Newswise SAN DIEGO A Massachusetts researcher will receive a $225,000 award to continue her study of hormone differences in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) through the American Brain Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Clinician-Scientist Development Award. This award was presented in San Diego during the American Academy of Neurologys 65th Annual Meeting, the worlds largest meeting of neurologists. Riley Bove, MD, a Fellow at Brigham and Womens Hospital, Harvard Medical School, was awarded the fellowship for her work investigating the differences shown by men and women in their risk of developing MS as well as differences in their course of the disease. If we find that sex hormones do in fact influence MS risk then this may point to promising avenues for treatment, said Bove. The three-year award will consist of an annual salary of $75,000 per year and is designed to encourage MS clinical research with the goal of providing better treatment, prevention or cure of the disease. Clinical research is the fundamental transition stage between discovery and treatment. Clinical research provides the scientific basis for all forms of care, addresses patient and caregiver needs and is the backbone for drug development and cost-effectiveness studies needed … Continue reading →

Swiss drug giant Novartis AG (NVS: Quote) on Tuesday confirmed that its multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya (fingolimod) has shown consistent and sustained efficacy, with the number of patients treated increasing to over 63,000. Based on up to seven years of clinical trial experience, including Phase II and III, and over two years of real-world use, Novartis noted that Gilenya, licensed from Japan's Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. (MTZXF.PK), is the only approved MS treatment shown to consistently decrease brain volume loss. According to the company, brain volume loss is the best magnetic resonance imaging or MRI correlate of long-term disability. New data presented at the recent 65th Annual Meeting American Academy of Neurology showed that Gilenya reduced the rate of brain volume loss by about one-third compared to Avonex (interferon beta-1a IM), a commonly prescribed treatment, or placebo in patients with relapsing MS. The low rate of brain volume loss with Gilenya sustained for up to four years in Phase III studies and for up to seven years in patients after completing a Phase II study. Data has also shown significant efficacy with Gilenya in reducing relapses and slowing of six-month disability progression sustained at four years, the company added. Novartis … Continue reading →

Public release date: 25-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Carolann Murphy CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org 973-324-8382 Kessler Foundation West Orange, NJ. March 25, 2013. The National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society awarded Nancy Chiaravalloti, Ph.D., a $43,494 grant to study the efficacy of a new treatment for memory loss in MS. Dr. Chiaravalloti, PhD, director of Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research at Kessler Foundation, is an expert in cognitive rehabilitation research in traumatic brain injury and MS. This one-year pilot project is titled, "Stylistic Memory Enhancement" (NMSS grant #GR391). "Development of new strategies to improve memory in individuals with MS is an important area of research at Kessler Foundation," said John DeLuca, PhD, VP of Research & Training. Although cognitive symptoms such as memory loss are experienced by up to two-thirds of patients, relatively little research has been conducted in cognitive function in persons with MS." Dr. Chiaravalloti's study will evaluate the clinical efficacy of a new memory treatment program aimed at improving learning and memory of information that patients need on a daily basis. The study involves an 8-session treatment program. The memory skills of participants will be tested before and after treatment. "If effective, this treatment could have a positive impact … Continue reading →

Growing global evidence base reinforces consistent and sustained efficacy of first once-daily oral multiple sclerosis treatment Up to seven years of clinical trial experience (Phase II and III) and over two years of real-world use Gilenya is the only approved MS treatment shown to consistently decrease brain volume loss across studies with a significant effect seen as early as six months Low rate of brain volume loss with Gilenya sustained for up to four years in Phase III studies and for up to seven years in patients after completing a Phase II study Basel, March 26, 2013 - Latest global patient-use data show that Gilenya (fingolimod) has been used to treat more than 63,000 patients in clinical trials and the post-marketing setting[1]. "As the first once-daily oral MS therapy, we are pleased Gilenya has played such an important role in addressing unmet medical need in the MS community in the two years following initial approvals," said David Epstein, Head of the Pharmaceuticals Division of Novartis Pharma AG. "Our growing experience reinforces Gilenya`s high efficacy and very good tolerability profile and Novartis remains committed to ensuring eligible patients have access to Gilenya." Gilenya is the only approved treatment shown to consistently … Continue reading →

Two years after New Brunswick decided to help multiple sclerosis patients pay for an unproven treatment that's only offered outside the country, the number of patients who have sought the so-called liberation treatment has fallen short of expectations. A leading authority on MS says he's not surprised the numbers are falling off. The Finance Department says since April 1, 2011, 82 people who wanted the treatment that widens constricted veins in the neck have been approved for payments of $2,500 each. Applicants get the government funding if a community group raises matching funds. The provincial government budgeted $400,000 for the program in its first two years of operation or enough to help 160 people seek the treatment. The government approved 25 applications in the first four months the money was available, but interest has tapered off and there have been no applications in the last two months. It's getting fewer and fewer because every month a negative study is coming out," said Dr. Jock Murray, a neurologist at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Italian vascular specialist Paolo Zamboni reported dramatic improvements in his patients after he pioneered the procedure, but Murray said none of the subsequent studies done around the world … Continue reading →