Category Archives: MS Treatment

WESTON, Mass. (AP) -- Biogen Idec said a potential multiple sclerosis treatment designed to last longer between injections fared well in late-stage research, and the drug developer plans to submit it to U.S. and European regulators for possible approval this year. The Weston, Mass., company said it tested doses of the drug, labeled peginterferon beta-1a, delivered at two-week or four-week intervals in patients with a form of multiple sclerosis that cycles between stages of relapse and remission. A total of 35.6 percent of the patients who had injections every two weeks saw a significant reduction in annual relapse rates, while 27.5 percent of patients taking the treatment every four weeks saw significant reductions. A company spokeswoman said the potential drug's effectiveness was comparable to current treatments that require patients to take daily doses or injections several times a week. More than 1,500 patients were involved in the trial. Biogen will present study data in March at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting. Shares of Biogen climbed $2.17 to $145.72 in Thursday afternoon trading while the Nasdaq exchange fell slightly. The rest is here: Biogen says MS drug reduces relapse rates in study … Continue reading →

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (OPXA), a biotechnology company developing a novel T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), today announced the closing of a private offering ofunsecured convertible promissory notes and warrantsto purchase shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $650,000. Opexa expects to use proceeds from the financing to continue its Phase IIb clinical study of Tcelna in patients with Secondary Progressive MS (SP-MS) and general corporate purposes. Participating in the financing were new investors and existing shareholders, including a member of Opexas Board of Directors. The notes mature on January 23, 2014 and accrueinterest at the rate of 12% per annum, compounded annually. Interest is payable quarterly in cash beginning March 31, 2013. Fifty percent of the initial principal amount of the notes is payable by the Company to the investors following the receipt of an aggregate of at least $5 million in proceeds from the sale of the Companys equity securities and/or the Company achieves certain strategic funding milestones to allow the Company to continue its clinical trial program. The remaining balance of the notes is payable by the Company to the investors following the receipt of an aggregate of at least $7.5 million … Continue reading →

Mohali, Jan 23: Team India practiced hard on Tuesday ahead of their fourth ODI against England at PCA cricket stadium in Mohali. India's Yuvraj Singh skipped the session due to a 'sore throat' while skipper MS Dhoni was hit on the thumb during practice. Dhoni was hit on the thumb after Manpreet Gony's delivery rose awkwardly, leaving him in pain for a brief period. He was immediately given treatment, as team physio and coach rushed to the field. Though the pain lasted for a couple of minutes, the team management said that the skipper was fine and there was nothing to worry. The man in form, Dhoni has been the highest run scorer for India in the series against England and an injury scare could have hurt the hosts. Dhoni left the field after the incident while another important member of the squad, Yuvraj Singh was missing during the net session ahead of the fourth ODI to be played at his hometown. Ishant, B Kumar during the net session at Mohali India's Ishant Sharma and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar take rest during a practice session at PCA Stadium in Mohali on Tuesday. Suresh Raina plays a shot India's Suresh Raina plays a … Continue reading →

Its 60 years since the founding of the Multiple Sclerosis Society but the disease has yet to give up all of its secrets. Hilarie Stelfox meets a Golcar family living with the effects of the condition SARAH CORNISH was just 24 when she was diagnosed with the disabling disease multiple sclerosis. Although more than a decade later she is now a wheelchair user she is determined to live as normal life as possible. Unusually, she has a full-time job and is the parent of two young children. Sarah and her husband, Jason, say their family is a rarity as most early-onset MS sufferers dont have children at all. Sarah considers herself to be fortunate in many ways, not least because she knew what she was up against right from the start. Getting a diagnosis meant, she says: I could put a name to why I was not able to do something. I was lucky compared to other people who have it, because they have issues for 10 or 15 years before they get diagnosed. The Multiple Sclerosis Society, which has its diamond jubilee this year, says its not uncommon for sufferers to go undiagnosed altogether. According to the societys Huddersfield … Continue reading →

Update on MS Multiple Sclerosis Tysabri Update on my MS treatment change. By: heythereitsmindy … Continue reading →

