Matt Hoffman

Topline data showed that the novel oxybate candidate demonstrated significant differences compared to placebo in the change in the weekly number of cataplexy attacks and the change in Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, the primary and secondary end points, respectively.

The novel longitudinal model utilized 4 variables—the presence of seizures, the number of seizures, the number of adverse events, and if treatment was altered—and was ultimately more predictive than a standard Cox model.

Marketed as Mayzent, the selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator is the first treatment for patients with active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis in almost 15 years.

Celgene is supporting its new drug application for the S1P receptor modulator with data from the RADIANCE and SUNBEAM phase 3 trials in MS.

The Movement Disorder Society Task Force on Technology has released a roadmap for the implementation of new technologies that have reached a level of sophistication, versatility, and wearability for Parkinson disease.

Findings from a recent meta-analysis of the number of atypical antipsychotics available for treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia suggest that a clear trade-off exists between effectiveness and safety, with no clear winner emerging.

SYROS study data showed that switching to and maintaining long-term treatment with idebenone was associated with a 50% reduction in the annual rate of decline in forced vital capacity percent of predicted.

With a pair of sBLAs under FDA review, the Allergan treatment may finally have an official indication for use in spasticity after years of off-label use by physicians.

Study results suggest that no difference in outcomes of function, survival, fatigue, or quality of life are seen between those undergoing intensive or standard exercise regimens.

Eisai and Biogen have announced that the phase 3 ENGAGE and EMERGE trials, in addition to the PRIME phase 1b and EVOLVE phase 2 studies, of the monoclonal antibody, will be discontinued.

The migraine specialist spoke to the CGRP receptor antagonist’s potential impact on patients with migraine who have been lacking a novel acute treatment for some time.

An analysis of the EARLYSTIM study data has suggested that the 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire summary index may be predictive of the future outcomes of subthalamic deep brain stimulation.

The multiple sclerosis specialist at Baylor Scott & White Health spoke about which symptoms present the biggest challenges for providers.

The staff neurologist at Premier Neurology, a partner in care with the National MS Society, spoke about how to best overcome the challenges presented by the symptomatic management of MS.

The director of the Medstar Georgetown University Headache Center spoke about the data that’s been presented thus far, as well as how ubrogepant separates itself from what’s currently available for patients.

The neurologist with Premier Neurology spoke about the challenges and state of symptomatic care in multiple sclerosis.

After almost a year on the market, post-marketing data has been suggestive of a risk of anaphylaxis and angioedema in patients who are hypersensitive to erenumab or the excipients.

Ned Sharpless, MD, the director of the National Cancer Institute, has been named to the position of acting FDA Commissioner. The announcement was made just a week after the current commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, MD, announced his plans to resign in early April.

The 2-year safety and efficacy extension of the CHANGE-MS trial ultimately showed encouraging dose-dependent effects with the 18-mg/kg dose on confirmed 12-week EDSS and 25-foot timed walk scores.

The review period for the oral CGRP receptor antagonist has been set at 10 months, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The chief of the Multiple Sclerosis Division at the Perelman School of Medicine discussed the importance of institutions recognizing the value a comprehensive MS clinic can provide not only to the patients but the institution itself.

The vice president of US Medical Affairs in Neurology and Immunology at EMD Serono spoke to the next steps for the oral agent and its potential to get approved by the FDA in 2019.

The chief of the Multiple Sclerosis Division at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the need for more team-based care for patients with MS.

SEEG displayed better procedural morbidities and may have better outcomes than subdural grid electrodes, which study authors suggest should impact decision-making and lower the surgical candidacy barrier.

The Allergan product was granted Priority Review for upper limb spasticity and is expected to be decided on in the second quarter of 2019, while the lower limb indication will have its evaluation by the fourth quarter.

The vice president of US Medical Affairs in Neurology & Immunology at EMD Serono discussed the importance of having long-term and age-matched data on the use of the investigational oral agent in MS.

After showing success in older infants with SMA, risdiplam is now being evaluated in adults—something that’s never been done in a controlled trial of SMA.

The director of the probabilistic vision group and medical imaging lab at McGill University spoke about machine learning’s potential to help physicians predict MS disease progression, treatment effectiveness, and more.

The spinal cord area has shown a strong link to MS disability and can help discriminate progressive and relapsing-remitting disease subtypes, which in turn could help inform individualized treatment plans.

A pair of poster presentations regarding the use of cladribine in multiple sclerosis have shown that No Evidence of Disease Activity-3 status can be sustained up to 4 years, without any new safety signals appearing.