A great deal of media attention has been given recently to the possible connection between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and multiple sclerosis (MS). CCSVI is a complex condition involving changes in blood flow from the brain back to the heart, which some researchers theorize could possibly lead to activation of the immune system, excess iron deposits, loss of myelin, and other nervous system damage.

In addition to the recent approval of Extavia, other drug updates include Fampridine-SR, oral cladribine, Copaxone, Tysabri, and fingolimod.

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) received four communications awards, which included two APEX Awards and two National Health Information Awards for the following.

Two flu vaccines, the seasonal flu and the H1N1 (“swine flu”) vaccines, will be available for the 2009/2010 flu season. The seasonal flu vaccine protects individuals from three types of flu and is currently available. The H1N1 flu vaccine protects individuals from the newest type of flu, which was first detected in people living in the United States in April 2009. The H1N1 vaccine is expected to be available in early to mid-October 2009.

On August 14, 2009, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Extavia® (interferon beta-1b) for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

On July 27, 2009, Eli Lilly and BioMS Medical Corporation announced that dirucotide did not meet the primary endpoint of the MAESTRO-01 study, which was the delay of disease progression in secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) as measured by EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale).

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America’s (MSAA) educational web video series, A Closer Look, recently won the highly acclaimed Stevie Award in the category of Interactive Multimedia/Public Information.

In January 2009, Merck Serono (Geneva Switzerland) announced results of their Phase III CLARITY trial. According to the release, cladribine tablets met the two-year endpoint of reducing the relapse rate in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). More than 1300 patients with RRMS participated in the CLARITY study, which was a 96- week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international trial.

Dirucotide, previously known as MBP8298, has been in clinical trials primarily for the treatment of secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), but also for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). On January 30, 2009, dirucotide’s developer (BioMS Medical Corp.), announced the results of MINDSET-01, an exploratory phase II clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dirucotide in patients with RRMS.

More than 5,000 medical professionals attended this year’s first World Congress on Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, held in Montreal, Canada this past September. MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer Jack Burks, MD, not only attended the meeting, but also reviewed approximately 1,000 poster presentations – specifically about the latest in MS news and research.