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National Newsletters Continued learning aids memory in MS The following article appeared in Science Daily, July 2. Washington (ANI): Researchers in Italy have found that multiple sclerosis patients with high educational levels suffer less cognitive impairment compared with those with low educational levels. MS is a progressive immunologic brain disorder with neuropsychological deficits including selective attention, working memory, executive functioning, information processing speed, and long term memory. These deficits often impact daily life (ability to do household tasks, interpersonal relationships, employment, and overall quality of life). Click here for the entire story Study shows promising multiple sclerosis treatment Philadelphia, PA, December 6, 2011 – Laquinimod is an orally available synthetic compound that has been successfully evaluated in phase II/III clinical studies for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The mechanism of action of laquinimod has not been fully elucidated, but a study published in the January 2012 issue of The American Results published in the American Journal of Pathology Journal of Pathology suggests that laquinimod triggers immune cells within the central nervous system to produce and release brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), contributing to the repair or survival of neurons and thus limiting brain damage. Click here for the entire story Ann Rommey remaining active and living with MS For Ann Romney, wife of presidential candidate Mitt Romney, proper nutrition is not about looking thin onstage. Eating healthy is one of the ways Romney, 62, manages her multiple sclerosis, a chronic neurological disease that she has lived with for more than a decade. It has been in remission since 2002. Click here for the whole story Reserch overturns theories about MS The trigger for multiple sclerosis could be completely different to what scientists have believed, say Australian researchers who made the breakthrough discovery that could overturn decades of MS research. Their work, which suggests the past 40 years of MS research has been looking at the wrong parts of the central nervous system, could eventually lead to new treatments. About 15,000 Australians have MS, which is a notoriously difficult disease to diagnose and treat. European panel reviewing infections linked to Tysabri By Robert Weisman Globe Staff / October 24, 2009 Shares of transatlantic biotechnology partners Biogen Idec Inc. and Elan Corp. tumbled yesterday after European regulators said they were examining 23 cases of patients who developed potentially fatal brain infections after taking the companies’ multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri. That is twice as many cases as previously reported. The European Medicines Agency, which regulates drugs in Europe, said it will review the risks and benefits of Tysabri and discuss whether added measures are needed to assure safety. New Research and Hope for People suffering with Multiple Sclerosis I recently was very lucky to be introduced to a group of people. (I will tell you about them in a moment.) They had a call out to people living with MS for a research project looking into re-learn basic functions that had been lost to MS. I was very eager to find out more. I meet with Yuri and we both decided that I would be one of the ten test cases that they had funding to do. The actual name of the program is Non-invasive Neuromodulation. (They need an easier name for us lay people.) The program involved preliminary testing to establish levels and starting off on twice daily training. During the training I learned how to move and balance again. I discovered in my case that I compensate for a lot with my vision. The minute that I had to do anything with my eyes closed I went down like someone turned the gravity dial and I was suck down to mother earth. (I fell) I learned how my body used to work and twice a day I worked with a thin plastic strip on my tongue. This strip transmitted a low electric current. The purpose was to retrain your brain and learn function again. Click here for the entire story New drugs to battle multiple sclerosis THe following article appeared in the LA Times MS is an auto immune disease, meaning that the body's immune system attacks some of its own tissues. Several new drugs that treat inflammation caused by the disease are showing promise, although serious side effects are still an issue. By Brendan Borrell December 15, 2008 Multiple sclerosis remains a cruel medical mystery. It strikes in the prime of life and runs an unpredictable course that can end in total disability. Scientists are a long way from halting the disease entirely, but several promising drugs are in late-phase clinical trials and experts anticipate better lives for patients in the near future. Click here for the whole story. Low "Sunshine Vitamin" levels linked to MS in Children Twin studies conducted by Canadian researchers found that lower levels of vitamin D, also known as ‘sunshine vitamin’, may perk up chances of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in children. The researchers presented their findings at the World Congress on Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) held in Montreal on Friday. These were the first ever studies conducted on children while many past studies show adults living in northern latitude, who get less exposure to vitamin D inducing sunshine, being at increased risk of MS. A chronic disease, Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the central nervous system. The symptoms range from mild to severe, including changes in sensation, visual problems, muscle weakness, difficulties with coordination and speech, severe fatigue, depression, cognitive impairment, problems with balance, overheating, and pain. In severe cases, the debilitating disease can lead to impaired mobility and disability. More than 55,000 people in Canada and around 400,000 people in the United States are suffering from the disease. Previous studies linked MS to environmental and genetic factors. The Vice-president of biomedical research at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Patricia O'Looney said, “In MS, the immune system is mis-regulated, and we do know that there's a susceptibility in the genes we inherit from our parents. We know that something triggers the disease." Explaining further he said, "We know from epidemiological studies that there's a higher prevalence of MS the farther away you live from the equator and, more recently, we've learned that vitamin D does regulate the immune system." Click here for entire story Multiple Sclerosis: new MRI contrast medium enables early diagnosis in animal model Promising therapies can be initiated at an early stage; team of scientists from Heidelberg and Würzburg publishes in the journal Brain In an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), neuroradiologists and neurologists of the University hospitals of Heidelberg and Würzburg have been able to visualize inflammatory tissue damage, most of which had remained unrecognized up to now, with the aid of a new contrast medium, Gadofluorine M, in magnetic resonance imaging. The scientists have published their results in the online edition of the renowned medical journal Brain. Click here for the entire story Significant Barriers Prevent People with MS from Fully Committing to Treatment Regimen, New Survey Reveals Nearly all people (97 percent) with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have started treatment say their commitment to managing their disease in every way possible is their prime motivation for staying on therapy, according to a new North American survey of people with MS, results of which were released today at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meeting in Denver. However, the survey also found that people with the disease can face significant barriers that make it difficult for them to start or stay fully committed to an effective treatment regimen.(1) The survey, which interviewed 220 people in the United States and Canada who have been diagnosed with MS in the past five years, uncovered a number of barriers patients face to starting and staying on medication, including the affordability of prescription medicine, injection-related issues and side effects, and the difficulty of maintaining a medication schedule.(1) "Studies have shown that starting effective therapy soon after a diagnosis of MS and continuing that therapy on a consistent basis may significantly slow the progression of the disease.(2) This survey underscores the fact that despite their best intentions, many people with MS need help overcoming challenges that keep them from fully committing to treatment," said Amy Perrin Ross, APRN, MSN, CNRN, MSCN, president of the International Organization of MS Nurses. "The good news is there are several things that can be done to help give patients the best chance of starting and staying on therapy, including exploring financial assistance programs, forming lasting partnerships with an MS nurse and other supporters and choosing an effective MS medication that addresses a patient's personal hurdles. This can mean looking at attributes of a medication such as proven efficacy and safety, storage requirements, and the availability of support programs and financial assistance." Click here for the entire story When to tell Your Employer that You have Multiple Sclerosis Shabi Guptha December 9, 2007 Deciding when to tell your employer of your MS diagnosis is easily as important as deciding when to tell your family. Under ADA rules you do not have to disclose an illness unless it causes a significant challenge in the workplace, or if you are requesting accommodations such as specific equipment or altered work times. However, multiple sclerosis is unpredictable and while you may be fine today, it is possible for a new symptom to start while you're at work. The best time to inform your employer of the diagnosis may be when you are symptom-free. Arm yourself with information about your illness so that you can reassure your employer and provide needed information. Click here for the story Oral Treatment for MS? Teva and Active Biotech to Initiate Pivotal Phase III Trial Program of Oral Laquinimod for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis JERUSALEM & LUND, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) and Active Biotech AB (OMX NORDIC: ACTI) today announced