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Summary: Researchers find that a type of exercise training ( high-intensity resistance training (HIRT)) reduces fatigue in people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and provides other benefits. The results of this trial support HIRT as a potential intervention for fatigue in MS. Background: With over... Read the full article
Summary: A collaborative research team funded by the International Progressive MS Alliance has published results that advance the goal of finding a way to shorten the length of clinical trials and reduce the number of participants needed to test therapies for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). This... Read the full article
Summary: An international panel of experts propose the need for a new framework to describe multiple sclerosis (MS) that is based on the underlying biological disease processes, which vary with individuals over time, in place of the current descriptions (i.e., relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary... Read the full article
SUMMARY: A population-based nationwide study from Sweden identifies a lower risk of conversion from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to secondary progressive MS (SPMS) after the introduction of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in 1995. The majority of people living with MS are initially... Read the full article
What are clinical trials? Have you ever wondered how new medications and treatments are approved in Canada? Typically, the process starts with a hypothesis or idea that is tested in a laboratory using cells and animal models. If the idea shows promise as a potential treatment in pre-clinical studies, Read the full article
SUMMARY: A potential treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) - ublituximab - was evaluated in phase three clinical trials. The results from the clinical trials indicate that people with relapsing MS who took ublituximab had lower risk of relapses and fewer brain lesions in comparison to the... Read the full article
Today, on World Mental Health Day , we are raising awareness of mental health challenges in people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) by highlighting a new book, Mind, Mood, and Memory: The Neurobehavioral Consequences of Multiple Sclerosis , written by Dr. Anthony Feinstein . Dr. Feinstein is a professor... Read the full article
SUMMARY: Data collected over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic found that women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who were pregnant or those in the postpartum period shortly after birth did not experience worse COVID-19-related outcomes compared to women with MS who were not pregnant or in the postpartum... Read the full article
A study led by Dr. Anthony Feinstein and team, found people living with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) became more depressed, reported more emotional distress, and rated their physical health more poorly almost two years into the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In an initial study, a group of... Read the full article
A research study in Norway found that adverse childhood experiences, such as emotional, sexual, or physical abuse, in women were associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse or neglect, lead to extreme types of stress that increase... Read the full article
Results from a Canadian study show a survival advantage with early treatment of first- and second-generation disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). DMTs for MS target underlying disease processes, such as inflammation, and have been previously associated with improved... Read the full article
A US-study led by Dr. Annette Langer-Gould (Kaiser Permanente Southern California) and team assessed electronic health records of individuals in Southern California to determine whether the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) varies by race and ethnicity and found that rates of MS are high in both... Read the full article
Researchers in the fields of MS, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and other experts, including people affected by MS gathered in a virtual workshop to understand the earliest window when MS begins and to identify key research priorities that will enhance early detection of MS with the ultimate goal... Read the full article
The brain is not easily accessible to cells of the immune system as it is surrounded by a relatively impenetrable wall of cells called the blood-brain barrier . However, in multiple sclerosis (MS), a large number of immune cells are able to cross this barrier and drive inflammation in the central nervous... Read the full article
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that affects people during the most productive years of life. In Canada, the cost associated with MS has only been considered as productivity loss associated with absenteeism or the amount of time a person has missed from work... Read the full article
Early detection of cancer is critical for improved survival. A recent Canadian study finds that breast and colorectal cancer were less likely to be detected through regular cancer screening in people living with MS. Reduced participation in screening might be due to higher rates of disability in people... Read the full article
The gut microbiome are microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that live in the digestive tract. They are believed to play a fundamental role in immune development and regulation of the central nervous system. Hence, researchers are interested in how alterations in the composition of the gut microbiome... Read the full article
Leaders of the International Progressive MS Alliance have published a paper calling for a globally coordinated, multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary approach to address the important and ongoing questions related to COVID-19 and progressive MS. The publication outlines key scientific priorities... Read the full article
A recent study examined the use of medical cannabis by Canadians with multiple sclerosis (MS) and found that two-thirds of survey respondents have tried medical cannabis at least once. Given high rates of cannabis use by people living with MS, there is a need for research and evidence-based resources... Read the full article
Dr. Maria Pia Sormani (University of Genoa) and team assessed COVID-19 vaccination data of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) from 27 Italian MS centres within the Italian Alliance against COVID-19, in order to identify the risk of breakthrough infections among individuals treated with specific... Read the full article
The search for a biomarker detectable through a blood test that is able to predict multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity and progression and to identify whether a treatment is effective in the clinic and in clinical trials remains a challenge. A team funded by the International Progressive MS Alliance... Read the full article
Researchers believe that MS is caused by a combination of genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors. Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), a virus that causes infectious mononucleosis and commonly referred to as the ‘kissing disease’, has long been suspected as a risk factor for MS. Research has provided some... Read the full article
While much progress has been made in the understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) over the last several decades, we continue to focus on investing in research that can lead to cures for MS. Through a consensus building process, the National MS Society in the USA sought input from scientific... Read the full article
Researchers at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School examined a cohort of over 10 million young adults in the US military, 955 of whom were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) over a 20-year period to understand the causes of MS. Following examination of blood samples... Read the full article
A Canadian study conducted at the University of Calgary MS Clinic examined the use of the antimalarial drug, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), for the treatment of people living with primary progressive MS (PPMS) in a phase II futility trial and found that treatment was associated with reduced disability worsening... Read the full article
A recent study compared the effect of the Swank and Wahls diets in people living with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and found that both diets were associated with meaningful reduction in perceived fatigue and improved quality of life. These findings demonstrate that people with RRMS may be able to reduce... Read the full article
Overview: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are high users of the healthcare system and often report a number of unmet needs and barriers in accessing care. Dr. Marcia Finlayson and team set out to gather the perspectives of people living with MS to understand critical barriers in accessing specific... Read the full article
BACKGROUND : A North American COVID-19 & MS registry, COViMS was established in response to the new coronavirus in order to understand how people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other allied diseases such as Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD) and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody... Read the full article
The international multi-site clinical trial on the use of ME senchymal S t E m cells for M ultiple S clerosis (MESEMS) reported that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) could be harvested and grown, and were safe and well tolerated in people with MS. However, in this trial, researchers were unable to demonstrate... Read the full article
Promising new research by Dr. Anastassia Voronova (University of Alberta) and colleagues provide evidence for the role of an immunological molecule called fractalkine in instructing neural stem cells to become oligodendrocytes – the only cells in the brain with the ability to produce myelin. Using cell-based... Read the full article
According to a recent study by Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie (University of Manitoba) and colleagues, multiple sclerosis (MS) does not affect cancer-specific survival of women with breast cancer for up to 10 years following diagnosis. However, the researchers also found that having MS was associated with a higher... Read the full article
On May 5, 2021, Health Canada approved the use of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine in children ages 12 to 15, after initially authorizing its use for individuals 16 and older. This would be the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized for use in children in Canada. Health Canada approval was based on topline results... Read the full article
Background: Currently, types of multiple sclerosis (MS) are determined by a combination of symptoms and somewhat subjective observations of disease changes, rather than by specific markers of disease. These observations usually guide the timing and choice of treatment. Research : To better understand... Read the full article
For many of the worst symptoms that may be experienced by individuals living with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, there are insufficient treatment approaches that can relieve them and improve quality of life. To jump start research to address these gaps, the International Progressive MS Alliance... Read the full article
Dr. Manu Rangachari and his research team at Université Laval have identified a new mechanism for sex differences in multiple sclerosis (MS). While biological sex is well recognized as an important determinant of MS incidence, with women being 2-3 times more likely to develop MS than men, what remains... Read the full article
OVERVIEW: A North American COVID-19 & MS registry called COViMS was established in response to the new coronavirus in order to understand how people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have COVID-19 fare, and to understand whether there are patient and disease characteristics associated with worse outcomes... Read the full article
Health Canada has authorized the use of a fourth COVID-19 vaccine developed by Janssen (Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical subsidiary). This new vaccine uses a harmless adenovirus vector to deliver the genetic information that instructs the body to produce the surface spike protein of the novel coronavirus... Read the full article
On February 26, 2021, Health Canada authorized the use of a third COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1-S). This new vaccine is a viral-vector based vaccine which uses a harmless virus, in this case an adenovirus, to deliver the genetic information (DNA) that instructs the body on how to make the... Read the full article
A study by Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie (University of Manitoba) and colleagues found no difference in the incidence and mortality rates of breast and colorectal cancers between people with and without multiple sclerosis (MS) in Canada. These findings suggest that people with MS may not be at higher risk of... Read the full article
Disease-modifying therapies for relapsing-remitting forms of MS have advanced greatly, but few therapies target the neurodegeneration and compartmentalized inflammation found in progressive forms of MS. An expert panel assembled by the Alliance published an article in Nature Reviews Neurology recommending... Read the full article
Ofatumumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to CD20 and destroys targeted B cells. B cells are among immune cells that have been implicated in causing damage to the central nervous system in MS. Ofatumumab was approved by Health Canada for the treatment of adults with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)... Read the full article
Background: An international research team headed by Dr. Anne Baron-Van Evercooren (INSERM, Paris), in collaboration with Dr. Tanja Kuhlmann (University Hospital Münster), Dr. Jack Antel (McGill University, Montreal), and Dr. Gianvito Martino (San Raffaele Hospital and Vita San Raffaele University, Read the full article
