News

Registration is now open for the 2024 MS Alliance Winter Wonderland & Holiday Gala, an escape from the hustle and bustle of the holidays……..an event designed for and by people who “get it”!

To register, click here!

For more information about the Winter Wonderland & Holiday Gala, please click here.

Two enzymes in brain cells are responsible for mediating the toxic effects of certain fat molecules in multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study in a mouse model of the disease suggests.

According to the researchers, these enzymes may serve as potential targets for easing neurodegeneration in people with MS.

“This new information points to a specific metabolic pathway through which dietary fats can worsen MS symptoms,” Damien Marechal, PhD, coauthor of the study at City University of New York (CUNY), said in a university news story.

The findings build on a growing body of research that indicates a diet with too much fat — especially the saturated fats abundant in fried and processed foods — can have negative impacts on health for those with MS, the researchers noted….READ FULL STORY HERE…

Since its inception, efforts to criminalize marijuana and to stigmatize those who consume it have been based upon hyperbole, stereotypes and outright lies.

The initial push for cannabis criminalization, which began in earnest more than a century ago, had little to do with preserving public health or safety. Instead, the move to prosecute cannabis users was based primarily on sensationalism and xenophobia.

For instance, a July 6, 1927 story in the New York Times, headlined “Mexican Family Goes Insane,” farcically claimed: “A widow and her four children have been driven insane by eating the marijuana plant, according to doctors, who say there is no hope of saving the children’s lives and that the mother will be insane for the rest of her life.”  Read full story HERE..

Few adults turn to either healthcare providers or government agencies when seeking information about cannabis, according to nationwide survey data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Researchers with the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor surveyed over 1,100 US adults regarding where they obtain cannabis-related information. Read full story HERE…

SetPoint Medical is planning to launch a clinical trial next year to investigate its nerve stimulator device, intending to support myelin repair, in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

The announcement comes after U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of an investigational device exemption, allowing the company to initiate clinical studies to collect safety and efficacy data on the device and its use, SetPoint reported in a company press release.

It also follows a Phase 3 trial of the device in people with rheumatoid arthritis, another autoimmune disease marked by damaging inflammation, that found clinical benefit with reasonable safety.

Aiming to enroll up to 60 RRMS patients at multiple sites in the U.S., the upcoming trial will randomly assign participants to treatment with the device or to a sham procedure. Assignment will be blinded, meaning neither patients nor their treating physicians will know who is receiving which procedure….read full story HERE

South San Francisco, CA — September 13, 2024 —

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) has approved Ocrevus Zunovo™ (ocrelizumab & hyaluronidase-ocsq) for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). Ocrevus Zunovo is the first and only twice-a-year, healthcare professional (HCP)-administered approximately 10-minute subcutaneous (SC) injection approved for both these forms of multiple sclerosis, giving people living with MS more treatment options….READ FULL STORY HERE

The persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the development and widespread availability of methods to detect the COVID-19 virus in humans. COVID-19 tests, which were initially only available in healthcare facility settings, are now manufactured for home use in the form of rapid diagnostic tests and generally contain a nasal swab, reagent solution, and test device (e.g., card or strip). These kits typically involve application of reagent solution to the test device; in the presence of biological material obtained from the nasal swab, this initiates a chemical reaction that produces the test result.

Multiple COVID-19 rapid antigen home test kids, including those manufactured by Abbott (BinaxNOW™), Beckton, Dickinson and Company (BD Veritor™), Celltrion (Celltrion DiaTrust™), and ACON Laboratories (Flowflex™), contain sodium azide as a component of the reagent solution [[1], [2], [3]]. The reagent in some kits may contain other constituents, including Triton-X, inorganic phosphate, and Pro-Clin 300. The latter ingredients are unlikely to cause human toxicity if small amounts are ingested, but they may cause allergic reactions or local irritation after ocular or dermal exposure. However, sodium azide is well-known for its ability to cause harmful effects in humans, especially after oral exposures and potentially including the ingestion of reagent solution. Additionally, since the reagent solution packaging may include ampules that allow for application of drops of solution to the test device, inadvertent ocular sodium azide exposures can occur if the ampule is mistaken for an eyedropper.

Sodium azide is a water-soluble, tasteless, and odorless chemical that is commonly used as a preservative agent [4]. It is also found as a propellant in some automobile airbags; upon impact, sodium azide ignites and transforms into hydrocarbon gases that cause airbag expansion [5]. Although data concerning acute sodium azide toxicity in humans are limited, the chemical can cause serious adverse events after oral exposure to relatively low doses….

Read full story HERE…

Abata Therapeutics is expected to launch a Phase 1 clinical trial by the end of the year to test ABA-101, its experimental therapy for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), after getting a green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA approved Abata’s investigational new drug (IND) application for ABA-101 in progressive MS, a patient population with few therapeutic options. ABA-101 works by modifying a type of immune cell known as regulatory T-cells, or Tregs.