that the companies are initiating a clinical Phase III program for laquinimod, a novel once-daily, orally administered immunomodulatory compound for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The studies will now begin following the successful conclusion of a second phase II study and the outcome of discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). The companies are to commence two global Phase III trials of laquinimod during this year. The Phase III trials will take place in centers in the United States, Europe, and other locations worldwide, to further confirm the results of the Phase II trials. Click here for the whole story Society-Funded Researchers Find Cells that May Promote Myelin Repair in MS Researchers funded in part by the National MS Society’s Promise:2010 campaign report on a potential source of cells in the brain to promote repair of nervous system damage that occurs in multiple sclerosis. Anne Baron-Van Evercooren PhD, and Brahim Nait-Oumesmar PhD (INSERM, Paris) and colleagues report their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2007 Mar 13;104[11]:4694-9). Drs. Van-Evercooren and Nait-Oumesmar are members of one of the four international, multidisciplinary teams funded through the Promise:2010 campaign’s Repair and Protection Initiative to accelerate nerve tissue repair from basic research to human clinical trials. Multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin insulation of nerve fibers. Nerve fibers themselves also are damaged. Some spontaneous repair occurs via populations of immature stem cells resident in the brain, but this repair is not sufficient. Researchers are searching for ways to stimulate these natural repair resources in people with MS. Drs. Van-Evercooren and Nait-Oumesmar are members of the repair team headed by Professor Charles ffrench-Constant (University of Cambridge, UK), which is focusing on restoring myelin by identifying and amplifying natural repair factors in the brain and by attempting transplantation of replacement cells. Click here for the entire story Neurological disease common, survey finds WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological diseases may be far more common than most people believe, according to new estimates published on Monday. Nearly 1 out of 1,000 Americans has multiple sclerosis (MS) and 10 out of 1,000 elderly Americans has Parkinson’s disease, the survey found. "Our estimate of MS prevalence is about 50 percent higher than a comprehensive review from 1982," said Dr. Deborah Hirtz of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, who led the survey. It is not clear whether the disease is actually more common or if it is being diagnosed more accurately, she said. Dr. Hirtz and colleagues reviewed studies from nearly 500 medical papers published between 1990 and 2005 for their report. The survey, published in Neurology, also found the rate of Alzheimer’s disease was up substantially from past estimates, with 67 out of 1,000 Americans over the age of 65 affected. Four out of every 100,000 has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the survey found. Click here for all the story We need your help, now. Sign the Petition to Cure MS! Petition Drive to Increase Federal Funding for MS Research Dear National MS Society Members, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has officially launched an exciting and ambitious petition drive to increase federal funding for MS medical research. The goal is to obtain more than 200,000 signatures in support of the MS movement before February 12, 2007. All of us know the budget scenario in Washington — many organizations and interests must compete for the same pot of funding. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the major source of funding for MS research, is scheduled to reduce funding by two million dollars in the MS arena over the next two years. We cannot accept this trend and must take action now. We will deliver our petitions to legislators on Capitol Hill during the Society’s 2007 Public Policy Conference in March. The signatures of so many constituents will be used to strengthen our call for increased federal funding for MS medical research. Click here to sign today. Then forward this e-mail to your friends, family, and others who support our efforts to end the devastating effects of MS. When signing online, select the Central New England Chapter in the drop down box, so our chapter receives credit. Tell your out-of-state friends and family to select our chapter as well! * Please note all information will only be used for the petition and not sold to other companies or used for other purposes* To download hard copies of the petition, visit wwwmsnewengland.org, and select advocacy. Print the petition and post the hard copies at your church, YMCA, or other community gathering places. Return all copies of the petition to the Central New Chapter (see address below) no later then February 1, 2006. If you have any questions please contact Shannon Quirk at 781-693-5154. Thank you for being an MS activist! Shannon Quirk, MSW Advocacy Coordinator 101A First Avenue, Su Physical Activity: Move It or Lose It We know the benefits of physical exercise: strength, stamina, and weight control. Exercise may also