REPORT FROM THE 67TH AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN) ANNUAL MEETING – WASHINGTON DC, APRIL 18-25, 2015 – A number of new studies at AAN 2015 presented longer-term data on the use of second-generation disease-modifying therapies for MS. The following is a summary of key studies: Read More

REPORT FROM THE 67TH AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN) ANNUAL MEETING – WASHINGTON DC, APRIL 18-25, 2015 – BIIB033 is a monoclonal antibody targeting LINGO-1 (leucine-rich repeat and immunoglobulin domain-containing neurite outgrowth inhibitor receptor-interacting protein-1), which is expressed on neurons and oligodendrocytes and which impedes oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination.

No serious adverse events were reported in phase I testing (Tran et al. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2014;1:e18). Read More

REPORT FROM THE 67TH AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN) ANNUAL MEETING – WASHINGTON DC, APRIL 18-25, 2015 – Two Canadian studies presented at AAN 2015 focused on the common problem of comorbidities in patients with multiple sclerosis. Pain and fatigue were examined using the Health Utilities Index pain attribute score and the Fatigue Impact Scale for Daily Use (DFIS) in 949 consecutive patients recruited from four MS centres (Fiest et al. AAN 2015; abstract P1.114).

Mean aged was 48.6 years; and 72.4% had a relapsing-remitting course. Patients with one or more comorbidities were more likely to report that pain disrupted normal daily activities, and had higher fatigue scores. Pain was most disruptive among MS patients with comorbid irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Fatigue was worse in patients with anxiety, depression and fibromyalgia. Read More

REPORT FROM THE 67TH AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY (AAN) ANNUAL MEETING – WASHINGTON DC, APRIL 18-25, 2015 – The TARGET trial evaluated low-dose sumatriptan powder delivered intranasally using a breath-powered device (AVP-825) in patients with acute migraine (McAllister et al. AAN 2015; abstract P1.300; full results published as Cady et al. Headache 2015;55:88-100). Read More