That decision cleared the way for this first-in-human trial, which will test the treatment candidate in patients with progressive MS.

Read full story HERE…

A Phase 1 clinical trial that’s testing IMP761, an experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune conditions, has dosed its first healthy participant, the therapy’s developer has announced.

Immutep received regulatory clearance to start the first-in-human trial of IMP761 in the Netherlands about a month ago. The study, which is expected to recruit 49 healthy adults at a single site in Leiden, will evaluate the therapy’s’s safety and pharmacological properties. Safety data are expected by year’s end, and information on its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics by the first half of 2025. A therapy’s pharmacokinetics refers to its movement into, through, and out of the body, whereas pharmacodynamics describes a treatment’s effects on the body.

Read full story HERE….

A heartfelt congratulations to the Trans Am team for their remarkable cycling journey across the United States of America! They traversed nine states, covering approximately four thousand miles, and ultimately achieved the thrilling milestone of dipping their tires in the mighty Pacific Ocean.

People with multiple sclerosis show subtle alterations in gut bacteria that seem to be consistent across populations in the U.S. and Asia, a new analysis of previously published studies found.

“Our work … establishes a generalized and common gut microbiome pattern in patients with MS across geographically and technically diverse studies,” the researchers wrote. The study, “Meta-analysis identifies common gut microbiota associated with multiple sclerosis,” was published in Genome Medicine.

The human gut is home to billions of bacteria and other microscopic organisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome. These bacteria can powerfully impact human health, but their effects are only beginning to be understood.

Read full story HERE…

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other conditions who use Mallinckrodt‘s treatment Acthar Gel(repository corticotropin injection) now have a self-injection option, the company said.

Acthar Gel Single-Dose Pre-filled SelfJect is available in two dosages — 40 USP units/0.5 ml and 80 USP units/1.0 mL — that patients can give themselves subcutaneously (under the skin) by pressing a handle. The treatment had been available only in a multi-dose, vial-and-syringe package that required patients or their caregivers to draw precise amounts of the medication before administering it.

Read full story HERE...

Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be tough because it brings challenges to our everyday life. It’s like trying to do regular things when your body and mind are not always cooperating. That’s where life hacks come in. Life hacks for those with MS are not just clever shortcuts – they are indispensable tools for navigating the complexities of daily routines, managing symptoms, and enhancing overall well-being.

Throughout 2024, we are putting out seasonal life hacks shared by those in the community to help make life navigating MS a little bit smoother. Read full story HERE….

About a third of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) exhibit cognitive impairments, according to a review by Australian researchers of 50 previously published studies.

The findings suggest that cognitive issues might be somewhat less common in RRMS than previous reports have indicated, with prior estimates ranging from approximately 40% to 65%.

Milena Gandy, PhD, the study’s senior author and a clinical psychologist and researcher at Macquarie University in Sydney, believes the findings will give newly diagnosed MS patients a clearer picture of what to expect.

Read full story HERE…

Using machine learning to analyze eye scans can help detect slight changes that may be early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially aiding in early diagnosis of the disease, a study found.

The study, “SLO-Net: Enhancing Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis Beyond Optical Coherence Tomography Using Infrared Reflectance Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy Images,” was published in Artificial Intelligence.

MS is caused by inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. In most patients, the disease causes some amount of damage to cells in the eyes, and a building body of research is exploring whether eye-related changes may help diagnose MS… Read full story HERE

Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience pseudobulbar affect (PBA). PBA is a neurological (nerve) condition that causes episodes of uncontrolled laughing or crying. The outbursts do not match your mood or emotions. They may be stronger or last longer than you would expect.^1,2 

PBA develops because of an underlying neurological condition, such as MS. PBA can cause a large emotional burden and lead to social anxiety. But it can be managed with medicine. Talk to your doctor if you notice signs of PBA.^1,2

Read full article HERE….

Join others who understand the unique challenges of multiple sclerosis at the newly formed Lynchburg MS support group! We’ll be gathering at Vinny’s Italian Grill and Pizzeria (4018 Wards Rd, Lynchburg, VA 24502) on Thursday, August 8th, 2024. Social time starts at 5:30 PM, with the meeting led by facilitator Tina Allis, a speech pathologist also living with MS, beginning promptly at 6:30 PM. We look forward to connecting with you and building a supportive community together.

The Floyd MS Support Group offers a safe space for people with MS and their loved ones to connect, share experiences, and learn from each other. Monthly meetings include guest speakers, support groups, and social events. The group empowers members to navigate the challenges of MS with resilience and hope. Email msav4hope@gmail.com for more information.

Each year, the Annual Brian Mason Respite Weekend offers an incredible opportunity for individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and their families to come together and create lasting memories at the picturesque Smith Mountain Lake. Surrounded by the lake’s tranquil beauty, participants embark on a journey of respite, rejuvenation, and connection. To learn more, click HERE.