have a protective effect against certain cancers and stroke, and reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes. But what does this all mean to a person who is constantly told to rest and not overdo it? What does this mean to a person with MS? The first thing we need to do is change our perception of exercise. Exercise does not have to be harsh, sweaty workouts. In fact, the less pain the more gain, because you are more likely to stick with activities that feel good. In MS, demanding activity can do more harm than good. Moderate exercise for 20 minutes or so every day yields the same benefits as intense sweat-and-grunt workouts. Start by talking with your health care provider about the types of exercise most likely to be good for you. What is "good" exercise for one person may not be good for another. Like medication, exercise should be prescribed by a rofessional who knows how to develop individually designed exercises. On the right track to fitness Even a little exercise provides benefits. If you find you can't do what you used to do, don't give up. You can always modify or turn to another type of activity. Physical therapists and fitness instructors can provide expert help. With some changes, people with all types of MS can enjoy the benefits of exercise. Click here for complete story FDA approves Tysabri The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the return to market of Tysabri® (natalizumab), produced by Biogen Idec and Elan Pharmaceuticals, to delay the accumulation of physical disability and reduce the frequency of relapses in those with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). The approval is based on positive results from two clinical trials showing that Tysabri significantly reduced the risk of sustained progression of disability and the rate of clinical relapse in those with relapsing MS. The approval hinges on a mandatory registration program for patients and prescribing physicians to minimize the risks that patients will develop PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy), caused by a common virus called the JC virus. Three people who had been in clinical trials involving Tysabri developed PML, two of whom died. The drug, which is taken by monthly IV infusion, will be dispensed at registered infusion centers across the country. According to company sources, there will be a delay between the time of FDA approval and the time when Tysabri is available to patients. Several weeks are needed to develop training materials and to finalize the patient data collection system. The companies hope to commercially launch Tysabri, or make it available for use, in July 2006. Individual patients may experience additional delays, depending on the availability of a nearby registered infusion site and any health insurance coverage issues. Read More on this story. MS and Tremors What Is Tremor? Some people with MS may experience a frustrating symptom known as tremor. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society defines tremor as "an involuntary rhythmic shaking movement of the muscles."1A Tremor can range from subtle shaking to uncontrollable muscle movement. It may impact areas such as the head, face, trunk, arms, legs and vocal cords.2A Typical triggers that may worsen MS-related tremor include stress and fatigue.1C,1D MS-related tremor may occur when demyelination or scarring damages the nerve fibers in the thalamus. The thalamus is a large group of nerve cells in the center of the brain responsible for releasing incoming sensory impulses (except smell) to higher nerve centers.1A,3A Types of Tremor There are many types of tremor, including the following: Intention tremor: This is the most common and often most debilitating type of tremor in people with MS. Intention tremor occurs only when a person is moving, not during rest. It may happen when reaching for an object, or moving a hand or foot to a specific place.4A Postural tremor: This occurs when a person is supporting a limb or the entire body against gravity. For instance, someone with postural tremor may experience shaking when standing or sitting, but not when lying.4A Nystagmus: This tremor occurs in the eyes, causing “jumpiness” in the eyes.4A Tremor Management While there is no cure for tremor, you may be able to manage its symptoms1A with one or more of the following methods: Physical therapy or occupational therapy1E Prescription medication1F Stress management techniques1A Neurosurgery1G Electrode implants, also known as "deep brain stimulation" or DBS.1G Speech therapy1B Tremor affects each person differently, so if you experience tremor, work with your health care team to develop an individualized treatment plan.1A Multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis Overview Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, potentially debilitating disease that affects your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). The illness is probably an autoimmune disease, which means your immune system responds as if part of your body is a foreign substance. In MS, your body directs antibodies and white blood cells against proteins in the myelin sheath surrounding nerves in your brain and spinal cord. This causes inflammation and injury to the sheath and ultimately