NEWS FDA reverses its denial of approval on lemtrada, opening the door for many MS patients Posted YESTERDAY, 7:04 PM Updated YESTERDAY, 7:04 PM SAN ANTONIO - One year after denying approval and shocking the multiple sclerosis medical community, the Food and Drug Administration has reconsidered the fate of Lemtrada, a three-year MS treatment infusion that was first tested in San Antonio and proven effective. The Neurology Center of San Antonio offered the first clinical trial in the country 12 years ago, and spearheaded efforts for full approval by the FDA. In 2013, approval denied in large part because test subjects had not been given placebo medication, a practice that MS doctors say would have been cruel with the knowledge that refusing a patient the effective drug would have resulted in MS relapses in which they perhaps would not have recovered. Dr. Ann Bass, the MS specialist at the center, explained what happens next. "The actual drug will be made available Dec. 5, so the paperwork goes in and the drug becomes available right away." Her Patient One, Cheryl Gallagher, will start treatment immediately. Gallagher has had MS for 18 years and lost sight in one eye. Other drugs no … Continue reading →

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) - Health advocates say they're seeing more people diagnosed as HIV positive having to forgo treatment because they can't afford a ride to the doctor. On Wednesday, some South Mississippi community members gathered in Gulfport to talk about how to stop the spread of HIV and about the plight of those in our community already living with the virus. AIDS and HIV advocates said within the six southernmost counties, the Coastal Family Health Center in Biloxi is the only place uninsured HIV patients can go to receive treatment. For patients who live farther away, the South Mississippi Aids Task Force tries to help with transportation, but the organization doesn't always have money to do that. "It creates frustration on the part of us as an organization, because we want to make sure that everybody who is identified as HIV positive gets the care that they need," said Theresa Youngblood, South Mississippi AIDS Task Force Director. "But also, frustration on the part of that individual because the statistics indicate they're less likely to get treatment as is. Then you have all the obstacles of being able to get there, and very few people are getting the service that … Continue reading →

Springs School students Colin and Katalina Rodriguez lost their mother, Darcy Rodriguez, in the blink of an eye.Ms. Rodriguez learned in September that she had terminal lung cancer, a diagnosis that came too late for treatment. She quickly arranged for a childhood friend to take care of her son and daughter after her death, which came on October 30. Colin, 13, and Katalina, 11, now live with Ms. Rodriguezs friend Carla Gagliotti, who promised shed take care of the twosome as best as she could. With two children of her own, 16-year-old Catherine and 22-year-old Alec, and a few rescue dogs, Ms. Gagliotti was afraid she wouldnt be able to fulfill her promise. But with help from the community, she is now more hopeful. Amagansett resident Allison Lupo put together a quick fundraiser on November 1 at the website gofundme.com, where, as of Monday, she had raised nearly $12,000 to help feed, clothe and provide for the family. Her original goal was $5,000. Ms. Lupo, who used to babysit Ms. Rodriguez growing up in Amagansett, said she felt she had to do something when she found out that Colin and Katalina were without their mother. It was shocking, because no … Continue reading →

Nov. 20, 2014, noon A MONTH after returning from Moscow where he received ground-breaking treatment for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Albion Park Rails Troy Eccleston is starting to show marked signs of improvement. Ainslie Sackey and Troy Eccleston at their Albion Park Rail home on Thursday. Picture: GEORGIA MATTS A MONTH after returning from Moscow where he received ground-breaking treatment for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Albion Park Rails Troy Eccleston is starting to show marked signs of improvement. Thanks to the tremendous support of family and friends, more than $70,000 was raised to send him to PirigovMedical Surgical Centre, Russia. Troyis now back home and has already noticed some of the effects of the disease easing and he is feeling much stronger. I have a 100 percent improvement in my leg rigidity and spasticity, my heat intolerance has eased and there is around 80 percent improvement in colunas (involuntary bouncing) of my legs, Mr Eccleston said. When I returned from Russia I was very weak as a result of my treatment and the long flight and required lots of rest and good food to help me recuperate, but I am getting noticeably stronger each day. I have just started walking short distances … Continue reading →