic benefit is enough for it to become the first approved therapy for Friedrich ataxia. [WATCH TIME: 2 minutes]

The PhD candidate in the epidemiology department at Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands discussed the need for tailored treatment in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Following MDS 2021, we compiled a roundup of some of our discussions with experts in the Parkinson disease and movement disorders space in one convenient location.

The PhD candidate in the epidemiology department at Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands discussed the need for tailored treatment in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

The director of the UAB Huntington's Disease Clinic offered his insight on a recent assessment of HD genetic testing at HDSA Centers of Excellence, and the associated costs for patients.

The professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine discussed his presentation at MDS 2021, which highlighted the therapeutic benefit of omaveloxolone in Friedreich ataxia. [WATCH TIME: 2 minutes]