Category Archives: MS Treatment

The Elk Grove MS Group will be hosting the number one authority in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research in northern California, Dr. John Schaefer. He is a neurologist and the director of the Mercy Multiple Sclerosis Center in Carmichael. He earned his MD from the University of Chicagos Pritzker School of Medicine His neurology residency was conducted at the University of California at San Francisco. In addition, Schaefer is the Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of California, Davis. He has written extensively on the topics of new treatments for MS, formulary decisions, patient adherence, and the costs of treatment for MS.Schaefer volunteers and serves the MS community at the Northern CA Chapter of the National MS Society. He is on the Professional Advisory Committee and is chair ofthe Central Valley location. He is also on the Chapter Board of Trustees. Joining Dr. Schaefer will be Edie Happs, a Certified Multiple Sclerosis Nurse and a certified rehabilitation nurse. She has focused her interest in Neuro- rehabilitation for the past10 years.She is now the MS nurse at Mercy MS Center in Carmichael. Sheis working withDr. Schaefer and Dr. KarstenDengel. They will present the North American Education Program, Working for Me … Continue reading →

Rachelle Reagan was diagnosed four years ago with multiple sclerosis, which destroys myelin, a protective sheath that surrounds neurons. There is no cure for the auto-immune disease which is marked by flare-ups that have a cumulative, damaging effect on the body. Reagan, 35, of Herrin, Ill., has had three flare-ups. So she was excited to recently learn that her physician, Dr. Florian Thomas, professor of neurology and psychiatry at St. Louis University School of Medicine, will be taking part in studying a new drug, Teriflunomide. It reduced the number of new brain lesions in people with MS in earlier studies, and as a bonus, it comes in pill form. Most existing treatments require injections or infusions. The hope is that Teriflunomide will also reduce the frequency of flare-ups. Each year, about 10,000 people nationwide are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. About 400,000 are living with the disease today. Reagan's left eye went blind during one flare-up when her immune system attacked the myelin surrounding her optic nerve cells. She estimates that 90 percent of her sight came back, but her vision is not as good as before. She still has problems controlling her legs since another flare-up attacked the myelin surrounding … Continue reading →

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) was not originally intended to be a cancer treatment but one local couple encourages everyone with cancer to do their research on this drug. Bonnie and Ken Shockey both use LDN, but for very different reasons. Bonnie takes the drug to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), but Ken began taking it when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Both Ken and Bonnie have had positive results with the drug and hope one day it will be added to the list of options for treating different cancers. In laboratory studies, LDN stopped the growth of new cancer cells, but did not kill the cancer. Started with MS Bonnie was diagnosed with MS in 2007 and was on a traditional Federal Food and Drug Adminstration approved treatment, until having a severe allergic reaction to the protein in the drug. Shockey started researching at her neurologists suggestion and came across LDN as a possible treatment for MS. She started taking LDN in April of 2009, seeing results after just five days. It literally reversed some of the MS symptoms I had had for several decades, she said. Kens diagnosis In 2010, Ken was diagnosed with an aggressive, advanced form of … Continue reading →

22-04-2012 22:54 Go here to read the rest: Multiple Sclerosis: Symptoms and Treatment - Video … Continue reading →

Editor's Choice Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis Article Date: 24 Apr 2012 - 0:00 PDT email to a friend printer friendly opinions Current Article Ratings: 1 (1 votes) Gilenya (fingolimod) is the only oral therapy approved to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS)1,2. It is the first in a new class of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) modulating compounds and has demonstrated superior efficacy over Avonex (interferon-beta-1a IM), a commonly prescribed treatment. In a pivotal head-to-head trial in patients with relapsing- remitting multiple sclerosis at one year, Gilenya achieved both its primary and secondary endpoints, i.e. a 52% relative reduction of the yearly relapse rate and a 40% relative reduction in the rate of brain atrophy. A recent sub-analysis at one year revealed that in comparison to interferon-beta-1a (IM), Gilenya achieved a 61% relative reduction in the rate of yearly relapses in patient subgroups with highly active relapsing-remitting MS patients who previously received interferon therapy. Gilenya has no label restrictions specific to treatment duration and was generally well tolerated during clinical trials with a manageable safety profile. Since February 2012, over 36,000 patients have been treated with Gilenya in clinical trials and in the post-marketing setting, which confirms Gilenya's long- term … Continue reading →

