Category Archives: MS Treatment

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) CBS4s team hit the streets pedaling for the annual Bike MS ride on Saturday. The ride raises money for the Colorado-Wyoming chapter of the National MS Society. Early Saturday morning nearly 3,000 bicyclists made their way from Westminster to Fort Collins. Its all part of a 2-day ride for Bike MS. Every mile is making a difference in research and treatment for multiple sclerosis. This is one of the best bike rides and they know it and they know that its for the best cause, Carrie Nolan with the MS Society said. Audrey Blank has been battling the disease since 2007. It was actually a relief to finally get the diagnosis because then I knew we could do something about it, Blank said. With the amazing research and monies raised with the National MS Society, were making huge strides. Thats because cyclists like John Fedak are going the distance. This is my 28th ride, Fedak said. This year I rode to New Jersey from here and raised a few extra bucks more than I usually do I feel that Im doing some good and if I can get anybody aware, even one more person, its going to … Continue reading →

Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB), the worlds biggest maker of multiple sclerosis drugs, surged the most in 20 months on investor optimism that the companys Tecfidera pill may gain protection from generic-drug competition in Europe. Biogen climbed 4.8 percent to $218.85 at 12:59 p.m. New York time, after increasing 16 percent in its biggest intraday gain since October 2011. European regulators may rule later this year on whether to approve Tecfidera, already cleared in the U.S., the Weston, Massachusetts-based company said in May. The European Medicines Agencys Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use today granted new active substance status to Sanofis MS treatment Aubagio, which protects the medicine from generic competition for 10 years. The ruling may help Biogen gain protection for Tecfidera as well, said Brian Abrahams, an analyst at Wells Fargo & Co. in New York. The Sanofi ruling shows the European regulator is open to a sponsors arguments that a new drug should merit some regulatory exclusivity, Abrahams said in a note. We see this as an indirect, incremental positive. Tecfidera was approved in the U.S. in March. Biogen has asked the European regulator for exclusivity under a process referred to as the independent development principle, Abrahams … Continue reading →

Genzyme, a Cambridge-based unit of the French drugmaker Sanofi SA, said that it has moved closer to getting approvals to marketing two multiple sclerosis drugs in Europe. The drugs are Lemtrada, a treatment for adult patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, and Aubagio, also an MS treatment. In a press release, Genzyme said that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or CHMP, has issued a positive opinion on the approvals of Lemtrada and Aubagio. In deciding on whether to grant marketing approval for a drug candidate, regulators on the European Commission often follows the recommendations of the CHMP panel. As a result of the CHMPs positive opinions, Genzyme said it expects Lemtrada and Aubagio to get European marketing approvals in the coming months. Genzyme has long been known as a maker of treatments for rare diseases. With the support of Sanofi --- Sanofi bought Genzyme for $20.1 billion in 2010 --- Genzyme is looking to enter the lucrative, and broader, market for multiple sclerosis drugs. The market for such drugs has been estimated at about $13 billion a year worldwide. Genzyme has also been seeking approval to market Lemtrada in the US. Last August, Genzyme suffered a setback when … Continue reading →

LONDON (Reuters) - Sanofi's hopes in the multiple sclerosis market received a double boost on Friday as the European regulator backed an injectable treatment and adopted a more positive stance toward a pill for the neurodegenerative disease. The European Medicines Agency said it was recommending Lemtrada, Sanofi's biggest MS drug hope, for relapsing-remitting MS, ending a quarter-century development saga for the injectable treatment. The European regulator also reversed an earlier decision not to give pill-administered Aubagio a "new active substance" (NAS) designation because it is very similar to a much older drug. Without this designation, Aubagio, which received the regulator's green light in March, could have faced generic copies in Europe in as little as three years - the time required for brief clinical studies of generics and to review applications for approval. The news sent the stock over 1 percent higher. Sanofi's shares, which have risen around 13 percent since the start of 2013, were trading 0.8 percent higher at 80.65 euros at 1225 GMT, outperforming Paris' CAC40 bluechip index, down 0.7 percent. LENGHTY DEVELOPMENT EMA decisions are usually endorsed by the European Commission within a couple of months. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to rule … Continue reading →

An examination of the tiny, transparent zebrafish has shed light on how our nerve network protects itself, scientists said. They have discovered vital information about the way our bodies produce myelin, a fatty sheath that insulates and protects nerve fibres. The Edinburgh University team studied zebrafish because they share more than 80% of the genes associated with human diseases. The species has also been shown to respond to drugs in a similar way to humans. Their transparent bodies allows researchers to look directly into their nervous system without surgical or physical intervention. Myelin is critical for allowing nerve impulses to be transmitted quickly and affects our ability to walk, speak and see. The scientists found individual cells in the brain and central nervous system have only a matter of hours in which to generate this protective coating. They are now studying how the manipulation of genes and the use of drugs might promote myelin formation in zebrafish, potentially paving the way for the treatment of myelin-related conditions such as multiple sclerosis. The research is being published in the Developmental Cell journal. Contextual targeting label: Read more here: Study of tropical fish reveals MS clues … Continue reading →

