Multiple Sclerosis Research Progress and Initiatives

Introduction

Important research progress occurred in 2015, offering new leads in stopping multiple sclerosis in its tracks, restoring function that has been lost, and ending MS forever. The National MS Society, for its part, is pursuing all promising paths to uncover solutions, wherever those opportunities exist. Moreover, Society investments in research continue to increase, they will reach nearly $54 million in 2015, supporting 380 new and ongoing research projects and initiatives. Here is a brief summary of significant 2015 research progress and initiatives.

Main Item

Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.3 million worldwide.

Stopping MS

• Positive results were reported from three phase 3 trials of an experimental therapy called ocrelizumab (Genentech, a member of the Roche Group), showing positive effects in relapsing MS and, for the first time in a large-scale trial, a modest impact in primary progressive MS.
• A new study uncovered a gene variation linked to response to MS therapy, which may open new treatment approaches toward the important goal of personalized medicine in MS.
• The first generic version of daily Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), branded "Glatopa" (by Sandoz, a Novartis company, developed in collaboration with Momenta Pharmaceuticals), was approved by the FDA and distribution began by Sandoz in June. Additional generics of this therapy are expected soon.
• Scientists at the University of Virginia uncovered evidence of a previously unrecognized network of vessels that facilitate immune system activity in the brain. The team showed evidence of this network of "lymphatic vessels," in both mice and people. Further research is needed to understand how and whether lymphatic vessels play a role in MS, and whether they present new opportunities for stopping MS disease activity.
• Results were published from a Phase 3 Trial of daclizumab high-yield process (Zinbryta) in relapsing MS, showing it could significantly reduce relapse rates and disease activity observed on MRI scans over the course of 2 to 3 years. (Biogen and AbbVie have applied to regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Europe to obtain marketing approval to treat people with MS.)
• A clinical trial co-funded by the Society of a repurposed oral epilepsy therapy called phenytoin showed promise for protecting the nervous system. Neuroprotection is a leading strategy for slowing down or stopping progression.
• A study found that MS progressed faster in those who continue to smoke cigarettes compared to those who quit after an MS diagnosis. This may be explained in part by a Society-funded study showing that mice exposed to smoke showed increased inflammation and oxidative stress.
• The MS Outcome Assessments Consortium had its 3rd annual meeting with the FDA, and added new clinical trials data and partners in this global effort to develop a tool that will provide a sensitive way to detect the benefit of potential treatments that slow or reverse MS progression.
• The International Progressive MS Alliance held a scientific meeting on MS pathophysiology, funded 11 new collaborative network planning grants, and has grown to 14 member societies and pharmaceutical participation through the Industry Forum.

Restore and Repair

• Promising results were reported from a phase 2 clinical trial of the leading myelin repair strategy called anti-LINGO (Biogen). The agent was given by monthly IV infusion for 20 weeks to 82 people who had a first episode of optic neuritis (which often precedes a confirmed diagnosis of MS). Those given anti-LINGO had faster nerve signals - thought to be an indicator of myelin repair - along the optic nerve compared to those on placebo.
• The Society convened the International Conference on Cell-Based Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis in Lisbon in November 2015, gathering more than 70 experts to discuss the state of cell therapy and possible next steps to drive comprehensive research and collaborations, and to develop clinical trial designs to provide timely answers to the question of which cells and approaches show most promise for treating people with MS.
• Researchers funded by the Society discovered novel stem cells residing in the brain, and found a way to stimulate the cells to repair myelin in mice with an MS-like disease. The Society, through Fast Forward, has partnered with the team to develop a potential therapy for MS based on these findings.
• Two telephone-delivered interventions succeeded in reducing fatigue, pain, and depression in a study of 163 people with MS, yielding new information on success that can be achieved through the use of telecommunication and information technologies to provide health care at a distance. These types of innovative strategies are being explored by the Society to ensure that people with MS have access to comprehensive, high quality health care.
• A collaborative team performed a small study exploring the potential benefits of exercise on cognition and to find the best design for a larger clinical trial; this study is now ongoing with Society support, testing whether aerobic exercise, or stretching and toning, can improve thinking speed in people with MS with mild cognitive changes.
• The Society convened experts in October to help establish priorities in wellness research related to diet, physical activity and emotional health, as part of the larger Wellness Initiative.

Ending MS Forever

• Researchers at McGill University reported that people with gene variations linked to low vitamin D had double the chance of getting MS, confirming previous links between vitamin D and the risk of MS. Trials are underway to determine whether taking vitamin D supplements can help treat MS in people who already have the disease.
• The Society-funded expansion of the Pediatric MS Network to 12 centers with the addition of 3 new sites to enhance research capacity. Leveraging Society support, the Network is engaged in research to better understand the cause(s) of MS, how best to treat children with MS, and clues for preventing the disease for everyone at risk.
• Researchers co-funded by the Society reported that higher levels of the internal-clock hormone melatonin were linked with lower relapse rates in people living with MS. While there is still not enough evidence to recommend supplementation with melatonin, this observation helps to explain some of the seasonal variation in MS symptoms and could lead to new strategies for treatment.
• The MS Microbiome Consortium reported early findings from an analysis of blood and stool samples from people with MS treated with glatiramer acetate, untreated individuals, and people without MS. Results showed differences in gut bacteria between these groups. The team has a new Society Collaborative MS Research Center Award to pursue this and other promising research.
• Society-supported researchers found that MS-like disease in mice responded differently to a high salt diet, depending on their genetic makeup and gender, offering a clue to understanding whether reducing salt can inhibit MS immune attacks.
• Results from two lab studies in the U.S. and Europe suggested that high levels of salt shift the balance of the immune system toward inflammation, and that salt alters the function of several types of immune cells pertinent to MS. The U.S. team is conducting a pilot clinical trial to explore the impact of high and low-salt diets on MS disease activity.
• Collaborating on multi-platforms, the Society is changing the pace of MS research progress and accelerating life-changing impact for everyone living with MS.

Attribution/Source(s):
This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and published on 2015/12/29 (Edit Update: 2023/09/27), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, National Multiple Sclerosis Society can be contacted at nmss.org. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.