Multiple Sclerosis News and Research

Latest Multiple Sclerosis News and Research

Medical use of marijuana on its way to reality in Washington D.C.

After debate the Washington, D.C., city council has voted unanimously for use of marijuana for medical purposes in patients with “chronic and lasting disease” like HIV, glaucoma, cancer, severe pain, multiple sclerosis etc.

22 Apr 2010

Abbott acquires Facet Biotech

Abbott has completed its acquisition of Facet Biotech Corporation, strengthening its pharmaceutical pipeline in immunology and oncology.

22 Apr 2010

NCGR deploys Isilon scale-out NAS to power genome sequencing research services

Isilon Systems today announced that the National Center for Genome Resources has deployed Isilon scale-out NAS to power its full range of next-generation genome sequencing research services. By combining Isilon's X-Series, Backup Accelerator and CommVault's Simpana backup software, NCGR has unified eight Illumina Genome Analyzers onto a highly reliable, central storage resource, accelerating time-to-results and ensuring its research information is secure and accessible 24x7x365.

21 Apr 2010

Abbott's first-quarter worldwide pharmaceutical sales increases by 12.9%

Abbott today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

21 Apr 2010

CVS Caremark survey results of specialty pharmacy patients

CVS Caremark today announced results of a survey of the company's specialty pharmacy patients that provides insights into their views on medication adherence and their perceptions about the role of their specialty pharmacy. The survey results show nearly 70 percent of respondents believe their specialty pharmacy team played an important role in encouraging them to take their specialty medications as prescribed.

21 Apr 2010

Researchers discover subunits of GABAB receptors in central nervous system

In the latest issue of the renowned scientific journal "Nature" researchers from the universities of Freiburg and Basel report on their discovery of previously unknown subunits of the GABAB receptors in the central nervous system. GABAB receptors are transmembrane proteins in nerve cells which are of fundamental significance for the functioning of the brain and have great therapeutical and pharmaceutical importance.

21 Apr 2010

Plexxikon presents promising preclinical data from PLX3397 in vivo cancer studies

Plexxikon Inc. today announced promising preclinical data from in vivo cancer studies with PLX3397 demonstrating significant reduction in tumor burden, metastatic spread, bone erosion and cancer bone pain. PLX3397 is an oral, selective kinase inhibitor that down-modulates macrophages, microglia, osteoclasts and mast cells, all cell types targeted by this drug candidate. These cell types play a key role in cancer and metastasis.

21 Apr 2010

State Round Up: Colorado's medical marijuana dispensaries; Insurance discounts for wellness; Florida's pain clinic oversight legislation

Hundreds of new medical marijuana dispensaries have cropped up in Denver, Boulder and other Colorado cities, causing the state to stop accepting walk-up applications from people seeking cards that allow them to buy the plant, CNBC/USA Today reports. Would-be medical-marijuana consumers will now have to mail in their applications. "The changes are necessary due to the explosive growth in the number of medical marijuana applications," said a state health official.

21 Apr 2010

Elan's first-quarter total revenue up by 27% to $310.5M

Elan Corporation, plc, today reported its first quarter 2010 financial results.

21 Apr 2010

TYSABRI drives Biogen Idec's first-quarter revenues of $1.1 billion

Biogen Idec Inc., a global biotechnology leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative therapies, today announced its first quarter 2010 results.

20 Apr 2010

Acorda Therapeutics to initiate Phase 1 clinical trial of GGF2 for heart failure in mid-2010

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced plans to initiate a Phase 1 single-dose clinical trial of the Company's compound, Glial Growth Factor 2 (GGF2), in patients with heart failure in mid-2010, based on an IND filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 19, 2010. GGF2 has been shown to protect heart muscle and restore cardiac function in preclinical models of heart failure, myocardial infarction and cardiotoxicity.

20 Apr 2010

AstraZeneca/Targacept's TC-5214 for treatment resistant depression to earn Decision Resources' gold standard status

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, for treatment resistant depression therapy, AstraZeneca/Targacept's TC-5214 will earn Decision Resources' proprietary clinical gold standard status in 2013 (following its approval that year) and through 2018.

20 Apr 2010

Global pharmaceutical market to reach $1.1 trillion in 2014: IMS Health

IMS Health reported today that the size of the global market for pharmaceuticals is expected to grow nearly $300 billion over the next five years, reaching $1.1 trillion in 2014. The 5 - 8 percent compound annual growth rate during this period reflects the impact of leading products losing patent protection in developed markets, as well as strong overall growth in the world's emerging countries.

20 Apr 2010

FTO gene associated with loss of brain tissue: UCLA researchers

Three years ago, geneticists reported the startling discovery that nearly half of all people in the U.S. with European ancestry carry a variant of the fat mass and obesity associated gene, which causes them to gain weight - from three to seven pounds, on average - but worse, puts them at risk for obesity.

20 Apr 2010

OECs may hold promise for pediatric cerebral palsy treatment

A unique cell type that supports and surrounds (ensheathes) neurons within the nose (olfactory system) known as olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), possess the ability to regenerate, are relatively easy to obtain, and have become prime candidates for transplantation to repair a number of lesions in the central nervous system (CNS).

19 Apr 2010

PRA International expands clinical research operations to New Zealand

PRA International, a leading Clinical Research Organization, announces it has established a legal entity and hired staff in New Zealand, which will complement the firm's extensive network of Asia-Pacific operations and partnerships.

19 Apr 2010

Health insurance roundup: N.Y.'s high costs, COBRA concerns, high-risk pools

News outlets are covering various aspects of the health insurance industry, especially in light of health reform.

19 Apr 2010

Access to NAbs testing important for MS therapy management

Teva Neuroscience today announced results at the 62nd American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting which demonstrated that eliminating barriers to neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) testing significantly impacted multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment choices in patients receiving interferon beta (IFNβ) therapies.

17 Apr 2010

Study shows beneficial impact of TYSABRI on QoL in MS patients

Biogen Idec and Elan Corporation, plc today announced results from a one-year, longitudinal health outcomes studys 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto, April 10 - 17, 2010. The AAN Annual Meeting is the world's largest gathering of neurologists.

17 Apr 2010

New data on Cladribine Tablets presented at AAN annual meeting

EMD Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced that new data providing further understanding on Cladribine Tablets as a potential new therapeutic option for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis were presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

17 Apr 2010