PEKIN, Ill., Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- James "Buck" Runyan, MS, LMFT, CEDS, has been named as the new 2013-2014 President of the Board of Directors of The International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp). Runyan has an extensive background in treating eating disorders and other compulsive behaviors and is currently the Chief Operations Officer at the Center for Discovery, at which he oversees Discovery's four residential eating disorder treatment facilities. Runyan has held positions as the founding Program Director of the Remuda Ranch Adolescent Center for Eating Disorders and Program Administrator for San Bernardino Mental Health Court Pegasus Program. Runyan earned a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degree at California Baptist University. "I am honored to represent iaedp as the President of the Board of Directors for the 2013-2014 term," said Runyan. "It is a very exciting time to be involved in this area of mental health care and with iaedp reaching a greater number of treatment professionals than ever before, I look forward to what the future brings, including our upcoming 27th annual Symposium." Says iaedp Managing Director, Bonnie Harken: "The leadership contribution at iaedp has always been exceptional, and with Buck as president, he will continue … Continue reading →

By Poon Chian Hui The Straits Times Monday, Jan 21, 2013 WHEN Ms Hilmy Chung suffered long bouts of diarrhoea, constipation, lethargy and bone pain in 2010, neither she nor her doctors could pin down the cause. By the time her rare cancer was diagnosed the following year, it had spread to other parts of her body. Experts have found that her disease - gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP NET) - takes a more aggressive form in Asians than in people elsewhere in the world. The new data from the GEP NET Registry suggests that Asians may require closer monitoring and more intensive treatment for this hard-to-detect cancer, which arises from cells of the hormonal and nervous systems. More than half of GEP NET cases showed up in the pancreas for Asians. For non-Asians, only 30 per cent had tumours in the same organ, the registry found. Although the disease can crop up in the stomach, small and large intestines and appendix, it is more threatening when located in the pancreas, said oncologist Lim Hwee Yong of the National Cancer Centre Singapore. He said people with neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas who do not have treatment are given about 27 months … Continue reading →

Topics: animals, dental, dogs, fraser coast, hervey bay, teeth, vet DENTAL disease is rife among pets, with a vet estimating eight out of 10 of animals seen in the surgery need treatment for their teeth. Candice Loft, from Hervey Bay Veterinary Surgery, said cats and dogs were similar to people in that their teeth were also affected by plaque and decay. Without the right care, they get gum disease and can be in a lot of pain, she said. The Hervey Bay Veterinary Clinic does free dental checks for pets. Ms Loft said too much soft food and not enough large marrow bones or hard food could have a negative impact on an animal's teeth. Even feeding pets chicken necks or other similar foods would not make much of a difference, she said, because dogs and cats both needed to chew for prolonged periods, up to about 15 to 20 minutes, in order to properly clean their teeth. "Crunching actually helps clean dogs' teeth," Ms Loft said. "Dental disease is quite painful for dogs. When the gums are affected, they get a constant ache in their mouths, she said. Read more: Fanging out on bones helps keep a smile on … Continue reading →

OTTAWA If not for the kindness of an anonymous benefactor, Lacey Levair fears she could be dead or dying by now. And though her story has a happy ending, it raises questions about the adequacy of Ontarios drug benefit program. On Tuesday, the 29-year-old Stittsville resident was diagnosed with Type A influenza, the most virulent form of the disease. Though most people recover within 10 days or so, influenza and its complications kill between 2,000 and 8,000 Canadians each year. Among the most vulnerable are people with compromised immune systems. And few Canadians have immune systems more compromised than Lacey Levairs. Levair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007. She was soon unable to walk, confined to a wheelchair. But her fortunes took a turn for the better in 2010. Following a successful multi-year study of a new MS treatment involving stem cell transplants, Ottawa hematologist Dr. Harold Atkins chose Levair to be the first post-study recipient. Atkins collected stem cells from Levairs bone marrow in July 2010 and, after theyd been purified, transplanted them back into her body in November of that year. The results have been miraculous. While Levair technically still has MS, her symptoms have vanished. Im … Continue reading →

Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB) and partner Elan Corporation (ELN) recently submitted applications to the US Food and Drug Administration (:FDA) and European Medicines Agency (:EMA) seeking to update the label of their multiple sclerosis (MS) drugTysabri (natalizumab). The companies are looking to get Tysabri approved as a first line treatment for patients suffering from certain relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) who have tested negative for antibodies to the JC virus (:JCV). The application is based on risk stratification data. Tysabri slows disability progression by 42% 54% and reduces annualized relapse rates by 68%. Tysabri is the primary growth driver at Elan. As per Elan, Tysabri global net sales in the third quarter of 2012 rose 9.8% to $306.4 million. However, third quarter 2012 Tysabri revenues at Biogen declined 1% to $275 million. We note that Tysabri is approved in the US for treating relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients who show inadequate response to or are unable to tolerate other treatments. In the EU, Tysabri is approved for treating highly active relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) in adults who have severe RRMS or have not responded to beta interferon treatment. In the EU, Tysabri was approved in 2006 and … Continue reading →