Category: Latest News

On January 20, 2012, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that three factors are now identified with increasing the risk of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) being treated with Tysabri® (natalizumab). PML is a potentially fatal brain infection with the JC virus (JCV), in people with weakened immune systems. The FDA has approved a labeling change, which adds the results of a newly approved test for the presence of anti-JCV antibodies, to the two previously listed risk factors.

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is pleased to announce My MS Manager ™, MSAA’s mobile phone application, has been honored by the Web Health Awards | MOBILE with a Merit Award in the category of Mobile Application: Chronic Disease Management; Small Mobile Device in the Association/Professional Society/Non-Profit division.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced today that it has started a review of Gilenya (fingolimod) in response to reports of potential heart issues associated with the first dose of this drug.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified the public that a packaging problem may have occurred with eight narcotic-type drugs (such as Opana®, Percocet®, and Endocet®), where a stray pill may have gone into another’s packaging.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation has informed the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) that a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS), who had been given one dose of Gilenya® (fingolimod), died on the following day. The individual’s death occurred on November 23, 2011.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that they have launched a new website (www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal) devoted to information and instruction for the safe disposal of needles and other “sharps” used by individuals at home, work, and while traveling. In addition to standard needles and syringes, other dangerous medical supplies for disposal include items such as lancets or finger-stick devices for blood testing; needle and tubing systems, plus connection needles for hemodialysis at home.

Many questions still surround 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.

This year’s joint meeting of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS) was extremely well attended. More than 7,000 professionals attended the meeting, which featured more than 1,000 presentations – all in a whirlwind three-and-a-half days. The following highlights review only a few of the many topics discussed at the meeting, but they reflect research of ongoing interest to the entire MS community.

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is pleased to announce awards for two of its publications.

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) and National Disability Institute (NDI) are collaborating on a series of four free webinars designed to assist the MS community in learning about strategies to protect and improve their financial well-being.