The member organizations of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition (MSC) congratulate the House on the passage of the 21st Century Cures Act – #Cures2015. The MSC specifically applauds the inclusion of H.R. 292 as a provision of the Act, the goal of which is to establish a data system to track the incidence and prevalence of neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis.

The 29th Annual Meeting of The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) took place in late May in Indianapolis, Indiana. This meeting is the largest and most comprehensive conference on multiple sclerosis (MS) care and research in North America, bringing researchers and clinicians from across the spectrum of MS care together to share and discuss the latest research findings in MS. This multidisciplinary approach, which includes the perspectives of physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, pharmacists, rehabilitation specialists, and advocacy professionals, is unique and ensures that the impact of MS on the whole person is considered.

Positive Phase III trial results were announced yesterday (June 30, 2015) for the experimental medication ocrelizumab, a monoclonal antibody presently being studied for the treatment of different forms of MS. According to a press release issued by Genentech and its parent company Roche, ocrelizumab met both the primary and major secondary endpoints in the Phase III, OPERA I and OPERA II studies.

The United States Supreme Court has voted 6 to 3 in favor of allowing federal tax credits to be used to assist low and middle-income Americans with the cost of private health-insurance policies, purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces or “exchanges.” This ruling applies to eligible individuals who live in states with their own exchanges as well as those who live in states that only offer federal exchanges.

The Multiple Sclerosis Coalition announced the election of Lisa Taylor Skutnik to the position of President. The Coalition, a group comprised of the leading national nonprofits working cooperatively for the benefit of those affected by multiple sclerosis, consists of eight member organizations. Ms. Skutnik, who serves as Chief Operating Officer of a member organization, the Consortium of MS Centers, has been an active voice in the Coalition for many years.

The launch of Glatopa™ (glatiramer acetate injection) in the United States was announced yesterday by Sandoz, a Novartis company. Glatopa is manufactured by Sandoz and is the 13th medication to be approved by the FDA as a long-term, disease-modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS). This generic version of Copaxone® (glatiramer acetate injection) was approved on April 16, 2015, for the treatment of individuals with relapsing forms of MS, including those who have experienced a first clinical episode and have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features consistent with MS.

My MS Manager™, the first-of-its kind mobile phone app created by the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) to help individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) better manage their disease, now offers new features including a way to connect and share information with one’s physician.

The American Academy of Neurology’s (AAN’s) 67th Annual Meeting took place in Washington, DC April 18th-25th. The AAN is an association of more than 27,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals dedicated to advancing the care of individuals with neurologic disease. Every year, these professionals gather to hear the latest findings in research and treatments for neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS). To follow are some important highlights.