News

Although highly efficacious DMTs have improved outcomes for a growing number of patients, the majority of people with MS are still subjected to the day-to-day consequences of the disease’s symptoms, which often have a more debilitating effect on the patient than the disease itself.

Neurology News Network for the week ending April 27, 2019.

An escalating, combination dose of isosorbide mononitrate and cilostazol was shown to be well tolerated, with 72% of patients achieving full or ≥50% partial doses, the primary outcome, by the end of the 8-week treatment period.

The FDA issued a reminder that improper use of the Stryker Wingspan Stent System can result in an increased risk for stroke or mortality. The agency advises against using the system when the onset of symptoms is within 7 days or less of treatment or for the treatment of transient ischemic attacks.

The investigational candidate is the subject of the 2-part phase 2/3 SUNFISH trial in young adult and pediatric patients with type 2 and type 3 SMA.

The adoption of plasma NfL as a biomarker for tracking neurodegeneration would help fill a need for a less invasive, more economical biomarker.

NuPlasma yFFP was associated with improvements in complications of therapy, motor examination scores, mentation, behavior, and mood, and in activities of daily living in patients with Parkinson disease.

Over the course of approximately 3 years, Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale-Expanded and Upper Limb Module scores, as well as 6-Minute Walk Test distances, improved significantly in patients with SMA type 2 and type 3.

What do you suspect is responsible for this patient’s progressively worsening cognitive symptoms?

Infants with SMA—who have elevated pNF-H levels—experienced significant drops in pNF-H levels when treated with nusinersen (Spinraza, Biogen), suggestive of pNF-H’s potential as a biomarker of disease activity and treatment response.

The Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama School of Medicine spoke about the results of a recent cohort study that found that a shorter, yet deeper therapeutic coma may be safer and more effective than the currently recommended therapeutic coma duration for refractory status epilepticus.

The study provides class 2A and Level B evidence that DOAC therapy started in a median of 5 days following ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation is beneficial compared with VKA therapy.

A prespecified futility analysis of a phase 3 study revealed that the primary endpoint of mean change from baseline in the weekly average number of cluster headache attacks during the 4-week treatment period is unlikely to be met.

Alder stated that it expected to receive a PDUFA action date within 74 days of the submission for eptinezumab and is planning a commercial launch of the anti-CGRP agent by early 2020.

Research from the past decade suggests that sigma-1 receptors and their encoding gene, SIGMAR1, together act as a therapeutic target for patients with dementia.

The chief executive officer of Alder Biopharmaceuticals detailed where the intravenous anti-CGRP treatment will fit into the marketplace and how the migraine prevention therapy will make an impact in treating patients.

What's your diagnosis for a 45-year-old woman who experienced strange symptoms after taking an advanced yoga class?

The approval of nusinersen in 2016 to treat spinal muscular atrophy marked an important milestone in efforts to treat the disease, but even more breakthroughs could be coming soon.

A review of newly implemented primary end points—pain freedom and most bothersome symptom freedom at 2 hours—used in 8 clinical trials may help to guide future migraine researchers in the design of acute treatment trials.

Responses from 1300 physicians suggest that increasing patient load and adding ancillary services may be the key to increasing annual income.

Neurology News Network for the week of April 20, 2019.

The designation was granted by the FDA based on the results of the largest study ever conducted with monotherapy in NMOSD, which were favorable for the anti-CD19 antibody.

With 2 targeted treatments on the market, therapeutic development may now focus on early detection.

In addition to efficacy end points, the WEB system was markedly safer compared to current treatments, with no primary safety end points occurring between 30 days and 1 year.

Phase 2 trial results suggest the possibility of a treatment that may regenerate brain cells following TBI.

The phase 1 results support the initiation of the phase 2/3 clinical trial which is expected to initiate in July 2019.

It has been estimated that between 40% and 60% of patients with PD use at least one form of complementary medicine. In this podcast, neurologist Sarah Mulukutla, MD, MPH talks about CAM options for neurologists to discuss with their patients.

Data from the STR1VE trial have reinforced the findings from the phase 1 START trial, including inclinations of prolonged survival as well as milestone achievement never seen in the natural history of SMA.