MS and Demyelinating Disorders

Long-term data from a phase 2 study extension suggest that frexalimab, a CD40L inhibitor, maintains disease control and is well-tolerated in relapsing multiple sclerosis, reinforcing its potential as a next-generation treatment.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on NeurologyLive®'s highlights from the week ending April 4, 2025.

The company's phase 3 MUSETTE trial reported that an increased ocrelizumab dose did not further slow disability progression but reinforced the efficacy of the approved 600 mg dose.

Here's some of what is coming soon to NeurologyLive® this week.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on NeurologyLive®'s highlights from the week ending March 28, 2025.

Tolebrutinib's potential approval as the first brain-penetrant BTK inhibitor for non-relapsing secondary progressive MS and to slow disability accumulation independent of relapse activity could represent a paradigm shift in treating disability driven by smoldering neuroinflammation.

Here's some of what is coming soon to NeurologyLive® this week.

The medical director of the Barlo Multiple Sclerosis Program at St Michaels Hospital discussed findings from phase 3 trials suggesting that baseline PRLs can predict disability accumulation and may serve as biomarkers for treatment response to tolebrutinib. [WATCH TIME: 6 minutes]

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Kathleen Costello discusses her new role as interim CEO of the CMSC. She has the support of Jeff Wilken, CMSC president, and Tina Trott, CMSC director.

The interim chief executive officer at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers invites healthcare professionals to the Consortium’s annual meeting from May 28–31 in Phoenix, Arizona. [WATCH TIME: 2 minutes]

The associate researcher at the University of California, San Francisco discussed a refined EAE model that could better replicate MS pathology, enabling deeper insights into demyelination, neuronal loss, and remyelination. [WATCH TIME: 6 minutes]

The professor of neurology and neurosurgery at McGill University discussed the evolving understanding of neuroimmune interactions in MS, highlighting how these interactions contribute to disease progression and potential repair mechanisms. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Daniel Ontaneda, MD, PhD, an associate professor of neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, gave thoughts and perspectives on some of the emerging, promising advances in multiple sclerosis care expected to come to fruition in 2025.

The assistant professor in the department of neurology at Mount Sinai talked about a recent study that highlighted how socioeconomic status and diet could significantly impact physical and cognitive outcomes in patients with MS. [WATCH TIME: 2 minutes]

The professor of neurology at University of Colorado School of Medicine discussed the evolving landscape of MS treatment, highlighting the role of personalized medicine and biomarker-driven decision-making. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Treatment strategies varied across cases, incorporating therapies like prednisolone, rituximab, and azathioprine, with overall positive outcomes and symptom improvement.

Here's some of what is coming soon to NeurologyLive® this week.

Catch up on any of the neurology news headlines you may have missed over the course of February 2025, compiled all into one place by the NeurologyLive® team.

The instructor in the department of radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine discussed how structural and functional brain connectomes can potentially improve predictions of MS progression and treatment response. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

A post-hoc analysis of patients from the CHAMPION-NMOSD trial revealed that the majority received their initial meningococcal vaccination within 6-months of their last rituximab dose.

The professor of neurosurgery and physiology at University of Colorado School of Medicine talked about how vagus nerve stimulation may promote remyelination and functional recovery in multiple sclerosis. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

A late-breaking study presented at the 2025 ACTRIMS Forum reported that a modified Atkins diet reduced inflammation and altered immune cell metabolism in multiple sclerosis.

At the 2025 ACTRIMS Forum, the director of the MS Comprehensive Care Center at Stony Brook Medicine discussed the evolution of high-efficacy treatments for MS. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

The assistant professor in the neurology department at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City discussed advancing personalized medicine for patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, a rare disorder of the central nervous system. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Data from more than 16,000 trial participants point to possible challenges with assessing and safely administering novel therapeutics among those with comorbidities—which may be present in as much as half of the patient population.

In the CAVS-MS study, 19% of participants with atypical or radiological-only presentations met the 2024 McDonald Criteria for MS, enabling earlier treatment initiation.

GFAP changes positively correlated with gadolinium-enhancing lesion volume (P = 0.18) and negatively with left ventricular volume (P = -0.19).

The vice president and senior global program lead for Hematology and Cell Therapy at BMS gave clinical commentary on encouraging phase 1 findings of CD19-XT in progressive and relapsing multiple sclerosis.

In both HERCULES and GEMINI trials, tolebrutinib reduced the risk of 6-month confirmed disability worsening, especially in participants with at least 4 baseline paramagnetic rim lesions.