BioNTech, a German biotechnology company that is working with Pfizer to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, reports that they are using the same technology to develop a therapeutic approach to multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers treated mice with MS-like disease, termed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis... Read the full article
Health Canada has released a safety alert related to treatment with Gilenya (fingolimod) and risk of liver injury. Post-market cases of clinically significant liver injury have been reported in people treated with Gilenya. Some cases have resulted in liver failure requiring a liver transplant. The Health... Read the full article
On December 23, 2020, Health Canada approved a second COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA-1273) manufactured by Moderna Therapeutics Inc. Similar to the Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine , this new vaccine uses mRNA, or genetic material from the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19, to trigger an immune response... Read the full article
New findings from Dr. Soheila Karimi’s research group at the University of Manitoba provide compelling evidence for the involvement of Neuregulin-1 beta 1 (Nrg-1β1) in MS pathology. Nrg-1β1 is a critical protein for neural cells and myelin in the central nervous system. Dr. Karimi’s research team has... Read the full article
On December 9, 2020, Canada reached a critical milestone in the fight against the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19. Health Canada determined that the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine meets the requirements of stringent safety, efficacy, and quality requirements for use of the vaccine... Read the full article
In September 2020, the MS International Federation released the Atlas of MS 3 rd edition, Part 1: Mapping multiple sclerosis around the world – key epidemiology findings . The report outlines the prevalence and incidence of MS globally and how this varies across countries and demographics such as age... Read the full article
SUMMARY Several recent studies examined risk factors for MS in immigrants in Ontario. These studies looked at MS incidence, mortality rates, and access to health services to understand differences in immigrant populations as compared to long-term residents. RESEARCH To understand risk factors for MS... Read the full article
Zeposia (ozanimod) is a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator, taken orally once daily and is indicated for relapsing-remitting MS. Zeposia works by entering the central nervous system (CNS) and binds to specific subtypes of the sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor, S1P1R and S1P5R. The... Read the full article
OVERVIEW: A global data sharing initiative was established in response to the new coronavirus and a need for evidence to guide clinical management of MS during the pandemic. The initiative seeks to understand the risks of COVID-19 in people with MS and whether disease modifying therapies (DMTs) affect... Read the full article
Have your say on this topic by completing the MS Society of Canada survey below. The MS Society of Canada will provide input on behalf of people with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) to the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) as part of a new drug submission for... Read the full article
Summary: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). While the causes of MS are not well understood, it is well established that the disease is driven by an activated immune system involving specialized cells (T cells) that... Read the full article
The global outbreak of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had enormous impact on the psychological and social health of the general population. Healthy individuals have reportedly experienced mental health symptoms, such as stress, helplessness, and fear of becoming ill and dying. The quarantine... Read the full article
BACKGROUND: In order to accelerate the development of new treatments able to stop disease worsening for progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), there is a need to identify a biological marker that can effectively and accurately measure progression. A biological marker is a material naturally found... Read the full article
Health Canada has approved Enspryng (satralizumab), the second disease modifying therapy available for adults and young people from 12 years of age, living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) seropositive. Health Canada’s approval of Enspryng, Read the full article
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is seeking input from Canadians affected by MS about two new MS disease modifying therapies (DMTs), ozanimod and ofatumumab. The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) and the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux... Read the full article
The Canadian MS Working Group, which consists of neurologists from the Canadian Network of MS Clinics, has released an updated list of recommendations on the optimal use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for individuals with all types of MS and special populations (pregnant women and pediatric MS)... Read the full article
Background: Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, can start years before clinical diagnosis and are often preceded by a range of health issues. For example, individuals with Parkinson’s may experience depression and constipation years before the classic symptoms, such as motor... Read the full article
MedDay Pharmaceuticals conducted a phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an investigational MS treatment, high-dose biotin (MD1003®) in people with progressive MS. The trial involved 642 people with primary progressive MS and secondary progressive MS who did not have recent relapses... Read the full article
A global effort is underway to understand the impact of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, on people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other CNS demyelinating diseases (Neuromyelitis Optica, or MOG antibody disease). Through a COVID-19 & MS global data sharing initiative , participating countries... Read the full article
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ozanimod (Zeposia®) for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (relapsing-remitting MS and active secondary progressive MS). Ozanimod is an oral sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator that works by entering the central nervous system... Read the full article
Health Canada has approved Mayzent® (siponimod) for the treatment of adults with active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) with active disease evidenced by relapses or imaging features characteristic of multiple sclerosis inflammatory activity, to delay the progression of physical disability... Read the full article
SUMMARY : Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). Evidence suggests that B cells (B lymphocytes), a part of the immune system, play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression. A number of effective MS disease modifying therapies deplete B cells, Read the full article
Summary : Cognitive dysfunction affects 40-80% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), leading to greater difficulty in maintaining work, sustaining relationships, and pursing leisure activities. This study investigates whether withdrawal from cannabis use results in cognitive improvements. Background... Read the full article
Background: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is being investigated as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). MSCs are found in many places in the body including bone marrow, skin and fat. Studies in animals in the laboratory and preliminary clinical trials in humans have shown promise... Read the full article
SUMMARY : With a number of approved disease modifying therapies (DMTs) available for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a team of researchers from the University of British Columbia sought to develop and evaluate a prototype for an interactive online patient decision aid that... Read the full article
SUMMARY : This study set out to understand health care utilization of children with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) in Canada using population level data. Health care utilization is driven by predisposing factors (e.g. such as age), factors that influence access to services (e.g. transportation, Read the full article
SUMMARY: Researchers from the University of British Columbia sought to identify common genetic changes (or variants) in families with more than one member with MS. While the onset of MS is complex, genetic changes may be potential risk factors in this process. Through this study, researchers identified... Read the full article
Background: There is a need for treatment options in progressive MS. Lipoic acid, an antioxidant, has shown promise in animal models of MS and a small clinical trial. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease affecting over 2 million people worldwide. Those with progressive forms of the disease may have... Read the full article
Project Summary: The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada announces $1M for a collaborative team grant led by Dr. Jennifer Gommerman at the University of Toronto to study the molecular factors that govern multiple sclerosis (MS) progression. This project aims to shed light on how most people with relapsing-remitting... Read the full article
SUMMARY : While multiple sclerosis (MS) is typically diagnosed in young adults aged 20-49, the disease also affects children and adolescents. Typically, disease modifying treatments for MS are only tested in adults, providing little information on the safety and efficacy of new treatments in children... Read the full article
Summary: Researchers found that people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) who live in neighbourhoods with lower levels of income and education were associated with a higher risk of disability progression. Overview of Research: Dr. Helen Tremlett at the University of British Columbia and team looked... Read the full article
Summary: MS Society funded researcher, Dr. Timothy Kennedy, McGill University, developed an automated self-guided system to better understand specialized cells in the central nervous system , called oligodendrocytes . Oligodendrocytes are critical because they produce a protective layer, myelin , around... Read the full article
March 29, 2019: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Mayzent® (siponimod) as a first-line treatment in adults with active secondary progressive MS, relapsing-remitting MS and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), or an initial neurological event. The drug is marketed by... Read the full article
Summary: Immune cells have a dual function in MS; some are beneficial while others are harmful. Researchers have discovered that a type of immune cell, called plasma cells, are found in the gut and can travel to the brain to reduce inflammation in a mouse model of MS. Background: B cells originate in... Read the full article
Summary: A new method using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from 1,889 participants from three separate multiple sclerosis (MS) phase III clinical trials were used to detect slowly expanding lesions as a marker for chronic active lesions. Chronic active lesions are more prominent in progressive MS... Read the full article
Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, along with partners Brain Canada, are excited to announce that a team of world-renowned researchers in multiple sclerosis (MS) were selected to begin work on the Canadian Prospective Cohort Study to Understand Progression in MS (CanProCo). Biogen is... Read the full article
Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada has launched evidence-informed recommendations on vitamin D supplementation that can help people affected by MS make informed decisions about their health. These recommendations will provide information for at-risk populations and people diagnosed with... Read the full article
Summary: In a Multiple Sclerosis Society-funded study, researchers demonstrate that exercise enhances the rate of repair or remyelination following the development of MS-like lesions in mice. Furthermore, they identify a potential mechanism through which this repair occurs and discover that exercise... Read the full article
Summary: In a Multiple Sclerosis Society-funded study, researchers confirm that venoplasty (a procedure that involves inserting a balloon that widens the veins and improves blood flow) versus sham (mock-treatment) procedure in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who displayed signs of chronic cerebrospinal... Read the full article
Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada announced a $5 million, multicenter, international clinical trial to investigate if cognitive rehabilitation and aerobic exercise can improve cognition in people with progressive MS. The study has the potential to provide a treatment option for people... Read the full article
Background: Non-specific health symptoms or signs prior to the onset of the disease is called a prodrome. Characteristics of an MS prodrome are unknown. Canada has one of the highest rates of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), yet the cause of MS is incompletely understood. Researchers are invested in identifying... Read the full article
Background : Mechanisms leading to brain damage in MS are not fully understood One hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) is the loss of myelin , the protective covering on the nerve fibers, found in the brain and spinal cord, collectively called the central nervous system (CNS). The loss of myelin leads... Read the full article
Background: The Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System (CCDSS), supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), collects administrative data from every province and territory to generate national estimates on the prevalence and incidence of chronic diseases, including multiple sclerosis... Read the full article
