Category Archives: MS Treatment

Posted on 12. Sep, 2011 by Fiona Chin in MS Treatment Multiple Sclerosis is a disease where the myelin sheath of the central nervous system is attacked by the immune system, whereby the immune system mistakes the myelin cells as a foreign invader and thus tries to destroy it. The attack on the myelin sheath disrupts the communication of messages sent via electrical impulses along the nerves of the central nervous system. It is this interrupted electrical signal that produces the many different symptoms of MS. MS is such an individual disease where people can suffer from any number of different symptoms. It is due to this individual nature of MS that MS treatment plans need to be individualized for the client and not just the disease alone. It is due to this individual nature of humans as to why some drugs work well in some people and not well in others. Neurologist and practitioners would be smart to consider the individual needs and nature of a person when considering different MS treatment options. It is exactly the same theory adopted by natural health care practitioners, where treat the person and not the disease is one of the core philosophies … Continue reading →

Several therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) exist, although there is no known cure. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). The most common initial course of the disease is the relapsing-remitting subtype, which is characterized by unpredictable attacks (relapses) followed by periods of relative remission with no new signs of disease activity. After some years, many of the people who have this subtype begin to experience neurologic decline without acute relapses. When this happens it is called secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Other, less common, courses of the disease are the primary progressive (decline from the beginning without attacks) and the progressive-relapsing (steady neurologic decline and superimposed attacks). Different therapies are used for patients experiencing acute attacks, for patients who have the relapsing-remitting subtype, for patients who have the progressive subtypes, for patients without a diagnosis of MS who have a demyelinating event, and for managing the various consequences of MS. The primary aims of therapy are returning function after an attack, preventing new attacks, and preventing disability. As with any medical treatment, medications used in the management of MS may have several adverse effects, and many possible therapies are still under investigation. … Continue reading →

From left: Kenny Rickel and his wife, honoree Nancy Davis; family friend Lynn Palmer and Jason Davis. In front are Kenny and Nancy's twin daughters Isabella and Mariella. (Brian Payne, Special to The Denver Post) The late Marvin Davis brought Hollywood to Denver when he and wife, Barbara, started the Carousel Ball as a benefit for the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes. Marvin, who died in 2004, made his fortune in the energy business and at various times owned 20th Century Fox, the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Aspen Skiing Co. And so it was logical that when the Rocky Mountain MS Center honored Marvin and Barbara's daughter, Nancy, the theme for the dinner event would be "Celebrating Hollywood." The Davis family had relocated to Beverly Hills 26 years ago and continued the Carousel Ball there, renaming it Carousel of Hope. Guests would enter Glendale's Infinity Park Event Center on a paparazzi-lined red carpet illuminated by spotlights. In the reception area, they'd be greeted by a Marilyn Monroe lookalike and "Frank Sinatra" crooning songs he made famous. Nancy, who was born at Rose Medical Center and graduated from Kent Denver School, was 34 years old when she diagnosed with … Continue reading →

SARATOGA, Calif. & BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF) and Bionure, Inc. today entered a collaborative partnership agreement to advance therapeutics development for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The Foundations unique Accelerated Research Collaboration (ARC) model facilitates collaboration between the top MS leaders worldwide to advance promising compounds into the clinic. In this agreement, the Myelin Repair Foundation will work closely with Bionure, Inc. to assess the neuroprotective capabilities that will promote myelin repair of the companys proprietary MS therapeutic compound, BN201. Through this unique partnership, Bionure, Inc. will collaborate with MRF researchers at the Myelin Repair Foundations Translational Medicine Center, an industry-standard laboratory facility dedicated to the evaluation of promising myelin repair candidates for MS. At the laboratory, MRF scientists with extensive biopharma experience moving therapeutic compounds into the clinic will assess Bionures BN201 for its neuroprotective properties to enhance remyelination. BN201 is a potential MS treatment for acute optic neuritis and severe MS relapses. We are excited to partner with the Myelin Repair Foundation to advance our compound closer to the clinic, said CEO Albert G. Zamora at Bionure, Inc. With the top scientific expertise and innovative myelin repair research tools and assays at the MRF, this partnership … Continue reading →

Oct. 30, 2013 Kessler Foundation scientists correlated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) findings with the negative impact of outdoor temperature on cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study, "Warmer outdoor temperature is associated with task-related increased BOLD activation in patients with multiple sclerosis," released by Brain Imaging & Behavior corroborates the group's previous study that established that people with MS performed worse on processing speed and memory tasks during warmer outdoor temperatures versus during cooler outdoor temperatures. "Increased MS disease activity during warmer months is a recent discovery. Now, this work is the first report of brain activation associated with outdoor temperature in MS. This finding is novel and important for persons with MS who are shown to have worse cognition during warmer weather," said Victoria M. Leavitt, Ph.D., research scientist at Kessler Foundation and principal investigator for the study, funded by a grant from the National MS Society. Kessler Foundation researchers previously demonstrated that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) demonstrate worse cognition on warmer days. (Leavitt VM, Sumowski JF, Chiaravalloti N, DeLuca J. Warmer outdoor temperature is associated with worse cognitive status in multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2012 Mar 27;78(13):964-8). The purpose of the current study was to identify … Continue reading →