By Maxx Chatsko | More Articles June 25, 2013 | Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks myelin surrounding nerves. It is a debilitating disease with no cure. Luckily, as our understanding of triggers in the immune system deepens, so does the likelihood of developing more effective treatments or even a cure. A new study shows just how far we have come. A team of scientists from Northwestern University, University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland, and University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany demonstrated that resetting a patient's immune system was safe and reduced the targeting of myelin by 50%-75%. The phase 1 trial supported moving into a phase 2 trial in Switzerland after funds are raised. It is great news for patients and will likely revolutionize the way we treat autoimmune diseases and allergy medications. However, it will be a long time before it readily competes with Gilenya from Novartis (NYSE: NVS) . Fool contributor Maxx Chatsko breaks it down for investors in the following video. While you can certainly make huge gains in biotech and pharmaceuticals, the best investing approach is to choose great companies and stick with them for the long term. … Continue reading →

24 June 2013 Last updated at 12:08 ET A tropical fish study has found clues about the human nervous system that may help multiple sclerosis treatment. An examination of the transparent zebrafish has shed light on how the nerve network protects itself. Scientists have discovered "vital" information on how the body produces myelin, a fatty sheath that insulates and protects nerve fibres. Edinburgh University studied zebrafish because they share more than 80% of the genes associated with human diseases. The species has also been shown to respond to drugs in a similar way to humans. Their transparent bodies allows researchers to look directly into their nervous system without surgical or physical intervention. Myelin is critical for allowing nerve impulses to be transmitted quickly and affects our ability to walk, speak and see. The scientists found individual cells in the brain and central nervous system have only a matter of hours in which to generate this protective coating. They are now studying how the manipulation of genes and the use of drugs might promote myelin formation in zebrafish, potentially paving the way for the treatment of myelin-related conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Excerpt from: Fish study may help MS treatment … Continue reading →

Jackson, MS (PRWEB) June 24, 2013 Gum disease Patients of periodontist Dr. Roger Parkes no longer have to endure extended surgeries with painful and lengthy recovery periods, but can now receive modern treatment with the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure. Dr. Parkes is among the leaders in his field to implement the use of this new surgical laser method for effective gum disease treatment. LANAP offers patients the best in results with minimal impact and discomfort. Traditional gum surgery is performed with a scalpel, requiring appropriate numbing (or sedation for some patients) and is also associated with some pain during recovery. Additionally, scalpel methods of gum disease treatment result in the cutting away of some healthy gum tissue in the process of removing the diseased tissue. LANAP is able to target only the affected areas, leaving all healthy gum tissue completely intact. Additionally, the laser is dramatically less invasive than the scalpel and results in less pain for patients. The use of LANAP for gum disease treatment is delivering advantages to patients every day. Decreased pain, decreased gum loss or recession, decreased time for healing and improved results all make this option for removing periodontal disease a revolutionary one for … Continue reading →

SWEA CITY, Iowa - "MS is a bizarre disease," admits Julie Hansen, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 17 years ago. "It hits everybody differently, and it's tough to find ... someone who's been through it too." Hansen, of Swea City, and friend Sara Winkelman, are starting the support group after Winkelman was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis late last year. "We've been trained by the National MS Society, because there is nothing in the line of support groups in our area of Iowa. The closest ones are in Mason City or Fort Dodge, and one in Mankato" Hansen said. Sara Winkelman, left, and Julie Hansen, with unofficial mascot Diesel, are starting a MS support group for the region called the MS Warriors. The support group kicks off Friday with an evening picnic at Smith Lake, north of Algona. The group will travel once it's established, going where members are located. "We realize that with MS, mobility is a big issue," she said. "The national society is there to help us with information. ... We're trying to be the voice out there and provide a place for people to go." Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive autoimmune disorder that targets the coating … Continue reading →

On June 29 and 30, Erin Hennessey, of Chelmsford, will join more than 2,200 people riding 150 miles by bicycle from UMass Boston to Provincetown during the 29th annual Bike MS: Cape Cod Getaway, presented by EMD Serono & Pfizer. Hennessey is one of a select group of about 50 riders who have MS. Diagnosed in 2011, she chose to ride and to raise funds to fuel cutting-edge research and treatments to stop progression, restore function, and end MS forever. This is her second Cape Cod Getaway. A member of the Peps Peddlers team, Hennessey is participating in the I Ride with MS campaign, sponsored by Genzyme, a Sanofi Company, which is committed to supporting the MS community through its MS One to One (www.msonetoone.com) program. She will wear a special cycling jersey during the ride that says, "I Ride with MS," which provides greater visibility for riders living with MS to everyone else on the ride. By personalizing the disease, all cyclists are more strongly connected to the movement, inspiring and empowering them to pedal a bit harder along their journeys. Organized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Bike MS (www.bikeMS.org) consists of 100 cycling events across the country … Continue reading →