Background : Disease modifying therapies (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS) share many features including reducing relapse rates, maintaining or reducing the level of disability, and reducing the number of new or enhancing lesions as measured using magnetic resonance imaging. As with any medication, Read the full article
Summary: Online mediation training, involving 139 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), improved quality of life (QoL) and lowered depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. Background: Depression, anxiety, and fatigue are some of... Read the full article
Background: Neural stem cells can reduce brain and spinal cord inflammation in animal models of MS Macrophages, called “eater” cells of the immune system, are known to destroy bacteria and abnormal cells. Specialized macrophages, named microglia, are found widespread throughout the brain and spinal... Read the full article
Pharmaceutical company, Novartis, released findings from EXPAND, a double-blind, randomized phase III study of oral, once-daily siponimod in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) recently published in the renowned journal The Lancet . A commentary, by Dr. Luanne Metz and Wei-Qiau Liu (University... Read the full article
The Treatment: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is an aggressive procedure which involves collecting stem cells from an individual’s own bone marrow and then exposing them to chemotherapy to deplete the immune system. The stem cells are then reintroduced into the body where... Read the full article
Translational research is a high-risk, iterative phase of the drug development pipeline that involves a lot of trial and error to assess if the drug will be safe and produce a beneficial effect in animal models of the disease. Key questions are answered about a potential drug in translational research:... Read the full article
Background: Effective treatments for progressive MS will need to target the pathophysiology of the disease The drivers or mechanisms that lead to damage in progressive MS are unlike those in relapsing-remitting MS—hence different approaches are needed to identify novel therapeutics. Progressive MS causes... Read the full article
Update (March 2, 2018): On Friday March 2, 2018, Biogen Canada and AbbVie announced the voluntary withdrawal of ZINBRYTA® (daclizumab) from the market worldwide due to safety concerns. Eight reports of brain inflammation (encephalitis and meningoencephalitis) were reported in Europe in individuals being... Read the full article
Breaking News (February 15, 2018): 1995 was a milestone year in Canada with the approval of the first disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for MS, specifically for relapsing-remitting MS. 2018 can be added to the list as another milestone year with the approval of the first DMT for primary progressive MS... Read the full article
Background: Is diet related to progression in MS? Some MS worsens and some does not. Some MS worsens rapidly -- and some stays stable for years. The reasons why remain unknown which is deeply frustrating to everyone concerned with this disease. Everyone, healthy or ill, can modify their diet. But, is... Read the full article
Summary Health Canada has recently approved EMD Serono’s disease modifying therapy, Mavenclad™ (oral cladribine). Mavenclad™ selectively targets and accumulates in certain types of white blood cells ( lymphocytes ), such as disease-causing T cells . By interfering with a target cell’s ability to process... Read the full article
Background: Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is a term coined by Dr. Paolo Zamboni of the University of Ferrara in Italy. CCSVI proposes that the veins in the head and neck are narrowed or blocked, and therefore... Read the full article
Background: It has been 20 years since disease-modifying drugs became available for MS. How are they being used? Interferons were the first disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) approved in Canada in 1995 and continue to represent one of the first line treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis... Read the full article
Background: Nearly 20% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) use cannabis (also known as marijuana) to help them manage symptoms such as pain. In MS, men experience greater cognitive dysfunction than women. Recent research has discovered that cannabis contributes to cognitive dysfunction, however... Read the full article
Background: Antioxidants are substances that are man-made or naturally found in food and are taken to prevent or delay damage to cells in the body. LipoicAcid (LA) is an over the counter antioxidant supplement which has been recently shown to reduce inflammation and disability in mice that have an MS-like... Read the full article
Background: Microglia are cells of the immune system that are found in the central nervous system (CNS, consisting of the brain and spinal cord). Microglia protect the CNS from harmful infectious agents by releasing pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signals, but recently there has been a debate... Read the full article
Background: The cause of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains largely unknown; genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors have all been linked to MS, and the question of how an individual’s diet impacts MS progression has been of considerable interest and spurred research studies in recent years. Specifically, Read the full article
Summary Health Canada has recently approved a new drug for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis called Ocrevus (ocrelizumab). Developed and marketed by pharmaceutical company Roche, the drug is administered via intravenous infusion and targets white blood cells called B cells, which are believed to... Read the full article
Background: The symptoms experienced by people living with MS are unpredictable and vary from person to person. Physical symptoms, such as balance impairment and difficulty walking, are clearly visible, however, there are symptoms that are not as readily seen such as depression and fatigue. Depression, Read the full article
The MS Society of Canada and Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD) are excited to collaborate again to support a translational research project that could lead to the development of disease-modifying therapies for people living with progressive MS. Following a peer review process by experts... Read the full article
Background: Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS ) is a single episode of neurological symptoms suggestive of multiple sclerosis. Individuals affected by CIS have a high chance of developing MS after CIS and it is unclear why some people develop MS and others do not. Many research studies are working hard... Read the full article
May 11, 2017- Toronto, ON- Three important steps are required when taking an idea from the research laboratory into a viable treatment. The first step is the discovery phase (also known as basic science) where researchers aim to identify new targets, such as a protein, that may be contributing to a... Read the full article
Background: Canada has the highest prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) worldwide. Since the onset of MS typically happens between the ages of 20 and 40 years, the most productive years of life may be affected with challenges such as unemployment and disability. The MS Society of Canada’s Action on... Read the full article
Background: Inflammation and neurodegeneration are two characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS). These responses cause damage to the nerve cells in the brain, preventing the cells from communicating with one another and leading to the varying symptoms seen in individuals with MS. One process that... Read the full article
Breaking News (March 28, 2017): The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Ocrevus™ (ocrelizumab) for the treatment of primary progressive and relapsing (including secondary progressive MS with relapses) forms of MS. The drug is marketed by pharmaceutical company Genentech, Read the full article
Background Public support for legalized physician-assisted death (or medical assistance in dying) has grown over time in many countries. In 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that some sections of the Criminal Code would need to change to comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms... Read the full article
Background With over 2.3 million people living with the disabling effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) world-wide, it is no surprise that many research teams around the world have been working to find a cure for the disease. While disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) help in temporarily immobilizing the... Read the full article
Background Preliminary, unpublished results from a placebo-controlled, double-blind phase I/II pan-Canadian CCSVI clinical trial were presented at the Society for Interventional Radiology annual scientific meeting in Washington, D.C. on March 8th, 2017. Jointly funded by the MS Society of Canada and... Read the full article
Physical activity is an important priority for people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). In 2015, the MS Society of Canada posted the MS Wellness Survey , an online questionnaire designed to capture the voices of people living with MS about how they view wellness, what they do to achieve optimal wellness, Read the full article
Background Physical exercise – in particular resistance training such as lifting weights, and cardiovascular or aerobic training such as running and swimming – has become a key component to the management of multiple sclerosis (MS). The MS research community has come a long way from viewing exercise... Read the full article
Background Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) constantly produce new blood and immune cells from deep within the bone marrow, making them the building blocks of the blood and immune system. Since the 1960s, scientists have been refining a stem cell transplantation technique to treat certain types of blood... Read the full article
Background A person’s gut is home to trillions of bacteria collectively known as the gut microbiome. These tiny microbes are essential partners in good health: they assist in the digestion of certain foods, can produce a variety of nutrients, interact with and help train one’s immune system, and aggressively... Read the full article
Novartis has announced preliminary results from the EXPAND study, a phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of the experimental drug siponimod (BAF312) in participants with secondary progressive... Read the full article
Health Canada has recently approved Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. three-times-a-week Copaxone® (glatiramer acetate) 40mg/mL injection. The new formulation of Copaxone provides a less frequent dosing schedule option for people living with relapsing remitting MS. Once-daily Copaxone 20mg/mL injection... Read the full article
Background In people living with multiple sclerosis, the lesions in the brain that result from damage to myelin can arise from different processes. The “outside-in” process reflects the attack of myelin from inflammation-producing cells that enter the central nervous system from outside and cause damage... Read the full article
Background One of the ways that researchers gain important insights into a complex disease like multiple sclerosis (MS) is by studying how different molecules interact in order to trigger and drive the disease. Certain molecules can play multiple, sometimes conflicting roles in the MS disease process... Read the full article
*March 8, 2018 update: Biogen Canada and AbbVie announced the voluntary withdrawal of ZINBRYTA® (daclizumab) from the market worldwide due to safety concerns. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved Zinbryta (daclizumab high-yield process) for adults with relapsing forms of... Read the full article
Background Currently, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) approved for multiple sclerosis (MS) appear to work by blunting the destructive autoimmune response that targets tissues in the central nervous system (CNS). For many individuals living with MS, DMTs offer measurable therapeutic benefits by suppressing... Read the full article
REVISION: June 3, 2016 Background The precise factors that cause multiple sclerosis continue to puzzle researchers today, although the prevailing view is that a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors interacts to trigger the emergence of the disease. Over the past three decades, Read the full article
Background The human body activates a complex repair program in response to damage to myelin, the substance that coats and protects nerve fibres in the central nervous system (CNS). The repair program involves the generation of new myelin-producing cells called oligodendrocytes that apply new myelin... Read the full article
Background As the central nervous system (CNS) develops, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) spread throughout the brain and spinal cord. Over time, they develop into mature oligodendrocytes, the cells responsible for producing myelin – the insular coating that surrounds nerve fibers and allows... Read the full article
Background Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) describes a theory first posited in 2008 by Dr. Paolo Zamboni (University of Ferrara, Italy) hypothesizing that people living with multiple sclerosis experience narrowing or blockage of the veins in the head and neck, resulting in the build-up... Read the full article
Background Many people living with multiple sclerosis may also be affected by other chronic diseases. When someone is living with more than one condition, those conditions are termed “comorbidities”. Last year, MS Society Dr. Donald Paty Career Development Award and Operating Grant holder Dr. Ruth Ann... Read the full article
Background The bacteria living in our gut – our gut’s microbiome – and our immune system are inextricably linked: the microbiome can influence the immune system, while the immune system keeps the microbiome in check. Growing evidence suggests that, in some cases, shifts in the composition or number... Read the full article
