CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genzyme, a Sanofi company (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today that new data from its Aubagio (teriflunomide) and Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) clinical development programs will be presented during the 29th Congress of the European Committee for Research and Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) and the 18th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in MS (RIMS) to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, October 2-5. The Challenges of Disease Management in MS: Navigating the Changing Landscape The recent European Commission approvals of Aubagio and Lemtrada make this years ECTRIMS particularly significant for Genzymes MS Franchise, said Genzyme CEO and President David Meeker. As we prepare to launch both products, we look forward to presenting these new data, which highlight the unique potential of our products to treat a broad spectrum of relapsing remitting MS patients and reflect our strong commitment to the MS community. Presentations at ECTRIMS/RIMS featuring Aubagio and Lemtrada are as follows. Aubagio: Oral Platform Presentation Poster Presentations Lemtrada: Poster Presentations Abstracts are available on the ECTRIMS/RIMS website. Read the original: Genzyme’s Multiple Sclerosis Franchise Featured at ECTRIMS … Continue reading →

Elizabeth Toy, 29. A Cutchogue woman who had been battling Stage IV Hodgkins lymphoma for three years has died, friends said. Elizabeth Toy passed away Tuesday, Sept. 24 while receiving treatment at Stony Brook University Medical Center. She was 29. Ms. Toy was diagnosed in 2010 with Hodgkins lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that erodes the lymphatic system. As the disease progresses it compromises the bodys ability to fight infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. During her treatment, Ms. Toy remained a dedicated mother to her 11-year-old son, Matthew, friends said. She fought so hard to be here for him, longtime friend Tanya McDowell said. In her memory, Ms. McDowell has teamed up with Mattituck restaurant Four Doors Down to hold a fundraiser for Matthew. The money will be deposited into a trust fund he can access to pay for college, Ms. McDowell said. This will be a nest egg for him, she said. He can use it to start his life. Matthew is now in the custody of Ms. Toys mother, Ms. McDowell said. Continue reading here: Cutchogue mom loses her battle with blood cancer … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/jwg2ns/global_multiple) has announced the addition of the "Global Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Therapeutics Market 2012-2016" report to their offering. The analysts forecast the Global Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Therapeutics market to grow at a CAGR of 3.16 percent over the period 2012-2016. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the rising diagnosis and treatment rates. The Global MS Therapeutics market has also been witnessing the emergence of biomarkers. However, the lack of therapies available to manage the progression of the disease could pose a challenge to the growth of this market. The key vendors dominating this space include Bayer HealthCare AG, Biogen Idec Inc., Merck Serono SA, Novartis AG, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. The other vendors mentioned in this report are AB Science, Abbvie Inc., Active Biotech AB, Astra Zeneca plc, Glaxo Smith Kline plc, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., and Sanofi SA. Commenting on the report, an analyst from the team said: Currently, there is an increase in the adoption of biomarkers that are 100 percent specific to RRMS conditions. The use of biomarkers proves to be a sensitive indicator of the slightest disease activity in MS patients. A highly … Continue reading →

Sept. 26, 2013 A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a hard lot. Patients typically get the diagnosis around age 30 after experiencing a series of neurological problems such as blurry vision, wobbly gait or a numb foot. From there, this neurodegenerative disease follows an unforgiving course. Many people with MS start using some kind of mobility aid cane, walker, scooter or wheelchair by 45 or 50, and those with the most severe cases are typically bed-bound by 60. The medications that are currently available don't do much to slow the relentless march of the disease. In search of a better option for MS patients, a team of UW-Madison biochemists has discovered a promising vitamin D-based treatment that can halt and even reverse the course of the disease in a mouse model of MS. The treatment involves giving mice that exhibit MS symptoms a single dose of calcitriol, the active hormone form of vitamin D, followed by ongoing vitamin D supplements through the diet. The protocol is described in a scientific article that was published online in August in the Journal of Neuroimmunology. Hayes' team compared various vitamin D-based treatments to standard MS drugs. In each case, vitamin D-based treatments … Continue reading →

JERUSALEM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) today announced that key data from the Companys multiple sclerosis (MS) franchise will be featured in over 20 presentations at the 29th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Copenhagen, Denmark, October 2-5, 2013. Data presentations will provide new clinical insights on the effects of treatment with COPAXONE (glatiramer acetate injection), the worlds leading relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) treatment, and the novel effects of laquinimod, Tevas investigational oral compound, when used to treat RRMS. "With our sixteen year legacy in providing a safe and effective treatment for RRMS, Teva continues to discover and develop treatments that positively impact patients living with this complex, debilitating disease, said Dr. Michael Hayden, President of Global R&D and Chief Scientific Officer for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. The continued investigation of the long-term open-label study of COPAXONE and investigation of laquinimods effect in MS demonstrate our ongoing focus on increasing the body of scientific knowledge available to neurologists for making appropriate treatment decisions in a rapidly evolving landscape. In addition to presenting data at the Congress, Teva will host two satellite symposia, Emerging Insights in Multiple Sclerosis: Re-evaluating the Treatment Algorithm … Continue reading →