Latest Conference Coverage

Progress for Patients With Pediatric MS, Fingolimod's Risk-Benefit Profile: Brenda Banwell, MD

The chief of neurology and codirector of the neuroscience Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia spoke about her presentation at ECTRIMS 2022 on the treatment of pediatric MS. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Role of Tofersen Among Other Previously Approved ALS Therapies: Timothy Miller, MD, PhD

The codirector of the ALS Center at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis provided background on how tofersen would be used alongside other ALS medications if approved. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Institutional Perspectives in Neurology, Chaired by Robert T. Naismith, MD

Chaired by Robert T. Naismith, MD, of Washington University in St. Louis, the presentations also feature Salim Chahin, MD, MSCE; Anne H. Cross, MD; Gregory F. Wu, MD, PhD; and Matthew R. Brier, MD, PhD. [WATCH TIME: 1 hour, 55 minutes]

NurOwn Stromal Cell Therapy Continues to Show Positive Data in Less Severe ALS

After removing participants at higher risk of reaching a floor effect of the ALSFRS-R, those treated with NurOwn demonstrated a higher rate of clinical response and less function lost across 28 weeks than placebo.

Understanding Tofersen’s Impact on SOD1 ALS, Neurofilament Light: Timothy Miller, MD, PhD

The codirector of the ALS Center at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis discussed the long-term data of VALOR and its open-label extension assessing tofersen (Biogen) in SOD1 ALS. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Role of Serum Neurofilament Light in Predicting Neuromyelitis Optica Attacks: Bruce Cree, MD, PhD, MAS, FAAN

The clinical research director of the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center provided perspective on the importance of serum neurofilament light and how it can be used in the management of patients with NMOSD. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Need for Improving Measurements to Track Fatigue in MS

Federica Picariello, PhD, postdoctoral researcher, psychologist, King's College, London, spoke about fatigue mechanisms in patients with MS based on presentations from the 2022 ECTRIMS Congress.

Telehealth and Digital Measures May Assist With Monitoring MS Progression: Marisa McGinley, DO

The staff neurologist at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at Cleveland Clinic spoke about her presentation from ECTRIMS 2022 on teleneurology and its utilization as a tool to make care more accessible to patients with MS. [WATCH TIME: 7 minutes]

Teleneurology Overcomes Health Disparities and Improves Accessibility in MS: Marisa McGinley, DO

The staff neurologist at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at Cleveland Clinic, spoke about her presentation on teleneurology being a beneficial healthcare tool for patients with MS at ECTRIMS 2022. [WATCH TIME: 7 minutes]

NeurologyLive® Brain Games: November 6, 2022

Digital Speech Biomarkers Show Promise in Recording Speech Function, Dysarthria in ALS

Those who reported higher ALSFRS-R speech scores at baseline had significantly higher diadochokinetic and word rate than those who reported speech disturbances, or lower scores.

Akt Activator IPL344 Demonstrates Safety, Signs of Efficacy in Phase 1/2 Study of ALS

By comparing results with pooled placebo groups from the PRO-ACT database, the data showed a 67% slower ALSFRS-R progression with IPL344.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Worsen as ALS Disease Progresses, Real-World Study Shows

On King’s staging systems, ALSAQ-5 scores increased from 24.6 at stage 1 to 62.1 at stage 4, whereas for Milano-Torino Staging systems, patients’ ALSAQ-5 scores increased from 43.2 at stage 0 to 80.7 at stage 3.

Long-Term Treatment of ALS Therapy Oral Edaravone Safe Up to 2 Years

Nearly one-fourth of the observed treatment-emergent adverse events were related to edaravone. Additionally, there were no serious TEAEs found, and TEAEs were mostly representative of ALS progression.

Racial Disparities Reported in the Initial Presentation of ALS

A retrospective study presented at the 2022 Annual NEALS Meeting reported health disparities in the initial presentation of Black patients with ALS in comparison with White patients.

