REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN) ANNUAL MEETING, SAN DIEGO, CA, MARCH 16-23, 2013 – An analysis of three phase III studies reports a significant reduction in the rate of brain atrophy during treatment with fingolimod (Cohen et al. AAN 2013; abstract S51.006). Brain volume was measured using SIENA/SIENAX. Data were analysed for the two-year placebo-controlled FREEDOMS and FREEDOMS II trials, and the one-year TRANSFORMS trial comparing fingolimod to interferon-beta-1a IM.
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Pregnancies may slow disability progression
March 21, 2013REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN) ANNUAL MEETING, SAN DIEGO, CA, MARCH 16-23, 2013 – It is well established that the frequency of MS relapses declines during pregnancy, then returns to pre-pregnancy levels during the postpartum period. Recent studies suggest that parity may also have an impact on long-term disability.
Update on treatment trials: teriflunomide, daclizumab and CombiRx
March 21, 2013REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN) ANNUAL MEETING, SAN DIEGO, CA, MARCH 16-23, 2013 – TOWER is the second of three phase III studies investigating the safety and efficacy of oral teriflunomide, the active metabolite of leflunomide which acts by inhibiting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. The drug received FDA approval in September 2012 but has not yet been approved in Canada.
Effect of NaCl on pathogenic Th17 cells
March 21, 2013REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN) ANNUAL MEETING, SAN DIEGO, CA, MARCH 16-23, 2013 -High sodium chloride levels promote the differentiation of proinflammatory Th17 cells that are highly pathogenic, according to the preliminary results of an in vitro study in naïve human CD4+ cells (Kleinewietfeld et al. AAN 2013; abstract S11.004).