to your nerves. The result may be multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis). The damage slows or blocks muscle coordination, visual sensation and other nerve signals. The disease varies in severity, ranging from a mild illness to one that results in permanent disability. Treatments can modify the course of the disease and relieve symptoms. An estimated 400,000 Americans have MS. It generally first occurs in people between the ages of 20 and 50. The disease is twice as common in women as in men. New research program kicks off in Canada The MS Scientific Research Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada announced funding May 4, 2004 of a $4.3 million, multi-centre study of children who have had an initial attack (clinically isolated syndrome or CIS). The five-year study will follow the children to find out which ones go on to experience a second attack and be considered to have clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS). This study will have clinical applicability to children and adults with the disease. It may also identify the key triggers which cause multiple sclerosis. New Study in Canada kicks off to find cure Surving Summer with MS According to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), "Many people with MS experience a temporary worsening of their symptoms when the weather is very hot or humid … ." This happens, according to the NMSS, because a higher body temperature "further impairs the ability of a demyelinated nerve to conduct electrical impulses." Other heat-related events also may aggravate MS symptoms, including having a fever, sunbathing, or taking a hot shower or bath.1A Click to read more MS Fatigue Fatigue is something we have all felt and is a normal consequence of physical or mental exertion and emotional stress. Typically, energy is restored with rest and sleep. However, multiple sclerosis is uniquely associated with fatigue that can interfere with all aspects of life. This type of fatigue is not as easily resolved as “normal” fatigue and is the most common symptom/complaint of MS, with 75-95% of people with MS experiencing fatigue. “MS fatigue” occurs daily, worsens as the day progresses and worsens with heat. Fatigue Management and MS Gene linked to multiple sclerosis GENETICS UM research uncovers key link to MS UM researchers have found a gene linked to multiple sclerosis that could have huge implications in treating the disease that affects hundreds of thousands. BY JOHN DORSCHNER [email protected] After decades of searching, teams of researchers at the University of Miami and elsewhere have found a gene linked to multiple sclerosis that could lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating the often-devastating disease. The news is being released today in related reports in Nature Genetics and the New England Journal of Medicine. The studies examined more than 10,000 DNA samples from MS patients in the United States and Europe to discover the genetic link. Wolfgang Streit, a University of Florida neuroscientist not involved with the research, called the discovery ''somewhat spectacular'' because researchers have been searching for a link for 30 years. Ultimately, researchers hope the link between the gene and the disease can help pharmaceutical companies discover ways to treat and perhaps even avoid the onset of MS, which often occurs between the ages of 20 and 40. ''This is the kind of major development that we're expecting from our genetics research,'' said Pascal Goldschmidt, UM's medical school dean. He lured more than 50 genetics researchers from Duke University to Miami and persuaded the Legislature to give the school $80 million for genetics research. ''This is one of the reasons we came to Miami, to attack common disorders in this way,'' said Margaret Pericak-Vance, an author on both of the MS papers. ``This is just the tip of the iceberg.'' Click here for the entire article Importance of Therapy Importance of Therapy In 1998, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) made its first formal statement (Disease Management Consensus Statement) advocating the use of multiple sclerosis therapy. Based on the recommendation of some of the words. For more information about Living with MS >> Knowledge Is Power Series A series called Knowledge Is Power has been developed to help you deal with some of the implications of your recent diagnosis. The series will provide you with current and accurate information about MS, address many of your initial questions and concerns, and start you on the road to coping with this significant life change. In this volume, some of the medical aspects of MS will be explained. Knowledge Is Power Series Volume 1 Quality of Life of People with Multiple Sclerosis March 19, '08: Principles to Promote Quality of Life of People with Multiple Sclerosis Category: ADDITIONAL MS Resource Sites Posted by: stuart Written by: Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., of: about.com obtained on : March 19, 2008 What Does "Human Rights" Have to Do with MS? Usually, the term “human rights” conjures up violations and atrocities, such as prisoners being tortured or genocide taking place in a far-away country. However, human rights have a broader purpose than simply