Critical Aspects of Treatment During Postpartum in Patients with MS, NMOSD: Riley Bove, MD

The associate professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, discussed the key points from an oral presentation at ECTRIMS 2022 on understanding postpartum for patients with MS and NMOSD. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

RNS60 Shows Effects on Forced Vital Capacity, Not Functional Decline or Candidate Biomarkers

Treatment with RNS60 resulted in significantly slower rate of decline in FVC and eating and drinking domains of the ALSAQ-40 scale over a 24-week period.

Emerging Biomarkers to Consider for NMOSD, Neuromyeltis Optica: Bruce Cree, MD, PhD, MAS, FAAN

The clinical research director of the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center discussed the need for measures of progression in neuromyelitis optica and the next steps in treatment. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Tegoprubart Demonstrates Safety, Target Engagement of ALS Markers in Phase 2 Study

Treatment with tegoprubart resulted in significant reductions of CD40L and CXCL13 levels that occurred after first infusion and sustained throughout the treatment period.

Palatability Strategies Show Promise for Addressing AMX0035 Taste Concerns Among Patients With ALS

As patients with ALS may have altered taste perception and have expressed that bitterness is associated with AMX0035 (Relyvrio; Amylyx) administration, a number of coping strategies have suggested a workaround to ensure treatment adherence and effectiveness.

The ALS MOTOR as a Beneficial and Accessible Tool for Virtually Tracking ALS Progression

Christina Fournier, MD, MSc, associate professor of neurology, Emory University, discussed her presentation at the 2022 NEALS Consortium using a telemedicine exam to track ALS progression.

The Significance of AMX0035 and a Fueled Hope for ALS

Positive Safety Profile of Anti-CD20 Therapy During Postpartum in MS, NMOSD: Riley Bove, MD

The associate professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, discussed takeaways from an oral presentation at ECTRIMS 2022 on the use of anti-CD20 therapies in postpartum for patients with MS and NMOSD. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

SBT-272 Shows Neuroprotective Impacts in ALS Mouse Models of TDP-43 Pathology

SBT-272, an investigational small molecule in development for ALS and other neurological disease of mitochondrial dysfunction, resulted in improved membrane potential and axonal outgrowth of TDP-43 in vitro.

Inebilizumab’s Impact on B-Cells, Plasmablasts, and Plasma Cells in NMOSD: Bruce Cree, MD, PhD, MAS, FAAN

The clinical research director of the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center provided insight on an abstract from ECTRIMS 2022 regarding inebilizumab’s mechanism of action to prevent NMOSD attacks. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Ocrelizumab’s Impact on Humoral Response to EBV: Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD

The director of the Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center provided context on a new study exploring ocrezliumab’s (Ocrevus; Genentech) effect on leptomeningeal inflammation and humoral response to EBV. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Using Clinically Pertinent Neuromuscular Function Assessments to Predict Falls in Multiple Sclerosis

Laurits Taul Madsen, a PhD candidate at Aarhus University, discussed the use of lower extremity function assessments to characterize patients with MS at risk for future falls.

Capabilities of Stem Cell Transplantation vs Other Relapsing MS Therapies: Tomas Kalincik, MD, PhD

The professor of neurology and biostatistician at University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital spoke on stem cell transplantation in patients with MS and its effectiveness in comparison with other traditional approaches. [WATCH TIME: 2 minutes]

Paleolithic and Mediterranean Diets Show Greatest Impact on QoL, Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis

In the meta-analysis, the Paleolithic and Mediterranean diets continued to outperform other dietary interventions such as ketogenic, anti-inflammatory, fasting, and calorie restriction on fatigue and quality-of-life outcomes.

Antibody Levels in Evobrutinib-Treated Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Increased Following COVID-19 Vaccination

Findings from a randomized phase 2 trial resulted in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis treated with evobrutinib displaying an increase in S1/S2 IgG antibody levels.