ArchiveOctober 2022

How do you stop relapsing MS….you inhibit B cells. How do you stop progressive MS….you inhibit microglail function. How will pharma stop MS next…..simples you inhibit Brutons tyrosine kinase. Brutons tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a critical B cell signalling molecule so it will get rid of relapsing MS. We know these agent blocks relapses in MS, will they stop progression, we will see...

We know the literature and how good HSCT stem cell therapy appears to be, but how good is it in comparison to current MS drugs? The people in the HSCT trials may be different from the norm as they have generally got very active disease to qualify for HSCT treatment, So what if we take the people from HSCT studies and match their starting characteristics with people treated with current high...

Sorry that I have not been reporting, I’m at the MS COVID-19 super-spreading event in HamsterJam…only joking. It is lovely to be out and about…..Meetings are not just about the spread of information but it is about meeting old friends and meeting new people. Therefore, it is interesting when we look at the commercial stands, gone are the freebies of yesteryear which is just as...

Prof David Baker and Dr Sharmilee Gnanapavan are updating you on all things ECTRIMS 2022. They’ve been ceaselessly buzzing around the conference to get all the updates, information and results that are pertinent to you, dear readers. Thank you for sending in topics and questions that you want answered, they have tried very hard to cover what you are interested in. You can watch on our Youtube...

P705 Comparative effectiveness of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation with immune reconstitution therapies in relapsing-remitting MS Aim: This study emulated pairwise trials of comparative effectiveness of AHSCT vs. alemtuzumab, cladribine tablets and mitoxantrone (an older, broadly immunosuppressive therapy). Groups were matched on a propensity score derived from sex, age...

I said this last week and as I gain access to the ECTRIMS2022 I will suggest it again. There is now no question that treatment with fingolimod reduces the SARS-COV-2 T and B cell response. Fingolimod targets S1PR1,3,4,5 whereas ozanimod=siponimod in their targeting of S1PR1, and S1PR5 and Ponesimod targets mainly S1PR1. The Umpapumpas say fingolimod=siponimod=ozanimod=ponesimod when it comes to...

Here is the framework for furture MS priorities Pathways to cures for multiple sclerosis: A research roadmap. It is open access so you can have a read of it Background:Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a growing global health challenge affecting nearly 3 million people. Progress has been made in the understanding and treatment of MS over the last several decades, but cures remain elusive. The National...

I have been a research registrar on SIZOMUS for two years. I will say people with MS who take part in clinical trials are real heroes. If you need some positive energy come and have a chat with someone donating his time and efforts to participate in clinical trials and help people with MS everywhere. For the SIZOMUS, I can give some scientific experience now on how the anti-plasma cells Ixazomib...

The Blog is about good and bad research news. These figures will be wrong as newer DMT will no doubt impact so use as a guide only Walz L, Brooks JC, Shavelle RM, Robertson N, Harding KE. Life expectancy in multiple sclerosis by EDSS score. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2022 ;68:104219. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104219.  The median survival time of newly-diagnosed MS patients without severe...

B cells have been thought to be important in the disease process….OK at least I think they are important. MS and many other autoimmune diseases respond to B cell depleting therapy. These conditions are controlled by genetics and this polygenic control, which means the problem is controlled by more than one gene. The magnitude of immune response is also controlled by genes. In this study...