protecting people from the worst things that can happen. To put it simply, human rights are about dignity and what needs to happen (or not happen) so that each person can live with the dignity that they deserve, simply because they are human. What does that have to do with multiple sclerosis (MS)? Plenty. We did not become less valuable as humans when our immune systems started attacking our myelin and we became less steady on our feet, or slower to find our keys. However, in order for us to live our lives to the fullest and contribute the most we can to society, sometimes we need a little help. We may need special medical care. We may need our workplaces adapted so that we can do our jobs. We may need transportation and public buildings to be made accessible so that we can get where we need to go and function once we get there. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking to let us be humans and do the things that humans do. It is in this spirit that the Principles to Promote Quality of Life of People with Multiple Sclerosis were developed by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation. Why Were the Principles Developed? The introduction to the Principles states: “It should always be kept in mind that the ultimate goal is a cure for MS. However, until a cure is found and can be broadly implemented, it is important to work to maintain or improve quality of life for people with MS...” In this context, the term “quality of life” is defined by the World Health Organization as: Click here for the entire story New Medicare Demonstration Project May Help Cover MS Therapy Costs For Eligible Beneficiaries (5/26/04) The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) reported that a Medicare demonstration project starting this summer will cover disease-modifying therapies taken at home for several thousand beneficiaries with multiple sclerosis. Medicare Demostration Project May Help Therapy Costs Wisconsin women shows the need for activity when living with MS A series on climbing Mount Everest airing on the Discovery Channel is giving a Bayfield woman flashbacks. Mike Simonson reports from Superior. Lori Schneider became the first person with multiple sclerosis to climb to the top of Mount Everest. She did that in May. "It's still surreal in my mind that I was ever up there. When I was watching the Mount Everest shows, it hit me. Did I really do that? (laughs)" Click here for the entire story. Researchers Report Individuals With "Benign MS" Are At Lower Risk Of Developing Significant Disability Findings from a study conducted by researchers from the Mayo Clinic suggest that the longer a person has multiple sclerosis and the lower their level of disability, the more likely it is that person will remain stable and not progress. According to the investigators, the term "benign MS" has been used to describe patients with MS who are doing well. In this study, the authors evaluated individuals in Olmsted County, Minnesota, considered to have benign MS. The study participants had been first examined in 1991, at which time they had been diagnosed with MS for at least 10 years and had an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 4.0 or less. Ten years later, in 2001, participants' level of disability was reevaluated. A total of 47 patients were available for follow-up in 2001. Of those who had minimal or no disability in 1991 (EDSS score of 2.0 or lower), only 7 percent had progressed to an EDSS score of 4.0 or higher in 2001, and none required a wheelchair. In contrast, 57% of patients with an EDSS score of 2.5 to 4.0 in 1991 had progressed to an EDSS score greater than 4.0 by 2001. "We propose that benign MS be defined as patients with MS for 10 years or more who have an EDSS score of 2.0 or less because they have less than 10 percent likelihood of developing significant disability," the researchers wrote. They noted, however, that their findings suggest "it is clinically not possible in the early course of disease, using variables analyzed in this study, to determine which patients will be benign." The report appears in the August issue of Annals of Neurology. When to tell your boss you have MS, When to tell Your Employer that You have Multiple Sclerosis Shabi Guptha December 9, 2007 Deciding when to tell your employer of your MS diagnosis is easily as important as deciding when to tell your family. Under ADA rules you do not have to disclose an illness unless it causes a significant challenge in the workplace, or if you are requesting accommodations such as specific equipment or altered work times. However, multiple sclerosis is unpredictable and while you may be fine today, it is possible for a new symptom to start while you're at work. The best time to inform your employer of the diagnosis may be when you are symptom-free. Arm yourself with information about your illness so that you can reassure your employer and provide needed information. Explain to your employer the unpredictable nature of multiple sclerosis. If you have been working with your company for a long time, then you may be able to reference a past flare-up in the workplace. For example, Do You Remember a Year Ago when I used a cane because my leg was numb? That was an MS flare-up. Consider making a plan with