Results from an early-stage clinical trial suggest that temelimab may promote remyelination and prevent loss of nerve cells.

Information from the MS Trust website: 

“The study in brief

Current disease modifying drugs can reduce damage to myelin but can’t stop it completely or repair damage that has already happened. Laboratory studies have indicated that a potential new treatment, temelimab, could promote remyelination. Its potential in people with MS has been assessed in an early clinical trial.

270 people with relapsing remitting MS were recruited. They took one of three doses of temelimab or placebo, given as an intravenous infusion every four weeks. After 24 weeks, people in the placebo group switched to one of the three temelimab doses while those who had started on temelimab remained on their original dose. Treatment continued for up to 96 weeks.

At 24 weeks, there was no difference in the number of active lesions between the three doses of temelimab and placebo. At the end of the study, people who had taken the highest dose of temelimab throughout had fewer T1-hypointense lesions. This type of lesion, also known as a black hole, is associated with MS disability and progression. There was also a reduction in brain tissue loss and improvement in MRI markers of remyelination.

These results suggest that temelimab has little effect on the inflammatory MS activity which is responsible for relapses. However, its effect on MRI markers suggest that it may promote remyelination and prevent loss of nerves. Researchers have set up another study to evaluate temelimab further; this study is underway and results are expected in the first half of 2022.”

You can read more on the MS Trust website here: https://mstrust.org.uk/research/research-updates/211026-temelimab-potential-remyelination

We are all encouraged to get tested frequently because it helps detect the most infectious Covid-19 cases and helps stop the virus spreading.

About 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 do not have symptoms but can still infect others. You can get free regular Covid tests if you do not have symptoms of Covid-19. 

It’s recommended that we all do rapid Lateral Flow Device Covid tests at least twice a week (every 3 to 4 days) to check if we have the virus. If people test positive, they should get a PCR test and self-isolate until they get a negative result, as this helps stop the virus from spreading.

All staff, therapists and volunteers at the Centre regularly do Lateral Flow Tests and we encourage our members to do so too. 

Even if you’re vaccinated, there’s still a chance you can pass Covid-19 on, so you should keep getting tested regularly.

You can order free Covid tests to do at home and keep the people you care about safe, or there are local click and collect centres. They are also freely available from chemists.

However, if you DO have symptoms of Covid-19, you need a different test called a PCR test, which you can book on the Government website.

Please do not attend the Centre if you feel unwell, even with a negative Lateral Flow Test. 

‘Introducing, Selma Blair’ documents Selma Blair’s journey getting HSCT treatment for her MS. In the UK, the documentary is available for streaming on Discovery+ from 21 October. In her documentary, Selma has HSCT for MS. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an intense chemotherapy treatment for MS. It aims to stop the damage MS causes by wiping out and then regrowing your immune system, using your stem cells. Read more about HSCT on the MS Society website here: https://mssoc.uk/3e1Jj4a