Latest Conference Coverage

No Greater Risk of Serious COVID-19, Severe Outcomes Linked to Cladribine Treatment

Data provide an update to the post-approval safety profile of cladribine tablets in patients with relapsing MS in reference to COVID-19 infections.

The Need for Guidelines on the Management of Radiologically Isolated Syndrome: Jiwon Oh, MD, PhD

The staff neurologist and medical director of the Barlo Multiple Sclerosis Program at St Michaels Hospital discussed the lack of guidelines for patients with RIS and the research efforts needed going forward to establish them.

MS Relapses, Health Care Utilization Greatest Among COVID-19 Vaccinated Patients Treated With Ocrelizumab, Fingolimod

Previously reported data show patients with multiple sclerosis treated with anti-CD20s have reduced response to COVID-19 vaccines, but there has been limited research on MS outcomes among vaccinated patients.

Differentiating Radiologically Isolated Syndrome and Multiple Sclerosis With Imaging Biomarkers: Jiwon Oh, MD, PhD

The staff neurologist and medical director of the Barlo Multiple Sclerosis Program at St Michaels Hospital discussed her presentation at ACTRIMS Forum 2022 involving imaging biomarkers of RIS/MS prodrome. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Understanding Frequency, Age, and Sex Associations With Autoimmune Encephalitis Biomarkers: Amy Kunchok, MD

The staff neurologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research discussed the results of a new study on age and sex as determinants of autoimmune encephalitis. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

1-Year Disability Progression, Improvement Similar for Patients With Primary, Secondary Progressive MS

Investigators noted the need for more transformational treatments to improve disability for patients with both primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Online Adaptive Cognitive Training, tDCS Feasible for Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Data suggest that there is a greater cognitive benefit for patients with higher levels of baseline neurological disability treated with the training and transcranial direct current stimulation.

Treating Cognitive Deficits in MS With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Leigh Charvet, PhD

The professor of neurology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine discussed her presentation at ACTRIMS Forum 2022, which showed better cognitive outcomes in MS following treatment with tDCS. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

NeuroVoices: Matthew Schindler, MD, PhD, on Developing a Predictive Model for Chronic Active Lesions in MS

The assistant professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania provided insight on a new way to accurately predict chronic active lesion evolution from newly developing MS lesions using 7T MRI.

MS Treatment With Tolebrutinib Uninterrupted in Patients With COVID-19 Infection

The study found that all COVID-19 cases were mild to moderate in severity, and all enrolled patients recovered and remained in the study.

Silent Clinical Progression Predominantly Associated With Cervical Cord Atrophy

Investigators utilized a novel method to accurately capture spinal cord area at C1 vertebral level from legacy brain MRI scans.

Discussing Epstein-Barr Virus and Multiple Sclerosis: Bruce Bebo, PhD

The executive vice president of the National MS Society spoke on recently published data suggesting the relationship between EBV and MS, also sharing his opinion on the potential of vaccines. [WATCH TIME: 2 minutes]

Ganaxolone’s Significant Effect on CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder: Elia Pestana-Knight, MD

The pediatric epileptologist at Cleveland Clinic provided insight on her presentation at the 2022 AAN Annual Meeting that evaluated ganaxolone in phase 3 study of patients with CDKL5 deficiency disorder. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Patient-Reported Outcomes of MS Fatigue Understudied in Drug Development Trials

Most trials that reported on MS-related fatigue measured its change from baseline and whether that change was statistically significant.

Using Radiologic Markers to Predict Chronic Active Lesion Evolution in MS: Matthew Schindler, MD, PhD

The assistant professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania discussed his abstract at ACTRIMS Forum using 7T MRI features of newly developed MS lesions to predict chronic active lesions. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Taking a More Targeted Approach to Treating Progressive MS Using BTK Inhibition

Regardless of prophylactic or therapeutic paradigms, treatment with evobrutinib resulted in significantly reduced disease severity and improvement of immunopathological parameters of MS disease.

ACTRIMS Forum Takeaways and Unmet Needs in Multiple Sclerosis: Bruce Bebo, PhD

The executive vice president of the National MS Society spoke on the primary theme of ‘biomarkers’ at this year’s meeting, as well as the areas he believes require the most attention for patients with MS. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Cortical Lesion Burden Associated With Disability Worsening, Transition to Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Three-year follow-up data presented at the ACTRIMS Forum 2022 suggest cortical lesion burden, particularly subpial lesions, is the primary driver of worsening disability and conversion to secondary progressive MS.

CNM-Au8 Shows Effects on Brain Bioenergetic Metabolism, Supports Candidacy in Multiple Sclerosis

Mechanistic data from the phase 2 REPAIR-MS trial support blinded efficacy data from the VISIONARY-MS trial, suggesting that Clene Nanomedicine’s investigational CNM-Au8 has the potential to drive clinically meaningful improvements in recognized MS functional end points.

Cladribine Shows Long-Term Efficacy in Delaying MS Conversion, Favorable Efficacy Compared With Other Oral DMTs

A pair of datasets from the CLASSIC-MS and GLIMPSE studies of cladribine (Mavenclad; EMD Serono) suggest that the oral tablet sustained delayed conversion to clinically definite MS as well as favorable efficacy to dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, and teriflunomide.

Paramagnetic Rim Lesions Demonstrate Diagnostic Potential for MS Referrals

Using a diagnostic threshold of at least 1 paramagnetic rim lesion, MS was identified with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 88%, which increased to 95% after excluding patients with RIS and CIS.

Cycling Intervention Shows Modest Improvement in Walking Measures for Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Additional study is required to further investigate the integration of FES cycling into clinical practice for management of SPMS.

MSDA Test Identified as Biomarker-Based Instrument to Assess Disease Activity in Multiple Sclerosis

Investigators concluded that the Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity test can assist in monitoring therapeutic response to glatiramer acetate and biologic agents.

Cost Efficiency and Promoting Healthy Lifestyles in Multiple Sclerosis: Bruce Bebo, PhD

Swank and Wahls Diets Show Positive Impact on Weight, Cholesterol in Relapsing MS

At the 12- and 24-week time points, patients in both diet groups demonstrated statistically significant differences in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, body weight, and body mass index.

Tolebrutinib Shows Favorable Long-Term Safety, Efficacy in Relapsing MS Open-Label Extension

For patients who remained on 60-mg tolebrutinib through Part B of the study, the number of new Gadolinium-enhancing lesions and new/enlarging T2 lesions remained low.

Immunosuppressive DMTs Associated With Longer COVID-19 Hospitalization in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Investigators caution health care providers to consider specific risks of severe COVID-19 infection before initiating this therapy.

Discussing Economic Burden for Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: Bruce Bebo, PhD

The executive vice president of the National MS Society spoke on the updated data from an analysis on economic burden, which illustrated the ‘staggering’ impact of the disease. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Calorie Restriction Diets Associated With Reduction in Memory T Cell Subsets in Multiple Sclerosis

Investigators conducted a study to assess the effects of CR diet on immune cell subsets, concluding that observed changes could be mediated by changes in classes of lipid metabolites.

Low Neutralizing Antibody Incidence, High Antidrug Antibody Rates Observed in MS With Ublituximab Treatment

There were no statistically significant differences in infusion-related reactions among patients with multiple sclerosis who tested positive or negative for treatment-emergent antidrug antibodies.