your employer to deal with flare-ups in the workplace. Click here for the whole story Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis, a national nonprofit organization Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis, a national nonprofit organizationAdditionally, samples and data are collected from a number of other similar diseases including Transverse Myelitis, Neuromyelitis Optica, ADEM, and Optic Neuritis to enable studies in these rare neurological disorders and to provide controls for MS studies. Collection Sites Contributing to the success of the project is an impressive list of research centers across the country that have joined Accelerated Cure Project as collection sites for the repository. These include Johns Hopkins Medical Center (Baltimore, MD), University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center (Worcester, MA), University of Texas Southwestern (Dallas, TX), Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York (New York, NY), Barrow Neurological Institute (Phoenix, AZ) and the Shepherd Center (Atlanta, GA). The Accelerated Cure Project intends to continue collecting samples from as many as 10,000 subjects for its MS Repository. If you have MS (or another demyelinating disease) or are related to someone with MS and would like to participate in the project, please call 781/487-0008, visit acceleratedcure.org/repository, or send an email to [email protected]. Click here for the entire story Teva sues Mylan over attempt to make multiple sclerosis generic drug By Alaric DeArment JERUSALEM (Oct. 20) Teva Pharmaceutical Industries filed a lawsuit against U.S. generic drug maker Mylan for the latter’s attempt to market a generic version of a multiple sclerosis drug. The Israeli drug maker filed suit against Mylan and Natco Pharma in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York over Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), alleging that a regulatory approval application that Mylan filed with the Food and Drug Administration to market a generic version of the drug violated Teva’s patent. Teva’s patent on Copaxone expires in May 2014. Teva said the filing was not unexpected, as Mylan had announced its intention to file the application more than a year ago. FDA approves drug for multiple sclerosis (CNN) -- The second-to-last time EJ Levy was at Disney World, she used a scooter to navigate the enormous park. Her legs were weak and she suffered from foot drop caused by multiple sclerosis. That was 4½ years ago. On her most recent trip, a few months ago, Levy walked the entire time, thanks in part to a drug approved by the FDA on Friday. The FDA says the drug, Ampyra (generic name dalfampridine, formerly known as fampridine), is the first MS therapy that is taken orally and the first of its kind to receive FDA approval. It is designed help people with any type of MS improve their walking speed. The prime of her life In 2002, Levy was in her 30s and an active hiker and skier with a job on Wall Street and later in San Francisco, California. But her life took a turn when she started stumbling, falling down and dragging her right leg. Her doctor's diagnosis? Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, a less common form of MS and, as the name implies, one that usually plagues people with the disease after its initial course. Click here for the entire story A Busy Week for Multiple Sclerosis News It was good news for Novartis and bad news for Merck KGaA this week as regulators handed down their decisions on each company’s multiple sclerosis (MS) drug candidate. On Wednesday, Novartis’ Gilenya became the first oral drug in the U.S. approved to treat the chronic inflammatory disease. Gilenya is approved to reduce relapses and delay disability progression in MS patients Click heere for the story Study shows promising treatment for Multiple Sclerosis The following article was written by Julia Medew and published in the The Sydney Morning Herald December 22, 2011 AUSTRALIAN researchers have developed the world's first stem cell model of multiple sclerosis, opening up new ways to study the disease and test treatments. The deputy director of Monash University's immunology and stem cell laboratory, Claude Bernard, said he and his colleagues had used skin cells from MS sufferers to create induced pluripotent stem cells that have the capacity to become brain cells targeted by the disease. Click here for the entire story Have we been looking at MS all wrong? The following article was penned by Tim Barribeau, it looks at what causes and what might be a treatment for MS. Please keep in mind that there is a long way to go here on this proposed idea but it does offer hope that people are still looking. Multiple sclerosis is a confusing disease. Widely regarded as an autoimmune problem, it affects millions of sufferers, and we still don't have a complete grasp of what causes it. Part of this problem is due to the fact that every time we find something that seems to be a factor in how it works, that factor doesn't seem universal. But now there's a new theory of MS that could lead to a radically different treatment for the disease. Click here for the entire story (c) 2015 TeamMS. All right reserved.
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