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The US Consortium of MS Centers has just recently released valuable web material about MS & genetics. This, they say, “is surely a 'hot topic' in the MS world.”
“From basic principles of human genetics to genetic factors related to the disease, to strategies for education and genetic counselling in MS, there is a growing body of knowledge.”
New discoveries sometimes make even the most current information dated. While certainly not comprehensive, you can now review these offerings as “Web Sights on Genetics” at: http://www.mscare.org/cmsc/Web-Sights-Genetics.html
New research announced this week has possibly found an association between certain genes and the severity of MS.
The results of the study by Prof George Ebers, chair of Clinical Neurology at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, is to be published in the British journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and represent a increase in the understanding of the probable role of genes in MS.
The study compared genes taken from people with severe MS who used wheelchairs within five years of being diagnosed and people who had no discernable disability 20 years after diagnosis.
It showed that a particular version of a gene called HLA-DRB1*01 was rare in people with severe MS and suggests it may play a protective role against the more severe progressive course that some people can experience with MS.
Dr Laura Bell, of the UK MS Society, said: “This interesting new study shows that particular genetic factors work to modify the progression of MS and provides insight into the processes which occur in MS development, however it is worth noting that MS is not directly inherited and there is no single gene that causes or prevents it. Environmental factors also play an important role in people’s susceptibility to developing MS.”
3 December was International Day of Disabled Persons. The International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, released a report, “The right to decent work of persons with disabilities”. This details how new efforts are needed to break down the barriers that prevent millions of people with disabilities from working and contributing to the economic growth of their societies. Read more on the MS International Federation website at: http://www.msif.org/en/news/ms_news/breaking_down_th.html
US study to evaluate effects of Tysabri on fatigue and cognition
Just as this drug has been approved as a treatment for MS in New Zealand, in the US, where it has been in use for sometime, a new study is being set up to study its impact on fatigue and thinking & memory (cognition).
In a recently published study involving data available from 2,113 people enrolled in clinical trials of the drug, it was shown to significantly improve quality of life as measured by several clinical scales (Ann Neurol. 2007 Oct;62[4]:335-46).
In addition, there is unpublished data from those trials, along with anecdotal reports, suggesting that Tysabri may have positive impacts against fatigue.
MS fatigue sufferers worldwide will be keenly watching the outcome of this latest trial.
BioMS Medical Corporation, a Canadian developer of MS treatments announced late last week that following the meeting of the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB*), the Company has received a recommendation to continue MAESTRO-01, its pivotal phase II/III clinical trial for MBP8298 for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
The company is engaged in the development and commercialisation of novel therapeutic technologies. Their lead technology, MBP8298, is for the treatment of MS and is being evaluated in two pivotal phase III clinical trials for secondary progressive MS patients, MAESTRO-01 in Canada and Europe and MAESTRO-03 in the United States. It additionally is being evaluated for relapsing remitting MS patients in a Phase II trial in Europe entitled MINDSET-01.
* provides objective, independent safety monitoring of drug trials