Background Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a multidimensional disorder with a wide range of symptoms. Some are readily apparent – for instance, changes to how a person walks or muscle weakness and tremors – while others are less so. These ‘hidden’ symptoms include pain, depression, poor sleep, and fatigue... Read the full article
Background One of the challenges facing multiple sclerosis researchers is discovering new ways to stop the process whereby the immune system attacks its own body tissues – termed autoimmunity – while leaving the general immune system intact to fight infection. A key priority in research is to develop... Read the full article
Background The human brain is a web of nerve cells that are in constant communication with one another. Even when the brain is unconscious, certain networks of nerve cells continue to fire away in a flurry of activity. These so-called resting-state networks are thought to keep the brain primed and alert, Read the full article
Background The need to close the gap between discovery research in the laboratory and clinical trials, in order to accelerate the delivery of safe and effective treatments to people with multiple sclerosis is an urgent priority. In 2014 the MS Society of Canada formed a collaboration with the Centre... Read the full article
Background A substantial body of evidence suggests that smoking tobacco increases the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) and may even accelerate disease progression. On the other hand, nicotine, the ingredient in tobacco responsible for its addictive properties, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory... Read the full article
Background Smartphones have, for many, become part of the fabric of everyday life. These modern devices are equipped with an array of sophisticated sensors and can store incredible amounts of data, making them potentially powerful research tools. Now, researchers are hoping to harness this ever-present... Read the full article
Background Cytotoxic T cells are a special kind of white blood cell that act as important warriors in the immune system’s host defense response against infection: they recognize and destroy target cells (such as those infected with a pathogenic virus) by programming them to die. In multiple sclerosis, Read the full article
Background Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that provides many health benefits, and a great deal of evidence has recognized vitamin D as a protective factor against the development of multiple sclerosis. In addition to its protective effects, vitamin D has recently been put in the spotlight to uncover... Read the full article
Background The disease process underlying progressive MS remains a complex, largely unsolved area of research. People living with progressive MS often respond poorly to current MS immune-modifying therapies, suggesting that progressive MS is less an inflammatory disease and more a neurodegenerative... Read the full article
Background Microglia are specialized immune cells found only in the brain and spinal cord of the central nervous system (CNS). When activated, these cells help coordinate the inflammatory response in a healthy system; stimulating the recruitment of other immune cells as well as clearing leftover cellular... Read the full article
Background Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when immune cells target and attack the central nervous system (CNS), causing inflammation and damage to both myelin (the protective covering around nerve fibers) and, eventually, nerve fibers as well. A leading agent in this inflammatory... Read the full article
Background The lush bacterial ecosystem in our intestines – referred to as the gut microbiome – has co-evolved with humans to give us the means to efficiently break down food and supply us with extracted energy and nutrients. Beyond its role in digestion, the gut microbiome has a profound impact on... Read the full article
Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse activity follows the seasons; MS attacks are generally more frequent in the spring and summer and quiet down in the fall and winter. Although the reason for this seasonal pattern is unknown, one hypothesis suggests that a factor provoked by the environment... Read the full article
Background Research into understanding and treating multiple sclerosis (MS) has largely been centered on a type of white blood cell known as the T cell or T lymphocyte. T cells are in charge of protecting the body against harmful infections, but in the case of MS T cells have been identified as important... Read the full article
Background A condition known as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) was first described by Italian doctor Paolo Zamboni in 2009, who believed that abnormality in blood drainage from the brain and spinal cord was a contributing factor in the development of multiple sclerosis. This theory... Read the full article
Background There is mounting evidence to suggest that smoking tobacco not only increases a person’s risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but can also accelerate the disorder’s progression. While a number of studies have examined the link between smoking and MS, certain aspects of the relationship... Read the full article
Background Approximately 2 - 5 % of all cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) are diagnosed in children and adolescents. Although relatively uncommon, pediatric-onset MS differs from the adult form in that it is more aggressive; children have larger brain lesions and more frequent relapses than adults. It... Read the full article
Background Biotechnology company Genentech, member of Roche group, has just announced results from a phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab for people living with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Ocrelizumab is the humanized form of Rituximab, a mouse... Read the full article
Background Like many chronic disorders, the psychological and social impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) extends beyond the people living with the disease to encompass their families. For young children, a parent’s chronic disorder can be a source of stress and anxiety and, in some instances, can affect... Read the full article
Background The majority of studies which attempt to understand if and how environmental exposures such as low vitamin D contribute to the cause of multiple sclerosis are plagued by confounding factors or reverse causation. Confounding means that MS may not actually be caused or linked to vitamin D deficiency, Read the full article
Background One of the major causes of disability in primary progressive MS (PPMS) is ongoing neurodegeneration of the brain and spinal cord. Developing the tools and technologies to visualize and measure progressive neurodegeneration is, therefore, essential to managing MS. These tools can give us... Read the full article
Summary Health Canada recently approved Plegridy™ (peginterferon beta-1a) as a disease-modifying therapy for adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), to reduce frequency of relapses and slow the progression of disability. The approval followed the completion of pivotal phase III clinical... Read the full article
Background Vitamin D, often called the sunshine vitamin, is produced by the body when a person’s skin is exposed to the ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation in sunlight. The vitamin can also be obtained be eating certain types of food, such as fatty fish or fortified foods like milk, or through supplementation... Read the full article
Background Before the launch of the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Network in 2004, pediatric multiple sclerosis was under-recognized and poorly understood. The prevalence and impact of MS in children and adolescents was unknown, and how their MS differs from MS in adults was yet to be determined... Read the full article
Background Nearly half of all individuals living with MS will experience a major bout of depression at some point during their lifetime and are three times more likely than people without MS to suffer from anxiety. Large population studies of non-MS individuals have consistently found higher rates of... Read the full article
Background Multiple sclerosis is characterized by two different phenomena: demyelination (loss of myelin) predominates in the relapsing-remitting form, while neurodegeneration (damage and/or loss of nerve cells), although occurring early in the disease, becomes more prominent in the progressive... Read the full article
Background Roughly 50% of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience MS-related pain. The pain is thought to arise from damage and inflammation to the central nervous system (CNS), leading to abnormal processing and/or transmission of pain-related messages from the body to the CNS. The... Read the full article
Background Many small molecules in the body are exquisitely sensitive to the presence of a disease. These molecules, which can include DNA, proteins, carbohydrates and fats, can be used as signatures to quickly and accurately detect a disease and to measure its progress or its response to a particular... Read the full article
Background A single episode of neurological symptoms which lasts at least 24 hours and are suggestive of multiple sclerosis is called clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) . Not all people with CIS go on to develop MS, however those with a CIS who display tissue damage on MRI are at a higher risk of conversion... Read the full article
Background T-lymphocytes ( T-cells ) are a class of immune cell that fight infection. They are also one of the primary contributors to the development of MS. During an MS attack, myelin-reactive T-cells invade the central nervous system (CNS) where they orchestrate and direct an autoimmune response... Read the full article
Background Many different types of immune cells are thought to contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). While some have firmly established roles, others are still hotly debated. One of these mysterious types is a group of immune cells called CD8+ T lymphocytes ( T cells ). While present... Read the full article
Background People who are affected by chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis often encounter significant challenges given the long-lasting nature of the diseases and disability that is associated with them. It is important for health care professionals and researchers to better understand how the... Read the full article
Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) in which myelin – the coating that surrounds nerve fibers and is produced by oligodendrocytes – is attacked and damaged by the immune system. Myelin repair (or remyelination ) is carried out by a group of cells... Read the full article
Background While we know that women living with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience fewer relapses during mid to late pregnancy or while breastfeeding, we are not sure why this occurs. One possibility lies with the hormone prolactin. Necessary for milk production, prolactin is at its highest levels... Read the full article
Background Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the central nervous system (CNS). Understanding why and how the immune system malfunctions is therefore vital to better understanding the disease and developing new therapies. To date, researchers have made multiple... Read the full article
Background Although multiple sclerosis is not strictly hereditary (directly transmitted from parent to child), the risk of developing MS is higher among siblings or children of a person with MS compared to the general population. This inheritance pattern suggests that genetic factors play a role in... Read the full article
Background The degradation of the myelin sheath that surrounds nerves in the central nervous system (CNS), an event referred to as demyelination , is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis. Remyelination is the body’s natural mechanism of repairing myelin, although this process is compromised during MS, Read the full article
Background A growing body of evidence demonstrates that vitamin D deficiency is a contributing factor to an increased risk of multiple sclerosis. The link between vitamin D and MS was originally based on the observation that, overall, the prevalence of MS is higher in countries further away from the... Read the full article
Background Cognitive impairment is a major debilitating feature of multiple sclerosis, and is estimated to occur in more than 50% of people living with MS at some point during the disease. These cognitive impairments can appear as difficulties with learning and memory, and deterioration of executive... Read the full article
Background There is emerging evidence that the increasing rate of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis in developed countries may be linked to a decline in the rates of infectious disease. Specifically, the hygiene hypothesis suggests that higher standards of sanitation and antibiotic use, along... Read the full article
Background One of defining characteristics of multiple sclerosis, particularly in the progressive phase, is the extensive damage that occurs to axons, or nerve fibres, that are found underneath the myelin sheath in the central nervous system . This axonal damage is part of a process called neurodegeneration, Read the full article
Background Standard medications that are available to treat MS work by influencing the activity of the immune system . The development of these medications is based on the observation that MS is predominantly driven by an autoimmune response, in which the body’s natural defenses start to attack healthy... Read the full article
Updated April 8, 2015 Pharmaceutical company Novartis has reported a case of PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) in an individual who had received Gilenya® * (fingolimod) for more than 4 years for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Novartis has informed the... Read the full article
