Teva Pharmaceuticals has announced that it will no longer pursue the commercial development of laquinimod, a small-molecule aryl hydrocarbon receptor activator, in neurodegenerative diseases. The development and commercialization rights will revert back to Active Biotech, the company that originated the molecule. Read More
Neurology
Heart disease associated with atrophy in MS
August 15, 2018The University of Buffalo MS group has reported that comorbid cardiovascular disease appears to contribute to more rapid brain tissue loss in patients with multiple sclerosis (Jakimovski et al. Eur J Neurol 2018; epublished August 13, 2018). Read More
New migraine medication approved in Canada
August 6, 2018Erenumab (Aimovig), a monoclonal antibody targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor, has received Health Canada approval for the prevention of migraine in adults who have at least four migraine days per month. This would include patients with episodic (< 15 headache days/month) and chronic migraine (>15 headache days/month, of which >8 are migrainous). The drug is administered by subcutaneous injection once a month. The recommended dose is 70 mg (one injection) per month. Some patients may benefit from a dose of 140 mg qmonthly, administered as two consecutive 70-mg injections. The drug is provided in an autoinjector for patients to self-administer. Read More
Predictors of switching therapies in MS – real-world results
August 1, 2018An analysis of data from 24 Italian MS centres has identified factors associated with an early change of disease-modifying therapy (Sacca et al. Mult Scler 2018; epublished July 25, 2018). Read More
Inhibiting CGRP in migraine prophylaxis
July 25, 2018SPECIAL REPORT
60th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society, San Francisco CA, 29 June – 1 July 2018 – Erenumab, the first in a new class of monoclonal antibodies that inhibit calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), has now been approved in the U.S. Other agents in development are fremanezumab, eptinezumab and galcanezumab. The following is a summary of new data on these agents presented at the 60th annual meeting of the American Headache Society. Read More