Multiple sclerosis is a troublesome disease with a significant need for treatments that are easy to use, safe, and effective. Previously, the multibillion-dollar market for MS treatment has centered on injectables like Teva Pharmaceuticals' (NYSE: TEVA) Copaxone, and Biogen's (NASDAQ: BIIB) Avonex and Tysabri. A big market opportunityIn 2012, Copaxone raked in $4 billion in sales for Teva,and Biogen's Tysabri -- a drug that has had safety stumbles -- pulled in $1.6 billion last year and $387 million in the second quarter. Biogen's Avonex also remains a big seller, generating sales of $774 million in the second quarter, down 2% from a year ago. But those drugs are less than ideal because they're self-injected -- something that causes many patients anxiety. According to studies, between 7% and 22% of the population suffers from blood/injection phobia, and as a result, self-injection treatments carry higher risk of non-compliance, potentially reducing patient outcomes and drug unit sales and volume. A new class of drugsRecognizing the need for better treatment options, big pharma has a slate of new oral MS drugs hitting the market. One of those is Novartis (NYSE: NVS) Gilenya, which was approved in 2010. The drug is growing quickly, with sales … Continue reading →

Oct. 29, 2013, 1 a.m. Marcelle Wright and Bailey Johnson, 9, check out Leanne Cronk's new hair style all in the name of multiple sclerosis. Picture: Katrina Dodd. AFTER family members of Railton resident Leanne Cronk were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis she decided on a radical way to help them. She has had half her head shaved and dyed with leopard spots to raise money for research into a cure for the disease. Ms Cronk hopes to raise $1000 for the cause and is almost there with $850 donated so far. The idea to shave half her head started as a joke, but at 10am on October 11 Railton's Hair Gallery made it reality. "To make sure I followed through with it I had a support team come up to Railton when I got it done," Ms Cronk said. "I wanted to be a bit radical and do something different to be as fun as I could." Her fund-raising has shown her the amount of people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). "It's not just my family, since I've been doing this I've come across so many people who are suffering from it. There's so many in Railton, in Sheffield, and … Continue reading →

Tue, Oct 29, 2013 A visit to the spa for a pampering treat is the ideal de-stressor for many people. Whether it's for a massage, facial or some other treatment, one typically emerges looking and feeling fresh and rejuvenated. At MeDBeau Beauty Therapy and Slimming Centre, you can be assured of top-class service provided by Ms Gina Ong and her team. Ms Ong has operated the spa for more than 30 years. MeDBeau, which celebrates its 31st anniversary on Nov 19, specialises in skin and slimming treatments using state-of-the-art equipment. One of the latest and most sought-after treatments is Regen-XL, which delivers immediate and long-term anti-ageing and body-contouring results. Powered by a safe and effective technology, called Tripollar, it is optimal for skin tightening, cellulite reduction, reducing localised fat deposits, facial contouring, wrinkle treatments and more. Regen-XL has also been clinically proven to regenerate collagen and accelerate fat metabolism on all skin types. The majority of patients who undergo Tripollar treatments see visible results after just one treatment, said the company. However, in order to achieve long-term results, several treatment sessions are recommended. On average, four to eight treatments are needed, but this can depend on the area being treated, … Continue reading →

Global biotechnology firm Biogen Idec, Inc. (BIIB: Quote) reported Monday a profit for the third quarter that increased 22 percent from last year, reflecting strong double-digit revenue growth amid improved sales of its multiple sclerosis drugs. Both adjusted earnings per share and quarterly revenues topped analysts' expectations. The company also raised adjusted earnings and revenues growth guidance for the full-year 2013. MS treatment Tysabri had been manufactured and distributed jointly by Biogen Idec and Elan Corp. plc (ELN), but now Biogen has acquired full rights for the therapy from Elan in the second quarter and recorded 100 percent of the revenues this quarter. Meanwhile, Biogen's Tecfidera is now the leading oral multiple sclerosis therapy in the U.S. after only six months on the market, according to IMS. It is currently approved in the U.S., Canada and Australia. The Weston, Massachusetts-based company reported net income of $467.62 million or $2.05 per share for the third quarter, higher than $398.40 million or $1.67 per share in the prior-year quarter. Excluding items, adjusted net income for the quarter was $561.1 million or $2.35 per share, compared to $454.7 million or $1.91 per share in the year-ago quarter. On average, 22 analysts polled by … Continue reading →

Biogen Idec's (BIIB) stock hit a new high Monday after it beat analysts' Q3 estimates on the strength of its new multiple sclerosis drug. Still, a new note of uncertainty with the launch of its hemophilia drug kept analysts cautious. Biogen said quarterly sales rose 32% over the year-earlier quarter to $1.83 billion, beating analysts' consensus by almost $40 million. Per-share profit minus one-time items jumped 23% to $2.35. The company raised its 2013 guidance, saying full-year revenue should rise 23% to 25%, with EPS of $8.65 to $8.85 vs. $6.53 last year. But that implied Q4 EPS below the consensus forecast. The earnings beat came almost entirely on the strength of Tecfidera, the oral MS treatment that Biogen launched six months ago. Sales totaled $286 million in the quarter, some $80 million above the consensus number and also past the "whisper number," according to ISI Group analyst Mark Schoenebaum. "This is really, truly incredible," he wrote in an email to clients early Monday. Those sales more than made up for a shortfall in Tysabri, Biogen's older MS blockbuster, whose $401 million in revenue was $29 million below consensus. This was not a surprise, however, as Elan (ELN) reported its … Continue reading →