Background Mounting evidence suggests that a number of biological, genetic, and environmental factors contribute to one’s risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). One of the more widely accepted factors is sex; females are reported to be three times more likely to develop MS than males, and this... Read the full article
Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have recently garnered the attention of multiple sclerosis (MS) researchers for their remarkable ability to reduce harmful inflammation and promote healing of injured tissue. However, it is not currently known whether MSC can benefit people affected by MS, an... Read the full article
Background Although a variety of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are available to treat the damaging inflammation that affects people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), DMTs are only partially effective and two-thirds of people with MS are reported to experience breakthrough disease activity despite... Read the full article
Background Pharmaceutical company Biogen Idec announced results from a phase II clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of potential MS drug anti-LINGO-1 in individuals affected by acute optic neuritis (AON). Optic neuritis is one of the first symptoms experienced by an estimated 16% of people... Read the full article
This year marked some exciting developments in multiple sclerosis research, with every breakthrough bringing us closer to understanding the causes underlying MS and finding ways of improving the quality of life for people affected by MS. The MS Society of Canada has led the charge on fighting MS by... Read the full article
Background Although most cases of MS begin during adulthood, some estimates suggest that 2 - 5 % of all cases are diagnosed in individuals under the age of 18, and MS has on rare occasions been diagnosed in children as young as two years old. MS that has been diagnosed in children and adolescents –... Read the full article
Background Disruption to the blood brain barrier (BBB) – a gateway that controls which cells and molecules enter the central nervous system – is a defining feature of the disease process underlying MS. However, the timing of BBB breakdown relative to other disease events, such as the formation of... Read the full article
In a statement released on Dec. 1, Novartis announced that a Phase III INFORMS clinical trial investigating the efficacy of the drug Gilenya* (fingolimod) in the treatment of primary progressive MS did not show an improvement in various disability measures compared to placebo . Gilenya is an oral disease-modifying... Read the full article
Background Inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS) in MS is responsible for damage to the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibres. This, in turn, impairs the ability for nerves to communicate with one another, leading to a host of neurological symptoms experienced by affected individuals. The... Read the full article
Background An estimated 10 to 15% of people with MS suffer from the primary progressive MS (PPMS) subtype; unlike the more common relapsing-remitting (RRMS) subtype, those with PPMS experience steady progressive deterioration in neurological function without remissions (periods of recovery) and a poorer... Read the full article
Pharmaceutical company Biogen Idec reported a case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) - a rare and generally fatal brain disease - in an individual in Europe who had received Tecfidera * (dimethyl fumarate) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The patient was enrolled in the ENDORSE... Read the full article
Background As it stands, multiple sclerosis (MS) drug therapies have traditionally focused on reducing damage to myelin and axons. This takes the shape of therapeutics directed at modifying the disease course. Often they work by interfering with the inflammatory component of MS, resulting in less relapses... Read the full article
Background Depression – a condition marked by persistently low mood and a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities – is common among people living with MS, adding significant burden to their well-being. It is challenging to detect depression in individuals with MS, as a distinction must be made... Read the full article
Background: Primary progressive MS (PPMS) affects 10-20% of people with MS and differs in many ways from relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), such as in age of onset, gender ratios, and physiological characteristics. PPMS is harder to study than RRMS due to the lower proportion of cases and thus information... Read the full article
Background: Microglia are a type of immune cell that act as the primary form of defense in the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia act by killing viruses, bacteria, or other foreign cells, as well as by assisting with wound healing processes by collecting, or “scavenging,” cellular debris. Recent... Read the full article
Background: A significant amount of research has been done to better understand the relationship between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and MS. Research is still underway in order to provide answers for people living with or affected by MS. Dr. Adnan Siddiqui and colleagues in Buffalo... Read the full article
Background: Brain cells transmit information through axons, the long fibre-like extensions of the cells wrapped in a substance called myelin . Myelin protects the brain cells while enhancing their capacity to communicate with each other. In MS, immune cells that normally act to protect our bodies cross... Read the full article
Background: The blood-brain and blood-spinal cord barriers (BBB and BSCB, respectively) are important features of the body that regulate the passage of cells into the brain or spinal cord from the bloodstream. It has been shown in mice that exhibit MS-like characteristics that when the physical integrity... Read the full article
Background: People with MS are living longer than in the past, likely attributable to a higher life expectancy in general and increasingly effective treatments for MS. Strategies for reducing disability and improving quality of life in later years have thus become of great interest, underlying the need... Read the full article
Background: The corpus callosum is a part of the brain consisting of thick nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres. In MS, the corpus callosum is known to become increasingly damaged as the disease progresses, consequently leading to reduced communication between the two hemispheres... Read the full article
Background: Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) is typically diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 40, during the family building years. It is therefore important that information pertaining to how RRMS could affect pregnancy, and vice versa, is available. Several studies have investigated this relationship, Read the full article
Background: Little is known about the risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission in the nonelderly MS population and health outcomes following admission. It has been previously shown that MS is linked to increased risks of infection and heart disease , which could increase the risk of being admitted... Read the full article
Background: In June 2010, the National MS Society (USA) and the MS Society of Canada committed over $2.4 million to support seven new research projects that would gain further insight into the relationship between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and MS. One of these studies was led... Read the full article
Background: Cognitive dysfunction affects 40-60% of individuals with MS. Common signs of cognitive dysfunction include decreased memory, concentration, and attention, as well as difficulty putting thoughts into words. It has been shown through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that in individuals... Read the full article
Background: MS is a disease with a strong sex bias, with women being up to four times more likely to be affected than men. The reasons for this difference remain unclear; however, researchers have indicated genetic, hormonal and environmental contributions. A study that was recently conducted at the... Read the full article
Background: Currently available therapies for multiple sclerosis are designed to target inflammation. This feature enables them to reduce the frequency relapses, which occur when waves of immune cells enter the central nervous system and cause damage to the protective myelin sheath . Although successful... Read the full article
Summary Health Canada has recently approved Lemtrada™ (alemtuzumab) as a disease-modifying therapy for adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who have been unresponsive or intolerant to interferon beta or other disease-modifying therapies. The approval followed the completion of two... Read the full article
Background: Approximately 80% of people with multiple sclerosis present with a relapsing-remitting course. In this type of MS, relapses, which can also be called ‘flare-ups’ or ‘attacks’, are separated by periods of recovery during which symptoms do not appear. Much work in the field of MS has been... Read the full article
Summary: Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York presented new findings on the link between a toxin produced by common foodborne bacteria and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Jennifer Linden, who presented the data on behalf of her Weill Cornell colleagues at the 2014 American Society for Microbiology... Read the full article
Background: Immune systems are designed to protect the body against foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. An autoimmune disease is a condition in which the immune system recognizes tissues in the body as foreign invaders and attacks them in the same way they would the viruses and bacteria... Read the full article
Historically, people living with MS were advised against engaging in physical activity. This advice was based on the fact that exercise could result in a worsening of neurological symptoms including fatigue, mobility and vision problems. Current research has provided evidence to support that exercise... Read the full article
Background: The Atlas of MS 2013 was made available to the public during the annual meeting of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ECTRIMS) held in October of this year. The Atlas is a comprehensive overview of population patterns of MS, as well as the distribution of resources... Read the full article
Background: Health Canada has approved oral therapy AUBAGIO™ (teriflunomide) for the treatment of people with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to reduce the frequency of relapses and to delay the accumulation of physical disability. Clinical trials: The Health Canada approval was based... Read the full article
Background: Developing a new drug is a complex process involving an enormous amount of time, money and effort. Taking basic research findings about a disease like MS, and translating them into viable, safe, and effective therapies can take decades, and even after that there are still additional regulatory... Read the full article
Study methods: A research group from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Coastal Health, and University of Saskatchewan published a study in the U.K. medical journal The Lancet , reporting on the prevalence of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) in people with MS, their unaffected... Read the full article
Background: What do we know about repair in MS? The majority of therapies for MS specifically target components of the immune system that are believed to cause damage to tissues in the brain and spinal cord. Although these ‘immunomodulatory’ treatments are successful in reducing myelin injury, they... Read the full article
Background: Searching for clues about CCSVI and MS in the younger population Often considered a disease which affects adolescents, multiple sclerosis (MS) has been observed in a small percentage of children. Diagnosed before reaching their teenage years, children with MS experience symptoms of a relapsing-remitting... Read the full article
Background: Copaxone Glatiramer acetate (GA), marketed as Copaxone by pharmaceutical company Teva Pharmaceuticals, is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in Canada. Copaxone has ‘immunomodulatory’ effects, meaning it has the ability to alter... Read the full article
Canadian pharmaceutical company Novartis has been recently informed of a report of PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) in an individual in Europe who had received Gilenya* (fingolimod) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Novartis is working with the reporting physician to further... Read the full article
Background: Determining the link between CCSVI and MS Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is described as a condition in which the veins in the head and neck are narrowed or blocked (an effect known as stenosis) and therefore unable to efficiently remove blood from the brain and spinal... Read the full article
Background: Remyelination and MS Multiple sclerosis symptoms are the result of damage to myelin, a substance which wraps around and protects the wire-like structures known as axons which are found in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve. Myelin also serves as an insulator for axons, allowing them... Read the full article
Background: What is targeted in MS? MS is classified as an autoimmune disease, which means the body's own immune system recognizes components that are naturally found in the body and attacks them as if they are foreign pathogens. In general, each autoimmune disease involves a different target in the... Read the full article
This past April the world’s largest and most important annual event in the field of neuroscience took place in San Diego, California. Over 10,000 practicing neurologists, medical students and research scientists convened for the 65 th American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting. The weeklong conference... Read the full article
