Ocrelizumab trial results
Two phase III studies of a potential new injected disease modifying drug for relapsing remitting MS show that it "significantly reduced" relapses, new lesions and the build up of disability compared to Rebif. The manufacturer plans to submit the drug for licensing next year. A phase III trial in primary progressive MS is due to report later this year.
Reuters
Roche press release
Ocrelizumab - drugs in development (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - June 29, 2015 Category: Neurology Source Type: news
Plegridy compared to other disease modifying drugs
A meta analysis comparison of pegylated interferon beta 1a (Plegridy) and other injected disease modifying drugs found that its safety and efficacy were similar to the older drugs.
MS News Today
Disease modifying drugs for relapsing MS - A to Z of MS (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - June 7, 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
EMD Serono launches app to help patients verify medicine
In a move likely to be replicated over the next couple years by other drug firms, Rockland-based EMD Serono has launched an app that allows patients to scan its prescription drugs with a smartphone in order to verify that they aren't counterfeit.
The maker of drugs like Rebif for multiple sclerosis and fertility medicine Gonal-F announced today that its app, Check My Meds, is now available to download for iPhones and Android phones. Kimberly Fleming, associate director of product security and outbound… (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines)
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines - December 10, 2014 Category: Hospital Management Authors: Don Seiffert Source Type: news
FDA approves once-a-year multiple sclerosis drug by Genzyme with warnings
Genzyme's once-a-year drug to treat multiple sclerosis hasbeen approved with a boxed warning noting a risk of serious side effects.
The approval comes more than 10 months after the drug was rejected by U.S. regulators. The rejection last December came about because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration prefers trials in which patients are blinded to which drug they are taking. Genzyme's trials tested more than 1,600 patients, comparing Lemtrada to EMD Serono's drug, Rebif. Since the two drugs have… (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines)
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines - November 15, 2014 Category: Hospital Management Authors: Don Seiffert Source Type: news
FDA approves once-a-year multiple sclerosis drug by Genzyme with warnings
Genzyme's once-a-year drug to treat multiple sclerosis hasbeen approved with a boxed warning noting a risk of serious side effects.
The approval comes more than 10 months after the drug was rejected by U.S. regulators. The rejection last December came about because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration prefers trials in which patients are blinded to which drug they are taking. Genzyme's trials tested more than 1,600 patients, comparing Lemtrada to EMD Serono's drug, Rebif. Since the two drugs have… (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - November 15, 2014 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Don Seiffert Source Type: news
Novel Drug Beats Avonex for MS Efficacy; Safety Still a Worry
BOSTON (MedPage Today) -- Daclizumab HYP cut relapse rates and disability progression in multiple sclerosis patients more effectively than interferon beta-1a (Avonex) in a phase III trial, but liver toxicity with the IL-2 inhibitor reared its head again. (Source: MedPage Today Meeting Coverage)
Source: MedPage Today Meeting Coverage - September 12, 2014 Category: Journals (General) Source Type: news
Peg-Interferon for MS Wins FDA Nod
(MedPage Today) -- A pegylated form of interferon-beta-1a (Plegridy) that can be administered once every 2 weeks in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis was approved by the FDA, its manufacturer said. (Source: MedPage Today Neurology)
Source: MedPage Today Neurology - August 16, 2014 Category: Neurology Source Type: news
Biogen wins U.S. approval of long acting multiple sclerosis drug
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators on Friday approved Biogen Idec Inc's Plegridy, a long-acting multiple sclerosis drug that the company expects will eventually replace its older big-selling Avonex treatment. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - August 15, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news
Peginterferon beta-1a (Plegridy) licensed
The European Commission has approved the licensing of peginterferon beta-1a (Plegridy) for treating relapsing remitting MS. The drug is a longer lasting version of interferon beta 1a that only needs to be injected once a fortnight. It has similar therapeutic effects and side effects to interferon beta 1a.
Biogen Idec press release
Peginterferon beta-1a (Plegridy) (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - July 23, 2014 Category: Neurology Source Type: news
European Union Approves Peginterferon in MS European Union Approves Peginterferon in MS
Approval is based on the ADVANCE study, showing the pegylated version of interferon beta-1a dosed every 2 weeks reduces relapses and disability progression and has a favorable safety profile. International Approvals (Source: Medscape Neurology and Neurosurgery Headlines)
Source: Medscape Neurology and Neurosurgery Headlines - July 23, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Alert Source Type: news
MS Drug Linked As Possible Cause Of Thrombotic Microangiopathy
In a letter in the March 27th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Scottish researchers announced that they’d found evidence linking the MS drug Rebif to the formation of “thrombotic microangiopathy.” This condition causes serious blood clots to form in small blood vessels in different parts of the body. The condition is rare, but it is potentially life threatening. (Source: Pharmaceutical Online News)
Source: Pharmaceutical Online News - April 4, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Biogen Buys Rights to Experimental Alzheimer’s Drugs
Biogen Idec Inc., maker of the multiple sclerosis drugs Avonex, Tysabri and Tecfidera, bought rights to Japan’s Eisai Co.’s experimental Alzheimer’s disease medicines as it seeks to add treatments for brain disorders. Biogen will pay Eisai an upfront payment, and a fixed amount of development and milestones as the drugs... (Source: PharmaManufacturing.com)
Source: PharmaManufacturing.com - March 7, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Low-Contrast Visual Tests Reveal Better Alemtuzumab EfficacyLow-Contrast Visual Tests Reveal Better Alemtuzumab Efficacy
Standard visual acuity testing misses some visual dysfunction in patients with MS. Sloan low-contrast acuity testing revealed superior efficacy for alemtuzumab over interferon beta-1a in CARE-MS I. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - October 8, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news
Biweekly Dosing of Pegylated Interferon Reduces MS RelapsesBiweekly Dosing of Pegylated Interferon Reduces MS Relapses
Pegylated interferon beta-1a given every 2 or 4 weeks significantly reduced multiple sclerosis relapse rates. Biweekly dosing was superior to placebo for all clinical and radiologic outcomes. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - June 11, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news
