http://brainspotting.org A blog about multiple sclerosis news and current events Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:07:48 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This is an amazing sounding treatment, but bear in mind that it is still in late-stage development. Revimmune attempts to treat and potentially cure autoimmune diseases such as MS by "rebooting" the human immune system, and the rights to sell this compound have been acquired by Accentia Biopharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ABPI). ... http://brainspotting.org/2007/03/01/accentia-biopharmaceuticals-acquires-worldwide-exclusive-license-to-revimmune/ Finally some news after a long stretch of not posting anything. Medical News Today is carrying a story that links prolactin, a hormone associated with pregnancy, to nerve repair in patients with multiple sclerosis. While it is widely understood that pregnant women often see a reduction in MS relapse rates, ... http://brainspotting.org/2007/02/27/pregnancy-hormone-may-offer-treatment-for-multiple-sclerosis/ Yes, it sounds like hippie science, but it's true nonetheless.  Jefferson Medical College researchers recently discovered that giving doses of a soy-derived substance called Bowmann-Birk Inhibitor Concentrate (BBIC) resulted in motor improvements of animals with EAE, our favorite animal model of MS.  Further, animals receiving BBIC were found to have ... http://brainspotting.org/2006/12/19/neuroscientists-discover-soy-based-substance-may-help-patients-with-ms/ via Business Wire - Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a link between a protein known as osteopontin and onset of multiple sclerosis flare-ups.  Using the standard mouse model of MS, a correlation was observed between disease activity and elevated levels of osteopontin in brain tissue.  Further, ... http://brainspotting.org/2006/12/05/new-discovery-may-help-develop-a-test-for-impending-ms-relapses/ via Science Daily - Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center recently isolated a compound that halts the progression of an animal model of MS (I'm assuming that means EAE, but the article doesn't specify) in lab mice. Using an injected or orally administered compound that inhibits enzymes thought ... http://brainspotting.org/2006/12/04/suny-researchers-successfully-halt-ms-progression-in-lab-mice/ Wow - long time, no post. Medical News Today reports that following earlier expansions in other countries (USA, Canada, and Europe), Australia has broadened Betaseron's approval to include patients with a clinically isolated episode suggestive of MS. This decision was reached following release of data from a safety and efficacy ... http://brainspotting.org/2006/11/30/betaseronbetaferon-approved-in-australia-for-early-ms/ Okay, it's somewhat old news (September 21) but this blog is brand new and I can't pass up a good story on the MS drug pipeline. Serono, the company behind MS approved therapies Rebif and Novantrone, announced that their experimental oral packaging of the historically leukemia focused drug Cladribine has been ... http://brainspotting.org/2006/11/14/oral-cladribine-granted-fast-track-status-by-fda/ Genetic Engineering News reports that Opexa Pharmaceuticals has begun dosing patients in its 150-patient Phase IIb trial of Tovaxin, a T-cell vaccine. Tovaxin is interesting because it works by provoking an immune response against the T-cells responsible for the demyelination that occurs in multiple sclerosis. Treatment involves extracting ... http://brainspotting.org/2006/11/13/first-patients-dosed-in-tovaxin-phase-iib-trial/ Genetic Engineering News reports that Biogen has been granted permission by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to market Avonex (interferon beta-1a) in Japan. This means that Avonex joins Betaseron (marketed in Europe and Japan as 'Betaferon') as the second disease modifying long term therapy for individuals ... http://brainspotting.org/2006/11/08/biogen-announces-avonex-availablility-in-japan/ Two major multiple sclerosis therapy manufacturers announced third quarter earnings on Tuesday, beating estimates.  Pointing to Copaxone as a major revenue driver, Teva increased US sales of the daily injection therapy by 10% over the third quarter of 2005 to reach $226 million.  For Biogen's part, Avonex led revenue growth ... http://brainspotting.org/2006/11/01/biogen-teva-report-positive-financial-results-for-third-quarter/