Background: Childhood MS MS is usually considered to be a disease of young adults. However, a number of studies indicate that between 2.7% and 5% of individuals with MS are diagnosed much earlier in life. The majority of children with MS are between 10 and 17 years old, but MS has been seen as early... Read the full article
Quick links: TECFIDERA™ - FAQ February 29, 2012 September 19, 2012 Health Canada has approved TECFIDERA TM delayed-release capsules (dimethyl fumarate, Biogen Idec – formerly BG-12) as a first-line oral therapy for adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). “We welcome the approval of... Read the full article
Background: Immune cells and targets It is believed that multiple sclerosis disease is prompted by a series of immunological events. However, the mechanism by which immune cells enter the central nervous system (CNS) and cause tissue damage remains to be defined. A group of lymphocytes known as CD4... Read the full article
Background – Stem cell therapies in MS Stem cells are unique cells in the body which possess the capability to ‘self-renew’, or replicate themselves, as well as develop into specialized cells which perform specific functions. These characteristics have identified stem cells as a potential treatment... Read the full article
Background: The Role of Dietary Salt in Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune diseases like MS are defined as inappropriate immune responses to cells and tissues in the body. Much work has been done to identify the types of cells involved in these responses, as well as genetic abnormalities that alter cell... Read the full article
Background: Vitamin D and MS Recent studies have illustrated a relationship between levels of vitamin D and multiple sclerosis disease activity as seen through clinical and MRI measures. Aside from its role in promoting calcium absorption and overall good bone health, vitamin D has also been shown to... Read the full article
Background: Determining the link between CCSVI and multiple sclerosis Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) has been a topic of active discussion over recent years. The association between CCSVI and MS, originally reported by Dr. Paolo Zamboni, MD from the University of Ferrara in Italy, Read the full article
Summary A team of researchers from England and Germany investigated the relationship between early relapses (within the first 2 years), secondary progression (SP), and late disability in MS. They suggest that the total number of early relapses in the relapsing-remitting phase does not influence the... Read the full article
Summary According to findings from a retrospective observational study conducted in British Columbia, hospital admissions for MS have decreased over the past 20 years, but the length of stay has increased. [Charity Evans, PhD; Elaine Kingwell, PhD; Feng Zhu, MSc; Joel Oger, MD, FRCPC, FAAN; Yinshan... Read the full article
Summary Previous studies suggest that the level of vitamin D in a person’s blood may influence the risk of developing MS. Jonatan Salzer, MD, and colleagues at Umeå University in Sweden confirmed that women who had higher levels of vitamin D during the first trimester of pregnancy had a lower risk of... Read the full article
Nearly 7,000 investigators convened in Lyon, France in mid-October to present findings at ECTRIMS (European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS), the world’s largest meeting dedicated to MS research. More than 1250 scientific presentations and display posters covered virtually every aspect of... Read the full article
Summary Researchers from Queen Mary University of London, UK, analyzed datasets from previously published studies of month of birth and subsequent MS risk. They observed a significant increase of MS risk in people living in northern hemisphere countries who were born in April and a reduction in risk... Read the full article
Study 1 - Alemtuzumab vs interferon beta 1a as first-line therapy in previously untreated relapsing-remitting MS, Phase III Summary Findings from a phase III study assessing the safety and efficacy of alemtuzumab (a lymphocyte-depleting humanized monoclonal antibody) compared with interferon beta 1a... Read the full article
Summary Women participating in a small study of progressive resistance (weight) training improved significantly in walking, and reported improvements in quality of life as well. The study used standard measures to evaluate the effects of the program, along with in-depth interviews of the participants... Read the full article
Summary Results of a placebo-controlled, 12-week clinical trial conducted by researchers from Louisiana State University, New Orleans showed that Ginkgo biloba failed to improve cognitive function in people with MS. Extract from the Ginkgo biloba tree has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, Read the full article
The Study The New England Journal of Medicine has published results from two phase III clinical trials; DEFINE (Determination of the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Fumarate in Relapsing-Remitting MS) and CONFIRM (Comparator and an Oral Fumarate in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis) for BG-12 capsules... Read the full article
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved teriflunomide once-daily pills (Aubagio® Genzyme, a Sanofi company) to treat relapsing forms of MS. Aubagio (pronounced oh-BAH-gee-oh) is a novel oral compound that inhibits the function of specific immune cells that have been implicated in MS. Aubagio... Read the full article
Seven research projects investigating CCSVI (Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency) and MS — launched with a $2.4 million investment by the National MS Society and the MS Society of Canada — have reached the two-year milepost. The funded multi-disciplined researchers have been reporting significant... Read the full article
Details On July 12, 2012, Health Canada made revisions to its recommended use of Gilenya among patients with relapsing remitting MS. In order to ensure patient safety Novartis updated the Gilenya label to include revised guidance surrounding first dose monitoring, use in people with certain cardiovascular... Read the full article
Acorda Therapeutics Inc. reported that post-marketing study results for Ampyra (Fampyra in Canada) have failed to show an improvement in the walking speed of people with MS in the United States. Following approval of Ampyra 10 mg in 2010, the FDA requested that Acorda conduct a clinical trial to assess... Read the full article
The Study Research teams from the University of Kentucky and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, developed a new class of oral drugs that appear to target and suppress inflammation in the brain of animal models of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's... Read the full article
Summary A UBC research team collected on all MS patients with definite MS registered with an MS clinic in British Columbia between 1980 and 2004 (follow up to 2009) from the British Columbian MS database to examine naturally occurring improvements in disability scores (EDSS). The team observed improvements... Read the full article
Details In accordance with Health Canada, Novartis has updated the Gilenya label to include revised guidance surrounding first dose monitoring, use in people with certain cardiovascular risk factors, and how to re-initiate treatment with Gilenya, should it be interrupted. The revised labeling recommends... Read the full article
Details A warning has been issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding an increased risk of seizures in individuals with MS, treated with fampridine (Ampyra®), developed by Acorda Therapeutics Inc. Ampyra (or Fampyra as it is known in Canada) was approved by the FDA in January 2010... Read the full article
Summary An international team of researchers have identified a protein that may be a target of the immune attack in some people with MS. An immune response to this protein – a protein called "KIR4.1," which is found on several types of brain cells – was observed in the serum of 47% of people with MS... Read the full article
Summary Results from a randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase II trial investigating the safety and efficacy of Masitinib, a selective oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for treatment of progressive MS were published in BMC Neurology and indicate a promising area of treatment for progressive MS. [Vermersch... Read the full article
Summary A UBC research team conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate the association between interferon beta exposure and disability progression in people with relapsing-remitting MS, using a database of MS cases in BC. Researchers compared people with relapsing-remitting MS treated with... Read the full article
Summary An Australian research team conducted a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study of botulinum toxin type A to evaluate its safety and efficacy in treating arm tremor in people living with MS. Findings from this study suggest that BOTOX® improved arm tremor and tremor-related disability in... Read the full article
Summary Supported by the MS Society of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, a research team from UBC conducted a large Canadian retrospective cohort study to compare the incidence of all cancers and specific types of cancers following... Read the full article
Details Tysabri increases the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a viral infection of the brain, which usually leads to death or severe disability. Health Canada has approved a product monograph change for Tysabri that identifies anti-JC virus (JCV) antibody status as a risk factor... Read the full article
Summary Preliminary findings from a small randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind cross-over trial suggested that smoked cannabis was beneficial in reducing spasticity and pain in people with treatment resistant spasticity compared to placebo. [Jody Corey-Bloom MD PhD, Tanya Wolfson MA, Anthony... Read the full article
Summary Nearly 12,000 neurologists and investigators convened in New Orleans in April to present findings at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting. Over 500 scientific presentations and display posters focused on research to stop MS, restore function, and end MS forever. Among these were... Read the full article
Details The FDA has completed its evaluation of a report of a patient who died after the first dose of Gilenya in December 2011. It also has evaluated additional clinical trial and postmarket data for Gilenya, including reports of patients who died of cardiovascular events or unknown causes. While the... Read the full article
Details The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication about the potential risk of procedures and devices used to treat CCSVI (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) in people living with MS. The FDA reviews these risks and supports further research to understand more... Read the full article
Details A case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has been reported in an individual being treated with Gilenya outside of Canada. Prior to starting treatment with Gilenya, the individual was treated with natalizumab (Tysabri) for approximately three and a half years. The individual... Read the full article
Details Biogen Idec Canada announced that FAMPYRA (fampridine sustained release tablets or fampridine SR) is now available for prescription in Canada. Health Canada approved Pr FAMPYRA™ on February 10, 2012 for the symptomatic improvement of walking in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) with walking... Read the full article
Summary Women’s risk for developing clinically isolated syndrome, which often leads to multiple sclerosis, was shown to decrease with increased number of pregnancies in a comprehensive study undertaken in Australia. Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is a first neurologic episode caused by inflammation... Read the full article
Details Biogen Idec has submitted a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval to market oral BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate) for the treatment of MS , based on positive results from several clinical trials involving people with relapsing-remitting MS . BG-12 previously received... Read the full article
Summary Health Canada has announced an ongoing safety review of Gilenya (fingolimod) following the reports of serious adverse events, including 11 deaths internationally. At this time, it is not clear whether the deaths were caused by Gilenya or whether other factors may have played a role. There have... Read the full article
Summary Health Canada has approved Pr FAMPYRA™ (fampridine) sustained release tablets, indicated for the symptomatic improvement of walking in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) with walking disability (EDSS 3.5-7). Fampridine blocks tiny pores, or potassium channels, on the surface of nerve fibres, Read the full article
Summary Health Canada approved the use of Botox to treat neurogenic bladder (Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity) associated with MS and spinal cord injury. Botox is a powerful neurotoxin that temporarily blocks connections between the nerves and muscles, resulting in short-term relaxation of the targeted... Read the full article
Summary Spanish researchers investigated the effectiveness of an Ai-Chi aquatic exercise program against pain and other symptoms in a randomized controlled trial involving 71 people with MS and found that the hydrotherapy program significantly reduced pain levels in people with MS and improved fatigue, Read the full article
Reports from seven multi-disciplinary teams investigating CCSVI (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) in MS indicate that they are making good progress toward providing essential data and critical analysis as these two-year projects move toward their completion. The studies were launched on July... Read the full article
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has started a review of the disease modifying therapy fingolimod (Gilenya ® ). The review was initiated following reports issued on January 20, 2012 that 11 deaths have occurred among people being treated with Gilenya. The EMA review is in addition to the review currently... Read the full article
