Category Archives: MS Treatment

* EU medicines agency to update on Gilenya safety in April * Novartis says working with EMA to finalise drug label * UK's NICE (Milan: NICE.MI - news) backs drug as cost-effective in about-turn (Combines news from EU medicines agency and Britain's NICE) LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - European regulators are still probing the safety of Novartis AG's multiple sclerosis pill Gilenya, one of the Swiss firm's top new drug hopes, delaying an expected update on the medicine until April. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) initially aimed to give an update on the medicine by March 16 but a spokeswoman said on Friday that the review had not yet been finalised. As a result, an announcement is now due on April 19 or 20. The delay leaves a question mark over the product, which has seen its prospects clouded by concern about serious heart problems. But there was also good news for Gilenya as Britain's healthcare cost-effectiveness watchdog NICE, in an about-turn, decided it was ready to recommend its use on the state health service. Gilenya, the first multiple sclerosis (MS) pill of its kind, is seen by analysts as a potential blockbuster with annual sales of $2 billion by … Continue reading →

* NICE (Milan: NICE.MI - news) recommends Gilenya for certain MS patients * Changes view on drug after Novartis presents new data * Endorsement comes ahead of EMA safety update on drug LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - Novartis's multiple sclerosis pill Gilenya, one of its top new drug hopes, has been recommended for use in Britain's state health service after a change of heart by the country's healthcare cost-effectiveness watchdog. Friday's verdict from the National Institute for Health (Euronext: IXSHL.NX - news) and Clinical Excellence (NICE), whose opinions are also watched closely in other countries, is welcome news for a product that has run into problems recently. Later on Friday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) - the body responsible for licensing Gilenya in Europe (Chicago Options: ^REURUSD - news) in March 2011 - is expected to give an update on the safety of the medicine, following an in-depth review. The safety probe was launched because of reports of heart problems in some patients and the death of one person in the United States within 24 hours of starting treatment. Gilenya represents a significant change in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment, since existing drugs such as beta interferons and Elan (Berlin: DRX.BE … Continue reading →

LONDON (Reuters) - Novartis's multiple sclerosis pill Gilenya, one of its top new drug hopes, has been recommended for use in the state health service after a change of heart by the country's healthcare cost-effectiveness watchdog. Friday's verdict from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), whose opinions are also watched closely in other countries, is welcome news for a product that has run into problems recently. Later on Friday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) - the body responsible for licensing Gilenya in Europe in March 2011 - is expected to give an update on the safety of the medicine, following an in-depth review. The safety probe was launched because of reports of heart problems in some patients and the death of one person in the United States within 24 hours of starting treatment. Gilenya represents a significant change in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment, since existing drugs such as beta interferons and Elan and Biogen Idec's Tysabri must be injected. NICE initially said it was unclear if the new drug, which is known generically as fingolimod, was any better than existing treatments. It changed its mind after Novartis presented data showing the benefits of using Gilenya in a … Continue reading →

14-03-2012 14:00 Doctors still don't understand what causes MS, but Dr. Wanda Castro, a neurologist with the UConn Health Center, tells NBC Connecticut's Yvonne Nava that with early diagnosis and treatment, patients can avoid ending up in a wheelchair. Read the original post: The Mysteries of Multiple Sclerosis - Video … Continue reading →

14-03-2012 19:48 Need treatment for MS Contin? Call 1-800-303-2938 or you can simply visit our website to get whatever type of information it is you need on the dangerous drug MS Contin and MS Contin Abuse. MS Contin, which is meant to manage pain, is abused way more than most people realize, and it is very addictive. So if you or a loved one are struggling with MS Contin Abuse - you should get help as soon as possible. Go here to read the rest: MS Contin Abuse Treatment … Continue reading →

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BOSTON, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --MAKScientific, LLC, a privately held company focused on the discovery of novel therapeutics modulating cannabinoid pathways, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive, worldwide option and collaboration agreement with Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB - News) to develop and commercialize drug candidates for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Under the agreement, Biogen Idec will receive an option for an exclusive license to select discovery-stage MAKScientific drug candidates for all indications worldwide. Upon Biogen Idec's exercise of the option, MAKScientific will be eligible to receive an exercise fee of up to $3 million and up to an additional $31 million in milestone payments associated with the clinical development of the drug candidates. In addition, MAKScientific will be eligible to receive royalties on net sales worldwide. "We are very excited to initiate this collaboration with Biogen Idec," said Alexandros Makriyannis, PhD, Founder of MAKScientific. "We believe it will help advance our proprietary medicinal chemistry to the benefit of MS patients. As a global leader in MS research and development, Biogen Idec is the ideal partner for our discovery and development program." About MAKScientific. MAKScientific LLC, is a privately held, Massachusetts-based, discovery … Continue reading →

13-03-2012 11:07 Multiple sclerosis can be difficult to diagnose. Dr. Steven Bromley discussesdiagnosis and management of the disease, and the continuum of care Virtua Neurosciences offers patients -- enabling them to live healthy, happy lives. See the original post here: Managing multiple sclerosis - Video … Continue reading →

Yukoners with multiple sclerosis have a chance to participate in clinical trials for a controversial treatment. There are up to six secured spots for Yukoners for the so-called 'liberation treatment' clinical trials in Albany, New York. Initially, the territory was to take part in clinical trials in Saskatchewan. Jenny Roberts, the president of the Yukon Multiple Sclerosis Association, says its members urged the Yukon Government to get in on the treatment at the beginning. "We usually get ignored because of our geographical location, so that was our pressure that we did put on them, that, 'don't exclude us and if we have an opportunity we have to explore it'. And the YTG (Yukon Territorial Government), Minister of Health and the deputy minister has listened and worked with us very closely to get to this point," she said. Roberts says the association's members are very excited about the chance to participate in the trials. Applicants must be between 18 and 60 years old, have a valid passport and they cannot have had past liberation treatments. The therapy is also known as Zamboni therapy after it was pioneered by Italian doctor Paolo Zamboni. Zambonis procedure uses angioplasty to widen neck veins. His … Continue reading →

LONDON, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Limited awareness about the disease and its overall occurrence and progression among end-users is hampering the European multiple sclerosis (MS) market. This is being exacerbated by the limited availability of accurate diagnostic tools. There is, therefore, an immediate need for innovative and enhanced therapeutic and diagnostic tools that support improved diagnosis and expand the range of treatment options. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.pharma.frost.com), Analysis of the European Multiple Sclerosis Market, finds that the market earned revenues of approximately $3.2 billion in 2010 and estimates this to reach approximately $5.38 billion in 2017, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2 per cent from 2010-2017. The segments covered include: immunosuppressants, immunomodulators and corticosteroids. "The rising number of people suffering from MS is resulting in higher demand for therapeutics," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Deepika Pramod Chopda. "This, coupled with strong pipeline development, is pushing robust growth in the overall market." MS is characterised as a chronic disease, commonly diagnosed in patients between 20-50 years of age. It affects more than 2.5 million people across the world, with Europe accounting for nearly 550,000 cases. Significant research is currently underway to efficiently … Continue reading →