Editor's Choice Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis Also Included In: Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals Article Date: 23 Apr 2012 - 11:00 PDT email to a friend printer friendly opinions Current Article Ratings: 1 (1 votes) In agreement with the CHMP, the company has updated their E.U. product information after the Article 20 review the EMA announced in January 2012, in order to offer further guidance to healthcare providers who want to initiate using Gilenya in MS patients. In the E.U., Gilenya is approved for the treatment of individuals with highly active relapsing-remitting MS, regardless of treatment with beta interferon, or in patients with rapidly evolving severe relapsing-remitting MS. Gilenya is the first in a new class of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) modulating compounds and has demonstrated superior efficacy over Avonex (interferon-beta-1a IM), a commonly prescribed treatment. In a pivotal head-to-head trial in patients with relapsing- remitting multiple sclerosis at one year, Gilenya achieved both its primary and secondary endpoints, i.e. a 52% relative reduction of the yearly relapse rate and a 40% relative reduction in the rate of brain atrophy. A recent sub-analysis at one year revealed that in comparison to interferon-beta-1a (IM), Gilenya achieved a 61% relative reduction in … Continue reading →

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire -04/23/12)- A documentary film produced by digital marketing agency StudioPMG has been named an "Offical Selection" at the 2012 Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF). The award-winning film, titled "Challenge Walk MS Documentary," will be screened at Islands Cinema 3 in Newport Beach, California on April 29, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. StudioPMG, a provider of digital marketing, mobile applications and marketing analytics solutions, developed the documentary to help its client, Acorda Therapeutics, increase awareness and research for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). "Challenge Walk MS Documentary" is a 43-minute film about Team OptiMiStic, a group of seven women, five of whom have MS, who walk 50 miles in three days during the 2009 MS Challenge Walk. The documentary follows their progress from Carlsbad to San Diego, California, as they share their personal stories along the way. It was developed by StudioPMG as part of Acorda's "I Walk Because" campaign. Erica Wishner (Director, Consumer Communication and Outreach) and Maria Verastegui (Director, Creative Services) at Acorda developed the "I Walk Because" campaign to increase awareness for the Walk MS fundraising events and provide people with a place to share their Walk MS experience with others. "We are very proud of this film," said … Continue reading →

Heart Risk Safety Concerns Added to Multiple Sclerosis Drug's Label By Cari Nierenberg WebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD April 20, 2012 -- Novartis, the maker of the drug Gilenya (fingolimod), a once-daily oral capsule taken for multiple sclerosis, has added stronger warnings to labels and prescription information about the drug's possible heart risks, according to a company statement. Labels will now recommend that all patients have an electrocardiogram (ECG) before taking their first dose of the MS drug. In addition, those starting treatment with Gilenya are also advised to get a second ECG six hours after their first dose of the medication. New patients are advised to take the drug for the first time in their doctor's office with hourly blood pressure and heart rate checks during a six-hour monitoring period. The revised label information will not affect people currently taking the drug. But it may apply to them if they stop taking Gilenya for more than two weeks and need to restart the treatment. They would need to repeat the ECGs as well as the six-hour monitoring period. These changes follow an FDA report in December 2011 of an MS patient who died within 24 … Continue reading →

Public release date: 19-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Rachel Seroka rseroka@aan.com 651-695-2738 American Academy of Neurology NEW ORLEANS People who received injections of the multiple sclerosis (MS) drug interferon beta-1a soon after their first signs of possible MS were less likely to progress to clinically definite MS than people who switched to interferon beta-1a from placebo, according to new phase three results of the three-year REFLEXION clinical trial that will be presented as part of the Emerging Science program (formerly known as Late-Breaking Science) at the American Academy of Neurology's 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, April 21 to April 28, 2012. The trial was conducted with the human serum albumin-free formulation of interferon beta-1a, which is now available in all European Union countries, Australia, Canada and Switzerland, as well as a number of countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. It is not available in the United States. "While we've known it's beneficial to start MS drugs as soon as possible, this is the first trial to show a benefit of early injections of interferon beta-1a treatment at three years," said Mark Freedman, MD, with the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada, and … Continue reading →

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPXA - News), a biotechnology company developing Tovaxin, a novel T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), announced today that the Company will be holding a preliminary meeting with prospective clinical trial investigators at the 64th Annual American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Meeting in New Orleans on April 24, 2012. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the upcoming Phase IIb clinical trial using Opexas T-cell therapy in patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS). "We are honored to introduce our next clinical trial to a group of invited neurologists at this years AAN meeting in New Orleans, commented Neil K. Warma, President and Chief Executive Officer of Opexa. The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss with select clinicians and their study coordinators potential participation in the SPMS clinical trial as well as present the final protocol for the trial including the design, structure and patient selection criteria. This is an exciting time for Opexa, neurologists and SPMS patients as this study will provide an innovative opportunity for treatment in an area where currently there are very few treatment options. The annual AAN meeting is an excellent forum for the … Continue reading →