Posting fresh info about MS, for people with MS and their supporters

• Study Finds that most neurologists plan to prescribe oral MS drugs when approved this year
   

  Majestic Research Study Indicates that Neurologists’ Apprehension Regarding Side Effects Won’t Stop Them from Prescribing New Oral MS Drugs, but Concerns Will Likely Relegate Their Use to Second- or Third-Line Therapy NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In a study published this week by Majestic Research, almost 60% of neurologists expressed unaided concern about the side effects/safety of oral MS [...]

  • Caroline says: A recent study showed that 84% of neurologists polled plan to prescribe Novartis' Gilenia (FTY-720) and Serono's cladribine for some of their RRMS patients when they are approved later this year (end of September for Gilenia, later in 2010 for cladribine). However, until safety concerns for both drugs are resolved, they will most likely be prescribed as second-line and third-line agents, despite the fact that their FDA approval will probably be as first-line agents.

  Posted on Sep 02.10 to Pipeline   

• JK Rowling Gives £10 Million For MS Clinic
   

  The author JK Rowling has donated £10m to set up a clinic to research treatments for multiple sclerosis, the degenerative disease that killed her mother at the age of 45, it was announced today. The Anne Rowling regenerative neurology clinic, which will be based at the University of Edinburgh, will carry out research into a [...]

  • Caroline says: I knew there was a reason I continue to be such a big Harry Potter fan. Author JK Rowling has been a long time supporter of the UK MS Society, and her latest £10 million gift to set up a clinic to research treatments there for MS and other neurodegenerative diseases represents the largest single gift the University of Edinburgh has ever received. Cheers to you, JK Rowling.

  Posted on Sep 02.10 to lifestyle   

• Sanofi’s Teriflunomide Shows Promise for RRMS
   

  Sanofi-aventis (NYSE:SNY) recently announced clinical success with teriflunomide, the investigational drug it is developing for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). This announcement followed a 2-year clinical trial, in which teriflunomide was found to significantly improve the annualized relapse rate (ARR) of RMS in a group patients receiving the orally administered teriflunomide, when compared [...]

  • Caroline says: The oral market for MS continues to widen...Sanofi's teriflunomide for RRMS announced positive results from TEMSO a 2-year trial v. placebo. Full results will be presented at ECTRIMS this year (Oct 2010).

  Posted on Sep 01.10 to Pipeline   

• Quebec willing to test MS treatment
   

  A call for a national trial of a controversial M-S treatment has gained support. Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc says the province would be willing to join a national clinical trial of the so-called liberation procedure. The treatment is based on an unproven theory that blocked veins in the neck or spinal cord are to [...]

  • Caroline says: I have been keeping silent on the CCSVI excitement lately. It is a fantastic idea: unblocking veins to cure MS? Really? No more injections and infusions? Just like that? There have been a LOT of "cures" for MS over the years (bee venom, anyone?). I think it's great that people are doing studies on CCSVI to determine whether it is actually a viable treatment for MS...until we hear otherwise, however, the CCSVI hype is just that. I don't think the promotion of seriously invasive procedures without any actual scientific evidence (one physician performing this procedure on a patient he is married to does not count as an un-biased, randomized, double-blind study, folks). Don't get me wrong: it would be awesome if this thing actually works (really, really awesome)...but until we see actual evidence, we shouldn't hold our breath. So, cheers to Quebec for its willingness to check this out.

  Posted on Aug 23.10 to Pipeline   

• ‘Placebo effect’ a concern with CCSVI
   

  Canadians experts say they fear stories of miraculous results from a controversial new MS treatment could be more about the “placebo effect” than an actual breakthrough — fears given new credence by two discouraging new European studies. “I appreciate what people are going through — living with MS can be a terrible thing and they [...]

  Posted on Aug 06.10 to Pipeline