Source Multiple Sclerosis News Today:

A blood-clotting protein called fibrinogen prevents myelin production and blocks the neuron remyelination repair process in mice, a study finds.

The study, “Fibrinogen Activates BMP Signaling in Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells and Inhibits Remyelination after Vascular Damage,” appeared in the journal Neuron. Its conclusions offer new insights and open new therapeutic avenues for multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s disease, among other illnesses.

One common feature of several neurological disorders is the loss of the myelin layer that normally surrounds neurons. Myelin is essential not only to protect the neurons but also to let them process and transmit the electric pulses they use to communicate with each other. When myelin is degraded, neurons can not work properly and they eventually die.  Read on. 

Source MS Society:

Researchers in the US have proclaimed their initial test of ibudilast for MS a success.

This drug is already used as a medicine for stroke and asthma. It’s now being investigated for its potential to protect nerves in MS and other neurological conditions.

As part of the phase 2 clinical trial, 255 people with primary and secondary progressive MS were given a pill with ibudilast or a placebo. This included some people already on the Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs) glatiramer acetate and interferon beta.

The study, called SPRINT-MS, found that people taking the drug had a significant reduction in their rate of brain atrophy (shrinkage) compared to those on placebo. This was measured using MRI results.

They also found that the drug was safe and well tolerated by people.  Read on.

Source Labiotech.eu

BC Platforms and Microsoft will be working with Biogen and the Accelerated Cure Project to study the genetics of multiple sclerosis and accelerate research.

The Swiss firm BC Platforms has built a platform to facilitate access to and analysis of large volumes of genomic and clinical data. Since September, the company has been collaboratingwith Microsoft, which provides the cloud infrastructure to index and access the genomic data securely through its Azure platform.

Biogen and the Accelerated Cure Project have now announced they will be using BC Platform’s and Microsoft’s BC|RQUEST platform in order to study the causes and mechanisms of multiple sclerosis (MS). By accessing the data platform, Biogen and ACP expect to better understand how specific genetic variations impact the development of multiple sclerosis.  Read on.