SUMMARY An international team has identified clues that may help explain how Epstein-Barr virus, which has been linked to multiple sclerosis, may contribute to the brain inflammation experienced by people who have MS. In active brain lesions (spots of disease activity) in people who had MS in their... Read the full article
SUMMARY Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a way to track the progression of MS by using a new MRI method that measures iron levels in brain tissue. This finding will provide a better understanding of the impact MS has on the brain over time and will enable researchers to track... Read the full article
Summary Researchers at Oxford University identified that a gene that causes vitamin D deficiency may also cause MS . Growing evidence suggests that there is a link between vitamin D and MS . Subsequent studies have established that the closer people live to the equator the lower the risk of developing... Read the full article
Our sympathies go out to the family of an American who recently died within 24 hours of receiving a first dose of the oral medication Gilenya® (fingolimod, Novartis). Novartis has confirmed this event and has reported it to the Health Authority around the world including Health Canada. Details of this... Read the full article
Summary A research team from the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) provide further understanding of the method by which the blood brain barrier (BBB) works to avert attacks of the immune system on the brain. These findings which have been published in the prestigious journal Science... Read the full article
Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation announced a $3.8 million grant to investigate the complex interplay between degeneration and inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). The grant will fund a three year study led by Dr. Peter Stys... Read the full article
Summary On November 16, 2011, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health announced the Common Drug Review (CDR) recommendation that fingolimod (Gilenya), the first oral disease modifying therapy, be reimbursed through provincial and territorial public drug programs. Health Canada approved... Read the full article
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and Dr. Alain Beaudet, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), announced today that CIHR is ready to accept research proposals for the Phase I/II clinical trial on chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). The request... Read the full article
Summary Researchers from the University of Alberta have found that crocin, an active ingredient in the spice saffron, has a neuroprotective effect and may offer a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis. [André M. Deslauriers, Amir Afkhami-Goli, Amber M. Paul, Rakesh K. Bhat, Shaona Acharjee, Kristofor... Read the full article
Summary Researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Ontario) and University of Toronto who lead the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Network developed a standardized scoring tool to identify MRI predictors that can be used to diagnose MS in children with acute CNS demyelination... Read the full article
Summary University of Alberta researchers report that neurons are susceptible to neuronal damage through a novel mechanism mediated by Granzyme B (GrB) and its receptor mannose-6-phosphate receptor (M6PR).Inhibiting this mechanism offers new approaches for future MS therapies. [Yohannes Haile, Katia... Read the full article
Summary A research team led by a University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health scientist has discovered a type of spinal cord cell that could function as a stem cell, with the ability to regenerate portions of the central nervous system in people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis... Read the full article
Summary Researchers at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal, Hopital Notre-Dame in Montreal investigated the involvement of interleukin-15, a cytokine, on CD8 T cells or 'killer T cells' as it relates to the mechanism of MS. [Raphael Schneider, Alma Nazlie Mohebiany, Igal Ifergan, Diane... Read the full article
Summary Researchers at the University of Alberta discovered that the genes responsible for producing neurosteroids, which allow brain cells to communicate and enable cell repair and re-growth, are suppressed in people with MS. Increasing the level of these neurosteroids in the central nervous system... Read the full article
Summary Results from a Phase III study involving a new oral disease-modifying therapy, teriflunomide, an agent that inhibits specific immune cells, was shown to reduce relapse rates, disability progression and MRI evidence of disease activity as compared with placebo. Further studies are ongoing to... Read the full article
Summary The Government of Canada announced investment of almost $6 million to support 10 studies on neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and neuromuscular conditions. The funding is part of the $15 million National Population Health... Read the full article
Summary Researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered a molecular mechanism that encourages the body to produce its own beta-interferon. Some current disease-modifying treatments for relapsing forms of MS provide beta-interferon by injection. This discovery suggests that there might be... Read the full article
Summary Findings from a small study conducted at Oslo University Hospital, Ulleval, Norway, found that poor bone health, including osteoporosis and low bone density, commonly occurs in the early stages of MS. Findings from this study suggest that preventative measures to maintain good bone health may... Read the full article
Summary A new study co-funded by the National MS Society (USA), the National Institutes of Health and the University of Rochester examined the cost-effectiveness of therapies to treat MS, and found that the cost for improving the quality of life for people with MS in the U.S. is high. The study found... Read the full article
Summary Merck Serono has decided not to pursue approval of its oral therapy cladribine ( Movectro ) for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. In March 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested additional analyses or new studies on cladribine from Merck Serono before they... Read the full article
The first-year progress reports from seven multi-disciplinary teams investigating CCSVI (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) in MS indicate that they are on track to provide essential data and critical analysis as these two-year projects move toward their completion. These studies were launched... Read the full article
Summary UBC researchers and UBC MS clinic neurologists compared outcomes in people with benign MS (EDSS 3.0) and found that depression and mental health quality of life differed little between the two groups. However, people with longstanding 'benign' MS (EDSS ≤3 for 25+ years) had less fatigue, better... Read the full article
Summary UBC researchers, Dr. Helen Tremlett and Mia van der Kop reported findings from a retrospective cohort study she conducted using data from the British Columbia MS Clinics’ database and the British Columbia Perinatal Database Registry to determine if there was a difference in pregnancy related... Read the full article
Summary Researchers from Taipei Medical University in Taiwan conducted a nationwide, population-based study to investigate the frequency and risk of MS following the occurrence of herpes zoster, the virus commonly known as chicken pox or shingles. Researchers demonstrated an increased risk of developing... Read the full article
Summary Biogen Idec. Canada announced Health Canada’s approval to market a new convenient autoinjector, Avonex Pen, for treatment of people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and those with a single demyelinating event. Avonex Pen is the first single-use; once-a-week, intramuscular autoinjector... Read the full article
Last month more than 10,000 researchers and practicing neurologists from around the world gathered at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Honolulu. Over 500 presentations related to multiple sclerosis. National MS Society grantees/MS Society of Canada grantees were... Read the full article
Ottawa – March 23, 2011 – The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada welcomes the federal government’s announcement of a national monitoring system that will capture information to help identify disease patterns and track treatments and long-term outcomes for people living with MS. The system announced... Read the full article
Summary On March 9, 2011, Health Canada approved Gilenya® (fingolimod) capsules, the first oral disease-modifying therapy developed for relapsing-remitting MS. Gilenya (prounounced Jil-EN-ee-ah) has been approved for use in people who have tried one or more MS therapies, but are unresponsive or intolerant... Read the full article
Summary Six-month progress reports from seven multi-disciplinary teams investigating CCSVI (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) in MS indicate that they have established rigorous protocols, are successfully recruiting participants, and are on-track to evaluate and deliver important data when... Read the full article
Summary The authors investigated the role of Vitamin D in brain tissue injury and clinical disability in Multiple Sclerosis. They studied 193 people with MS using serum samples to measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Disability was assessed with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), the MS Severity... Read the full article
Summary Laquinimod, an oral novel immunomodulator, was shown to reduce MRI-measured disease activity in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients. The objective of this work was to determine whether the safety and efficacy profile of laquinimod, as shown in a placebo-controlled 36-week trial , is sustained... Read the full article
Summary Fatigue and cognition in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis treated with interferon beta. Melanson M, Grossberndt A, Klowak M, Leong C, Frost EE, Prout M, Le Dorze JA, Gramlich C, Doupe M, Wong L, Esfahani F, Gomori A, Namaka M. Int J Neurosci. 2010 Oct;120(10):631-40. Details The effects... Read the full article
More than 5,500 neurologists and other investigators from around the world convened in Gothenburg, Sweden on October 13-16 to present findings at the annual ECTRIMS (European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis) conference. More than 900 scientific presentations and display posters... Read the full article
Summary Constipation affects many people with multiple sclerosis (MS), negatively impacting on their quality of life. The use of abdominal massage has been reported in several populations and has been shown to increase the frequency of defaecation. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility... Read the full article
View or print this bulletin in its original format. Summary A stratified, randomized, waitlist controlled study over 12 months assessed the effectiveness of a 6 week bladder rehabilitation program in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) in an Australian community cohort . Khan F, Pallant JF, Pallant... Read the full article
Summary The results of a Phase III trial of an oral drug designed to treat uncontrollable laughing and/or crying (known as pseudobulbar affect), a troubling symptom experienced by some people with MS, ALS, and other neurological disorders, have now been published. AVP-923 (Avanir Pharmaceuticals) significantly... Read the full article
Summary Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is often much reduced among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), and incidences of depression, fatigue, and anxiety are high. Authors examined effects of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) compared to usual care (UC) upon HRQOL, depression, and... Read the full article
Summary Depressive symptoms and fatigue are frequent and disabling symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Depression and fatigue have been associated with a poor vitamin D status, and a poor vitamin D status is often found in MS. Knippenberg S, Bol Y, Damoiseaux J, Hupperts R, Smolders J. Acta Neurol... Read the full article
Summary Significant progress in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment has been made over the last two decades, including the emergence of disease-modifying therapy (DMT). However, substantial unmet medical need persists and has stimulated the search for new therapeutics. Acta Neurol Scand . 2010 Sep 29... Read the full article
September 28, 2012 – Halifax – The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada welcomes the federal government’s announcement that the Phase I/II clinical trial for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) has received the necessary medical and ethical approvals required to proceed. The national... Read the full article
Summary Edmonton – Researchers have identified a gene that leads to a chain of events which impacts the speed at which messages are relayed in the nervous system. The work involved a team of researchers – throughout Alberta and around the world and was funded in part by the MS Society of Canada. Allison... Read the full article
Summary A study of over 5,000 people with MS , researchers pinpointed motor symptoms at onset (such as muscle stiffness known as spasticity) and male gender as factors associated with a faster progression from relapsing-remitting MS to secondary-progressive Researchers were funded by the National MS... Read the full article
Toronto, Ontario - September 16, 2010 – The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada board of directors unanimously approved a motion to reserve $1 million for a chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and MS pan-Canadian therapeutic clinical trial. The funding will be set aside so that an immediate... Read the full article
