Matt Hoffman

The CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors at INSIGHTEC offered his perspective on how technologies such as focused ultrasound can help shape the future of neurologic care.

The study reported that those with MS who breastfed experienced 43% lower rates of postpartum relapse compared to those who did not.

The CEO of INSIGHTEC offered insight into what challenges in the neurologic space the company plans to tackle in the coming years, and why 2020 marks the start of the “Century of the Brain.”

Intra-arterial urokinase improved Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) scale scores and independence at 90 days, without increasing the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.

Treatment with the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitor resulted in significant improvements in monthly migraine headache days across the groups assessed, including a significantly greater number of patients with ≥50% and ≥75% reductions.

After receiving expedited review after receiving a Complete Response Letter in August, the therapy was approved based on data showing a statistically significant increase in dystrophin production in skeletal muscle.

Patients treated with NeuroPace’s Responsive Neurostimulation system within 20 years of epilepsy onset were observed to have significantly better outcomes related to several aspects of quality of life and mood compared to those treated later.

Study findings suggest that the presence of hypsarrhythmia—abnormal, chaotic brainwave patterns—may play a role in the risk of autism spectrum disorder in patients with a history of infantile spasms.

In a PROVE study subgroup of adolescent patients exposed to perampanel over a 2-year period, the Eisai product proved to be well-tolerated and efficacious, with good retention rates.

Interim analysis of a 5-year, post-approval study of the NeuroPace Responsive Neurostimulation system support prior findings that the device is safe and effective in reducing medically intractable focal seizures in adults.

A single-center study of more than 3600 virtual visits displayed a high level of satisfaction from patients regarding their experience with telemedicine and their providers, suggesting the practice may be ready for large-scale use.

Despite evidence of the benefits and safety of breastfeeding in women with epilepsy, 2 studies suggest this population breastfeeds significantly less often than women without epilepsy, due to fears of drug exposure or recommendations against the practice.

Patients who were treated with cannabidiol 25 mg or 50 mg experienced seizure reductions of 49% and 48%, respectively, nearly double that of the placebo group, which experienced reductions of 27%.

In light of the public health implications of speedier stroke treatment, these data suggest that mobile stroke units could represent a potentially beneficial addition to stroke systems of care in dense cities.

The FDA granted approvals to HEC Pharm Co. Limited, Biocon Limited, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, for their generic formulations of Novartis’ product, branded as Gilenya, for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.

The data presentation from the phase 3 EMERGE and ENGAGE clinical trials suggest that aducanumab may result in disease-modifying effects, slowing clinical decline in those with early Alzheimer disease. Biogen expects to submit a BLA to the FDA for approval in early 2020.

Fenfluramine reduced monthly convulsive seizure frequency by 54% compared with placebo in patients on medication regimens including stiripentol, with a significant proportion of those experiencing a meaningful or profound reduction.

Within the first 2 years of DBS treatment, patients with Parkinson experienced improvements in freezing of gait and other axial signs in off periods compared to best medical treatment.

This would be the first available oral suspension of lamotrigine, offering a key new delivery option with an easily manageable dose for patients with epilepsy.

The RightEye Vision System is able to use eye-tracking technology to identify ocular tremors that persist for patients with Parkinson disease and might not only aid in easing the process of diagnosis but could potentially allow for the earlier identification of the disease.

The anti-CGRP treatment from Teva was associated with reductions in the use of migraine-specific headache medication, migraine-associated symptoms, and any acute headache medication use compared to placebo.

The novel formulation of edaravone, which was approved in May 2017, will be assessed in a cohort of 150 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for 48 weeks of treatment.

With Theranica’s Nerivio Migra acute migraine device named a top invention of the year, three experts in migraine shared their insight into its clinical application in the early days of its availability, with varying experiences.

The label update includes adjustments to the withdrawal risk section and a new subsection for its use in specific populations.

Midazolam nasal spray CIV, marketed under the brand name Nayzilam, is expected to become available in retail pharmacies early next month after its approval for the treatment of intermittent, stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure activity in epilepsy.

The use of cerebrospinal neurofilament light chain and TAR DNA‐binding protein 43 in tandem may offer stronger biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis, with NfL also offering a measure of disease progression.

After receiving a complete response letter from the FDA in January, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals has resubmitted its NDA for apomorphine sublingual film, also known as APL-130277.

The FDA set a PDUFA date for risdiplam of May 24, 2020. The full 12-month data from the SUNFISH trial are expected to be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.

SK Life Science’s sodium channel antagonist cenobamate was approved based on data from pivotal trials in nearly 2000 patients in which it reduced the median number of seizures per 28 days.

The chief medical officer at SK Life Science discussed what the sodium channel antagonist will offer those treating partial-onset seizures.