The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, and for primary-progressive MS. Ocrelizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets CD20+ B cells. It is the first disease-modifying therapy to be approved for PPMS. The FDA had given ocrelizumab breakthrough therapy and fast track designations, and granted it a priority review. Read More
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Adversity, hunger and early-life depression: 2 reports
March 22, 2017Early adversity, notably during key periods of development, significantly increases the risk of major depressive disorder in children/adolescents, according to two recent studies. Read More
Neurologists cautious about patient e-contact: survey
March 15, 2017Neurologists are a conservative group when it comes to patients contacting them by personal cell phone/email, and a majority think a social media relationship with a patient is inappropriate, according to the results of two online surveys of NeuroSens subscribers conducted by Dr. Jiwon Oh and colleagues at the University of Toronto. The results were presented at ACTRIMS Forum 2017 in Orlando, Florida in February 2017. Read More
Daclizumab approved in Canada for relapsing MS
March 3, 2017Daclizumab, a new injectable therapy administered every four weeks, has been approved by Health Canada for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing-remitting MS who have had a poor response or tolerability to at least one prior disease-modifying therapy. The drug received approval on December 8, 2016, and will be marketed as Zinbryta. An intravenous formulation was approved two decades ago (Zenapax) as an anti-rejection drug post-transplant. Zinbryta previously received approval for MS from the U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency. Read More