Over-the-counter drugs may regrow damaged cells in MS

An artist’s representation of the study.
Scientists found that certain drugs
were able to promote remyelination
in mouse models of multiple sclerosis.
Image courtesy of Case Western
Reserve University;
Illustrator: Megan Kern

MS DIGEST – April 20, 2015 – Two drugs already on the market — an antifungal and a steroid — may potentially treat multiple sclerosis by stimulating myelin growth, according to a study published in Nature today.

Researchers led by Paul J. Tesar, Ph.D., associate professor at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland discovered that the drugs miconazole (an antifungal) and clobetasol (a steroid), activate stem cells in the brain to stimulate myelin producing cells and repair white matter, which is damaged in multiple sclerosis.

Can coffee cut risk of MS?

MS DIGEST – Mar. 5, 2015 – Another cup of coffee may help prevent multiple sclerosis, according to a new study be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, April 18 to 25, 2015.

Swedish researchers examining data from 1,629 people with MS and 2,807 healthy people collaborated with US researchers who looked at data on 1,159 people with MS and 1,172 healthy people.

Could sleep aids be making you tired?

Photo by license, copyright : Xavier Gallego Morell 

MS DIGEST – Feb. 20, 2015 – If you are feeling tired and worn out in the middle of the day, you are not alone. Fatigue is one of the most common complaints among MS patients. And just as many have problems with sleep, ranging from sleep apnea to restless leg syndrome, and insomnia. 

In a January 2015 study published in Sleep, researchers led by Tiffany Braley, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Michigan Multiple Sclerosis and Sleep Disorders Centers

Stem cell transplants may halt progression of multiple sclerosis

Click to visit My End to MS
blog 

MS DIGEST – Dec. 29, 2014 – MS patients who underwent stem cell transplants had sustained remission of their active relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and had improvements in nerve function three after the procedure, researchers report.

The study called Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (HALT-MS) study was designed to look at the safety and effectiveness of treating MS patients with high-dose immunosuppressive therapy followed by an infusion of their on blood-making stem cells. The report was published online in JAMA Neurology.

Early results show little effect for Gilenya on progressive MS

MS DIGEST – Dec. 1, 2014 – Novartis today announced disappointing results for the largest clinical trial ever conducted for treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

The INFORMS clinical trial is a Phase III clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of the drug Gilenya (fingolimod) to placebo in reducing the risk of three-month sustained disability progression based on standardized tests. The study, which began in 2008, enrolled 970 people aged 25-69 years with PPMS from 148 sites, across 18 countries.

Promising drug may repair nerve damage from MS

Seema K. Tiwari-Woodruff is the senior author of the
study showing results for a promising MS drug

MS DIGEST – Dec. 1, 2014 – Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have tested a new drug that promises to repair the damage to nerves from multiple sclerosis. Their findings appear in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

FDA approves Lemtrada for multiple sclerosis

MS DIGEST – Nov. 14, 2014 – The FDA today announced it has approved Lemtrada^TM (alemtuzumab) for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS.

The approval of was based on two randomized clinical trials comparing Lemtrada to Rebif^® (high-dose interferon) where those assessing patients for relapse did not know which drug the patient was receiving.