Biogen Idec and Elan Enroll First Patient in Large, Well-Controlled Head-to-Head Study of Multiple Sclerosis Treatments

Source: Biogen Idec
Biogen Idec and Elan Corporation, plc announced enrollment of the first patient in a global Phase IIIb, randomized, rater-blinded, active-controlled study designed to evaluate switching to TYSABRI® (natalizumab) from Copaxone® (glatiramer acetate) or Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The study, called SURPASS, is expected to enroll 1,800… »

Potential Therapy for Relapsing MS

A new study published in the March edition of the Lancet Neurology highlights the therapeutic benefits of daclizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that shows promise in reducing the amount of new or enlarged brain lesions in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS).
Monoclonal antibodies are immune system proteins that bind to target cells triggering the immune… »

Glatiramer Acetate Reduces Risk of Early MS Progression

Source: The Lancet, http://www.thelancet.com/
Treatment with glatiramer acetate can reduce by almost half the risk of patients progressing from the very early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) to clinically definite disease, according to a study published early online and in an upcoming edition of The Lancet.
The primary endpoint was time to clinically definite MS, based on… »

Opexa Reports Additional Favorable Data with Tovaxin® for MS

Source: Opexa Therapeutics Press Release
Opexa Therapeutics, Inc., a company developing Tovaxin®, a personalized T-cell immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), recently announced results from further analysis of the double-blind, placebo-controlled, 52-week Phase IIb TERMS clinical study of 150 patients with Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). This analysis evaluated patients with an annualized relapse rate of one or greater… »

Understanding Clinical Trials: Why They Are Done and What Is Learned

Gary Cutter, PhD and Brian W. Waldersen, BS––University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama

Introduction
Almost every day we hear about the results of a new trial that has changed the way we think about a treatment, or confirmed what we already know or believe. We learn of clinical trial results so frequently, it is sometimes easy to develop… »

Oral Drug Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis on the Horizon

Read about positive results for a two-year Phase III clinical trial using its proprietary oral formulation of cladribine to treat patients with relapsing-remitting forms of… »

Teva Completes Enrollment in Second Oral Laquinimod Phase III MS Clinical Trial

Source: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Jerusalem, Israel and Lund, Sweden, June 25, 2009 – Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) and Active Biotech (NASDAQ OMX NORDIC: ACTI) today announced completion of patient enrollment for the second pivotal Phase III clinical trial, BRAVO, evaluating the novel, oral once-daily immunomodulating compound, laquinimod, for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple… »

Biogen Idec Announces First Patient Enrolled in the Global Phase III Study of PEGylated Interferon Beta-1a for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Less Frequent Injections would be a Significant Advancement for People Living with MS
Source: Biogen Idec
On June 22, 2009, Biogen Idec announced enrollment of the first patient in a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PEGylated interferon beta-1a (BIIB017) in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The trial,… »

Teriflunomide Oral Drug Trial Recruiting Worldwide

The TOPIC Study is a clinical research study testing the safety and effectiveness of Teriflunomide, an oral investigational medication for those at high risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). This study, which is sponsored by Sanofi-Aventis, will also determine whether early treatment can reduce the severity of symptoms associated with MS.>).
Teriflunomide (Terr-eh-floo-no-mide) is derived from… »

Stem Cell Therapy for Patients with MS Failing Interferon–A Randomized Study

Location: Northwest University , Chicago, Il.
MS is at onset an immune-mediated demyelinating disease. In most cases, it starts as a relapsing-remitting disease with distinct attacks and no symptoms between flares. Over years or decades, virtually all cases transition into a progressive disease in which insidious and slow neurologic deterioration occurs with or without acute… »

Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of BG00012 in Subjects With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Location: Barrow Neurology Clinics at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ.
Purpose: This research study is being done to determine if, over time, an investigational drug called BG00012 can decrease the number of certain types of brain lesions commonly seen in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and slow down the time it… »

NARCOMS MS Patient Registry Long-Term Study

Most persons who receive this publication (MSQR) are already enrolled in the survey-based NARCOMS MS Patient Registry Long- Term Study (especially if there is a number immediately above your name on the address label). If you know other persons with MS in the US who might like to participate, however, we would be pleased to… »

Study: A Blood Test for Multiple Sclerosis–Detection and Analysis of a Circulating Multiple Sclerosis Antigen

Location: Barrow Neurology Clinics at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ.
Purpose: This research study is being done to learn if it is possible to develop a simple, inexpensive blood test for MS that would allow earlier diagnosis and, consequently, treatment of MS.
Stage 1 Eligibility:
•Male or female, between 18 and 18 years of… »

Clinical Trial, Open for Enrollment: Stem Cell Therapy for Patients With MS Failing Interferon––A Randomized Study

MS is at onset an immune-mediated demyelinating disease. In most cases, it starts as a relapsing-remitting disease with distinct attacks and no symptoms between flares. Over years or decades, virtually all cases transition into a progressive disease in which insidious and slow neurologic deterioration occurs with or without acute flares. Relapsing-remitting disease is often responsive… »

A Summary of Rebif Clinical Trials

Stacy Oswald, BS, MSQR Coorinator–Barrow Neurological Institute; and Timothy Vollmer, MD, Chief, Neuroimmunology Section–Division of Neurology and Director–Barrow MS and Related Diseases Clinic and Research Center, Phoenix, AZ
Rebif® is the most recent of three interferon drugs to be FDA-approved for use in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-related disability. The other approved… »

Second Patient With MS Undergoes Schwann Cell Transplantation Surgery at Yale

A 29-year-old man with MS is the second patient to undergo transplantation surgery at Yale in an effort to repair myelin. The surgery took place in two stages on March 6-7 and the patient was discharged on March 10. The young man is the second of five patients who are scheduled to participate… »