Summary Authors investigated a method to evaluate a treatment switching approach, namely treatment change after one multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse. Healy BC, Glanz BI, Stankiewicz J, Buckle G, Weiner H, Chitnis T., Mult Scler. 2010 Aug 24. Details Patients who experienced a relapse while on a first-line... Read the full article
Summary The aim of this study was to assess longitudinally cognitive functioning in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and its relationship with clinical and MRI variables. Amato MP, Portaccio E, Goretti B, Zipoli V, Iudice A, Della Pina D, Malentacchi G, Sabatini S, Annunziata... Read the full article
Summary Although the interaction between comorbidities and chronic diseases is strong, the effect of comorbidities receives little attention in many chronic diseases. In multiple sclerosis (MS), an increasing amount of evidence suggests that physical and mental comorbidities, and adverse health factors... Read the full article
Summary Fatigue is a frequent and disabling symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of the study was to compare fatigue and sleepiness in MS, and their relationship to physical activity. Merkelbach S, Schulz H, Kölmel HW, Gora G, Klingelhöfer J, Dachsel R, Hoffmann F, Polzer... Read the full article
Summary The extent to which vitamin D deficiency may increase susceptibility to a wide range of diseases is dramatically highlighted in research just published. Scientists have mapped the points at which vitamin D interacts with DNA – and identified over two hundred genes that it directly influences... Read the full article
Summary Using a literature review, researchers from Belgium and the Netherlands have summarized the information about factors associated with reducing relapse rate and disability in multiple sclerosis. D'hooghe MB, Nagels G, Bissay V, De Keyser J., Mult Scler . 2010 Jul;16(7):773-85. Epub 2010 May 18... Read the full article
Summary Clinical investigation of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) has been ongoing for over a decade. While several phase II studies have been finalized or are in progress, no definitive prospective randomized studies comparing HSCT versus... Read the full article
Summary Scores of research papers from well-controlled clinical trials demonstrate that the MS disease-modifying therapies significantly reduce MS relapses and disease progression, and improve quality of life. However, well-controlled research proving that these drugs can delay the progression of disability... Read the full article
James J. Marriott* and Paul W. Q'Connor Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials, 2010, 5, 179-188. Details Disease modifying therapy (DMT) first became available for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) fifteen years ago with the development of the moderately effective injectable agents interferon... Read the full article
Summary Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are being considered for clinical trials of multiple sclerosis (MS). The authors studied the effect of these stem cells in a specific subgroup of immune system cells. They found that soluble products from hMSCs inhibited the responses of some immune cells... Read the full article
Summary Natalizumab is a new therapy option for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been suggested that natalizumab-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy may be prevented by structured interruptions of treatment. Although numbers are small the authors concluded that a natalizumab... Read the full article
Summary New treatments are available for early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The authors studied the effect of a humanised monoclonal antibody, alemtuzumab, in people with early relapsing-remitting MS and found that it significantly reduced the risk of relapse and accumulation of disability... Read the full article
Summary Few interventions have been successful in improving gait dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) has demonstrated positive results on gait performance in other neurologically impaired populations. Conklyn D, Stough D, Novak E, Paczak S, Chemali... Read the full article
Summary Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be caused by demyelinating plaques within the nerve root entry zone, the trigeminal nucleus, or the trigeminal tracts. Authors review their experience of microvascular decompression (MVD) in patients with MS and... Read the full article
Summary The onset of secondary progression is a pivotal event in the course of relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS) experience continuous worsening of symptoms independent of the occurrence of relapses. Possible risk factors associated with... Read the full article
Summary In this clinical trial, the authors have looked at the role of lamotrigine, a drug that has proved effective in protecting neurons in animal models of MS, in protecting neurons in people with secondary progressive MS. In particular, they studied the effects of this drug compared with placebo... Read the full article
Summary Executive Functions (EF) include a range of superordinate abilities that control performance across many tasks allowing for cognitive efficiency and mental flexibility. Although EFs are commonly affected in MS, little is known about the EF components that are most affected, particularly in pediatric-onset... Read the full article
Summary Aimed to estimate the incidence and severity of nocebo responses in trials of symptomatic treatments (STs) and disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS). Papadopoulos D, Mitsikostas DD. Mult Scler. 2010 Jul;16(7):816-28. Epub 2010 Jun 10 Details Nocebo effect refers to... Read the full article
Summary The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess relative frequency of migraine in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using the validated self-administered diagnostic questionnaire, and to compare the migraine rates in MS outpatients to age- and gender-matched historical population controls; (2)... Read the full article
Summary Dropped foot is a common problem following multiple sclerosis. In a randomised controlled trial, the authors studied 64 people with unilateral dropped foot who were assigned to either a group using a specific electrical stimulator or receiving physiotherapy exercises. They found that people... Read the full article
Summary FTY720 (Fingolimod) is a new therapy that reduces disease activity by decreasing numbers of a specific immune system cell. The authors investigated patients who discontinued therapy during clinical investigation and they found that the reconstitution of this specific cell-type after prolonged... Read the full article
Summary “Basic and Clinical Research Issues” was the topic of the 15th annual meeting of ACTRIMS (Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS ) on June 5 in San Antonio. This year, ACTRIMS was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Consortium of MS Centers, as well as the National... Read the full article
Summary The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of clinical and MRI markers to predict the effect of a new treatment in a clinical trial. The authors studied 10,009 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) involved in 19 clinical trials. They found a significant correlation between EDSS worsening... Read the full article
Summary Low vitamin D status has been associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence and risk, but the therapeutic potential of vitamin D in established MS has not been explored. Canadian researchers assess the tolerability of high-dose oral vitamin D and its impact on biochemical, immunologic, Read the full article
Summary Mitoxantrone is used for aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS), but concerns about safety, including cardiotoxicity and other laboratory measures, prevail. Reseachers sought to evaluate the incidence and potential predictors of adverse events associated with mitoxantrone at the MS Clinic, University... Read the full article
Summary Researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver examine changes in cervical cord volume over time. Laule C, Vavasour IM, Zhao Y, Traboulsee AL, Oger J, Vavasour JD, Mackay AL, Li DK. Mult Scler. 2010 Jun;16(6):670-7. Details Spinal cord involvement in multiple sclerosis (MS) is... Read the full article
Summary In this review, researchers from the University of British Columbia highlight recent advances in MS natural history over the last 5 years, with a focus on long-term population-based cohorts and factors associated with disease progression. Tremlett H, Zhao Y, Rieckmann P, Hutchinson M. Neurology... Read the full article
Summary The relationship of relapses to long-term disability in MS is uncertain. Using the natural history cohort from the London Ontario MS Clinic, the authors investigated the relationship between relapses and disability progression. They found that higher early relapse frequencies and shorter first... Read the full article
Summary University of Toronto investigators report on the utilization of disease modifying drugs in Canada. Rotstein DL, Mamdani M, O'Connor PW. Can J Neurol Sci. 2010 May;37(3):383-8. Details The course of multiple sclerosis may be slowed by use of the disease modifying drugs (DMDs): subcutaneous or... Read the full article
Summary Recent studies have demonstrated a potential role of Rituximab in inflammatory suppression in autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the combination of rituximab with standard injectable therapies in people with relapsing Multiple... Read the full article
Summary A 16-year long-term interferon-beta-1b (IFNbeta-1b) follow-up has been performed to understand clinical, MRI, cognitive and patient-reported outcomes. The authors followed 372 people with MS taking IFN-beta subcutaneously every other day for up to five years. Sixteen years later people were... Read the full article
Summary Fatigue is a common, but still one of the least understood symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS). Authors aimed to investigate whether fatigue was associated with demographic-, clinical-, health-related quality of life (HRQoL)- and physical performance variables, and whether change in fatigue... Read the full article
Summary Using current diagnostic criteria, people who present with a clinically isolated episode (CIS) may develop multiple sclerosis (MS) by subsequently exhibiting dissemination in space and time on clinical or radiological grounds. This study investigated the frequency of radiological without clinical... Read the full article
Expedited international review facilitates July 1 launch of CCSVI research project funding Toronto , Ontario - June 11, 2010 - Over $2.4 million has been committed by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the National MS Society (USA) to support seven new research projects focusing on chronic... Read the full article
Summary Authors report on how often patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) develop severe (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] of 6.0 or greater) sustained (greater than 6 months) disability due to an acute relapse. Khemissa Bejaoui, PhD; Loren A. Rolak, MD Neurology® 2010;74:900–902... Read the full article
Summary The chemotherapeutic agent mitoxantrone was approved for use in multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2000. After a review of all the available evidence, the original report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee in 2003 concluded that mitoxantrone probably reduced clinical attack rates, Read the full article
Summary A role of adequate vitamin D nutrition in the prevention of multiple sclerosis (MS) was originally proposed to explain the geographical distribution of MS, but only recently has the relation between various measures of vitamin D (eg, sun exposure, dietary sources, etc) and risk of developing... Read the full article
Summary More than 10,000 researchers and practicing neurologists from around the world gathered at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Toronto from April 10-17. Nearly 500 presentations related to research efforts to stop multiple sclerosis, to restore function, and... Read the full article
Summary Nerve fibre loss is a major component of the pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the morphological basis of permanent clinical disability. The authors studied the brain pathological findings of 63 people with MS and found that, in early MS, the white matter surrounding lesions showed a... Read the full article
Summary This study compared the effect of memantine, a drug effective in improving cognitive function in some neurological conditions, to placebo in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The authors used a specific neuropsychological assessment to study 126 people with MS and found no evidence that this... Read the full article
Summary Mitoxantrone is used for aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS) but concerns about safety, including cardiotoxicity and other laboratory measures prevail. Kingwell E., Koch M., Leung B., Isserow I., Geddes J., Rieckmann P., and Tremlett H. Neurology (in press). Details Mitoxantrone is used for aggressive... Read the full article
Canadian researchers investigate common medication as alternative MS treatment Calgary, October 25, 2007 – A common acne medication that has been available for over 30 years has the potential to delay the progress of multiple sclerosis and if proven effective, will offer an inexpensive option for the... Read the full article
Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation is funding a multi-centre project to determine definitively whether transplanting bone marrow stem cells in people with MS can stop the disease. Led by Dr. Mark Freedman (MS neurologist) and Dr. Harold Atkins (bone marrow transplant physician), Read the full article
Summary The MS Scientific Research Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada announced funding May 4, 2004 of a $4.3 million, multi-centre study of children who have had an initial attack (clinically isolated syndrome or CIS). The five-year study will follow the children to find out which... Read the full article
