Biotin (MD1003) study
Pre-publicity for a presentation at AAN conference says that a study of the drug found it was associated with improvements in people with progressive MS. Results will be announced later in the week. MedPage Today MD1003 - Biotin - drugs in development (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 16, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Phenytoin has neuroprotective effect suggests study
Research suggests that phenytoin, a drug used to treat seizures, may protect nerves from MS. (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 16, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Generic Copaxone approved in US
The FDA - the US drug regulator - has approved Glatopa, a generic version of glatiramer acetate, taken as a daily injection. The drug is unlikely to be marketed in the US until later in the year. FDA MedPage Today Glatiramer acetate - A to Z of MS (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 15, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Encouraging signs of myelin repair in optic neuritis drug trial
In a clinical trial of anti-LINGO-1, people with optic neuritis who took the new drug had improved nerve signals between the eye and the brain. (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 14, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Freedom pass
Victoria Rodwell who was diagnosed with MS two year ago blogs about getting a freedom pass for public transport in London. (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 14, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Anti-LINGO-1 trial results
A phase 2 study involving 82 people found that repair of myelin on the optic nerve was better in people taking a drug called anti-LINGO-1 than in a group taking a placebo. Further trials are planned. Biogen press release Daily Telegraph Forbes Latest MS research update (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 13, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Fingolimod (Gilenya) eligibility extended in Scotland
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), which issues guidance on whether treatments should be funded by NHS Scotland, has announced that fingolimod can now be prescribed as a second line treatment for people who are continuing to have relapses despite taking any one of the disease modifying treatments. (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 13, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Healthline blogs of 2015
The MS Trust is listed as one of the 20 Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2015 by Healthline. Healthline MS Trust blog (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 12, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Secondary progressive MS trial in Oxford
BBC Radio Oxford talk about the city being one of the centres for the MS-SMART trial and talk to Dr Jeremy Chataway who is leading the research. (Show available until 8 May) BBC MS-SMART - secondary progressive MS trial starts recruiting - news items (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 9, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Diet and EBV infection
American research has found that people with a bad diet or who ate beans, red meat and fruit juice daily had a higher risk of being infected by the virus that can cause glandular fever. Newswise Epstein Barr virus (EBV) - A to Z of MS (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 7, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

People affected by welfare reforms
Revisits people from previous coverage of the bedroom tax, including Pamela and Jim Hardy who both have health issues that require an extra room. They have been fighting for support and against eviction for more than a year. New Statesman Benefits - A to Z of MS (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 6, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Recognising neurological conditions
The South West Wales Neurological Alliance has produced wristbands and a 'health passport' for people with neurological conditions. The Alliance is concerned that balance, cognition and speech symptoms could lead hospital staff treating for non-neurological health issues to think people are drunk. South Wales Evening Post Research into MS and other health conditions published - news item 29 January 2015 (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 5, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

MS protects people from gout
Research in Oxford found that people with MS or Parkinson's were less likely to develop gout. Multiple Sclerosis News Today Latest MS research update (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 2, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Positive interim results from major UK study on MS drugs
Results of the analysis of the 6 year data of the Department of Health (DH) MS Risk-sharing Scheme (RSS), published in the Lancet Neurology today, show that the disease modifying drugs Avonex, Betaferon, Copaxone and Rebif are cost effective and are clinically effective in reducing the progression of the disease in people with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - April 1, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

New care laws
The Care Act comes into force today in England. This establishes national standards for eligibility for care and gives carers the right for an assessment of their own needs. In Scotland The Public Bodies (Joint Working) Act merges NHS and care budgets. BBC (England) BBC (Scotland) Finding care (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - March 31, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news