Drug shown to reduce new attacks/symptom progression in some patients
In separate clinical trials, a drug called ocrelizumab has been shown to reduce new attacks in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), and new symptom progression in primary progressive MS.
Three studies conducted by an international team of researchers, which included Amit Bar-Or and Douglas Arnold from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of McGill University, have discovered that ocrelizumab can significantly reduce new attacks in patients with relapsing MS, as well as slow the progression of symptoms caused by primary progressive MS.
In one study, 732 patients with primary progressive MS were randomized on a 2:1 ratio to receive either ocrelizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that depletes CD20+ B cells, or a placebo.
The proportion of patients with 12-week confirmed disability progression was 39.3 per cent with the placebo versus 32.9 per cent with ocrelizumab. After 24 weeks, the proportion with confirmed disability progression was 35.7 per cent with placebo versus 29.6 per cent with ocrelizumab. By week 120, timed 25-foot walk worsened by 55.1 per cent for placebo versus 38.9 per cent for ocrelizumab. Patients given ocrelizumab were also found to have fewer new brain lesions and less brain volume loss than those given the placebo.
Researchers also tested ocrelizumab in two separate studies of patients with relapsing remitting MS, one a group of 821 and the other 835. In both studies, patients were randomized on a 1:1 ratio to receive either ocrelizumab or an already established treatment for relapsing MS: subcutaneous interferon-beta, injected three times weekly. Compared to the placebo, relapse rates in patients given ocrelizumab were 46-per-cent lower in one study and 47-per-cent lower in the other. Ocrelizumab was found to reduce the risk of disability progression after 12 weeks and 24 weeks, and reduced the number of new brain lesions.
The study noted that infusion-related reactions occurred in 34.3 per cent of ocrelizumab-treated patients. Serious infections were not more frequent with ocrelizumab compared to the interferon (1.3 versus 2.9 per cent respectively). Malignancies occurred in four ocrelizumab-treated patients and in two interferon-treated patients. Further observation is required to determine the long-term safety of ocrelizumab.
“The results in patients with relapsing remitting MS not only demonstrate very high efficacy against relapses, but also underscore the important emerging role of B cells of the immune system in the development of relapses,” says Bar-Or. “While the results in patients with primary progressive MS are more modest, they nonetheless represent the very first successful trial in such patients, a breakthrough as primary progressive MS now transitions from a previously untreatable condition to one that can be impacted by therapy. It is an important step forward in the field.”
These studies, funded by Roche, were published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Dec. 21, 2016.
MS in Canada
Canada has one of the world’s highest rates of MS – about 1,100 new cases each year. Some 50,000 Canadians have MS, and more than one-in-five patients are in Quebec. MS is one of the most common neurological diseases among young Canadians. Children as young as two can develop the disease. It typically strikes people in their prime years, between 15 and 40. Women are twice as likely as men to contract MS.
Learn more: Breakthrough in MS treatment
[osd_subscribe categories=’multiple-sclerosis’ placeholder=’Email Address’ button_text=’Subscribe Now for any new posts on the topic “MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS”‘]
Receive an email update when we add a new MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS article.
The Latest on: Multiple sclerosis
[google_news title=”” keyword=”multiple sclerosis” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Multiple sclerosis
- PET brain scans could reveal hidden inflammation in patients with multiple sclerosison April 27, 2024 at 4:47 am
A Brigham and Women’s Hospital study of 30 people found that, in patients with MS, advanced brain imaging could identify hidden inflammation not picked up on traditional MRIs ...
- ‘You wouldn’t know I had it,’ woman living with Multiple Sclerosis holding awareness walkon April 26, 2024 at 6:44 pm
Happening at 9 a.m. on April 27, a walk to raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is happening at Capaha Park ...
- Texas MS 150 bike ride for multiple sclerosis fight to raise millionson April 26, 2024 at 2:55 pm
Texas MS150 is gearing up to celebrate its 40th anniversary as thousands of cyclists raise millions of dollars for the fight against Multiple Sclerosis.
- Cannabis Use Disorder Increasing Among Patients With Multiple Sclerosison April 26, 2024 at 6:13 am
In a nationally enrolling, ongoing, sham-controlled pilot study, researchers evaluated home-based transcranial direct current stimulation paired with mindfulness meditation as an intervention for ...
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Newson April 25, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Jan. 9, 2024 — A combination of only 11 proteins can predict long-term disability outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) for different individuals. The identified proteins could be used to tailor ...
- Tiziana Life Sciences Reports Positive 3-Month Neuroimaging Scores in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Receiving Intranasal Foralumabon April 25, 2024 at 9:00 am
*EA5 showed a worsening in their White Matter Z-Score at three months during a pseudo-exacerbation of the patient’s trigeminal neuralgia.
- For immigrants to Canada, risk of multiple sclerosis increases with proportion of life spent thereon April 24, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Immigrants to Canada who have spent a greater proportion of their lives in Canada have a greater risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) than people who have spent a smaller proportion of their ...
- Tiziana Life Sciences Announces Additional Clinical Improvements Among Multiple Sclerosis Patients in its Expanded Access Programon April 22, 2024 at 4:12 am
All Patients Have Either Stabilized or Improved on Nasal Foralumab Treatment and No Patients Declined in Key Clinical Measures NEW YORK, April 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tiziana Life Sciences, Ltd.
- This Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Could Be a Breakthroughon April 20, 2024 at 5:00 am
A new blood test reveals signs of the disease years before symptoms occur. It could change how MS is diagnosed, treated and studied.
via Bing News