MS in the Media
These are links to recent news stories that may be of interest to people in the UK. Click on the link beneath each item to be taken to the original story.
The MS Trust has not written the original items and does not endorse their content nor any claims made in them.
Links to stories are held on these pages for one month.
Fampridine availability
01 February 2012
The difficulty of accessing fampridine has been discussed on BBC Radio Stoke. Tina and Barry Boycott and then the local MP interviewed from 1:09:04 (nine minutes). MS Society comment from 1:49:22 (seven minutes)
BBC Radio Stoke (available until 7 February)
Respite - Brambles close to reopening
01 February 2012
The MS Society say they are very close to exchanging contracts with the new owners of the Brambles and staff "are on standby so that within five working days, Brambles can reopen to guests"
Benefit changes reversed in Commons
01 February 2012
The Commons has overturned amendments made to the Welfare Reform Bill and has blocked the opportunity for the Lords to vote on the bill again. The changes reinstate the one year limit on claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and the £26,000 cap on annual benefit which will include child benefit payments
Muscle endurance in early MS
30 January 2012
Israeli researchers have developed tests that show that people in the first years after diagnosis with MS have 40% less leg muscle endurance than people without the condition. Their study involved 52 people with MS and 28 non MS controls
Teenagers with a father with MS
28 January 2012
A television programme about troubled teenagers will include an episode on two brothers coping with their father's primary progressive MS. The programme, The Naked Truth, presented by Gok Wan, will be broadcast on 7 February on Channel 4
- The young person's guide to MS - book
- Primary progressive MS exposed - book
CCSVI studies
27 January 2012
The latest reports from the seven CCSVI studies being supported by the National MS Society and the Canadian MS Society have been published. Some interim data has been published but none of the studies is yet complete. The same report appears on both charities' websites.
Tysabri trial for secondary progressive MS
26 January 2012
Biogen have announced a phase 3 trial called Ascend, which will look at the effectiveness of Tysabri in secondary progressive MS. The study will enrol 850 people in 15 countries. Participants will receive either Tysabri or placebo every four weeks for 96 weeks.
Rebif for CIS
25 January 2012
Rebif (interferon beta 1a) has been approved in Europe for the treatment of people with clinically isolated syndrome. This brings Rebif into line with the other first line disease modifying drugs
Reuters
Merck press release - (pdf 38kb)
EMA announces review of fingolimod (Gilenya)
20 January 2012
The European Medicines Agency has begun a review of the benefits and risks of Gilenya (fingolimod) following the death of one person in the United States less than 24 hours after the first dose and reports of heart problems in other people.
While the review of this new oral treatment for relapsing remitting MS is ongoing, doctors are advised to increase cardiac monitoring of people after first dose.
MPs hear evidence of value of MS nurse-led services
20 January 2012
Dr Steve Pollock, senior neurologist in East Kent, praised a nurse-led MS service to the Public Accounts Committee.
The committee, which is currently investigating NHS neurology services following publication of a report by the National Audit Office, also heard calls for the appointment of national level leadership on improving neurology services, such as a national clinical director or 'tsar'.
Natalizumab (Tysabri) label change
20 January 2012
The American FDA has approved a label change that will allow mention of the JC virus as a risk factor for PML (a side effect of natalizumab) and has approved the marketing of the STRATIFY test which shows exposure to the virus. Includes January's PML figures - 201 cases, 42 deaths out of more than 96,500 people treated.
Fair deal for neurology
18 January 2012
Following the publication in December of the National Audit Office report which found the implementation of neurology services had been poor, uncoordinated and lacked effective monitoring, the Neurology Alliance is calling on people to raise these concerns with their MP
Neurology timebomb
17 January 2012
The Neurological Alliance, which represents more than 70 charities, has warned the NHS that neurological problems will cause increasing strain to the NHS unless action to support people is taken now. They cite the increasing incidence of Parkinson's and MND and that 50 people a week are diagnosed with MS.
Benefit changes
17 January 2012
A proposed amendment to the Welfare Reform Bill, which would have delayed the introduction of personal independent payments (PIPs) (the replacement for disability living allowance (DLA)) until pilot testing has been carried out, has been defeated in the House of Lords by 16 votes
How the Spartacus report spread
17 January 2012
Article looking at how the Responsible Reform report (the Spartacus report), research that questions the level of support for welfare reform, made its impact by using Twitter
Stem cells to oligodendrocytes
17 January 2012
Researchers in Florida have for the first time managed to get umbilical cord stem cells to convert into oligodendrocytes - the nervous system cells that produce myelin. They hope this laboratory work will lead to better understanding of the damage that occurs in MS and other conditions
Benefit bill challenged in Lords
12 January 2012
The House of Lords has defeated the government on aspects of the Welfare Reform Bill. Peers voted to protect young disabled people from cuts to employment support allowance (ESA); for a two-year limit on claims, rather than the proposed one year; and also to exempt people with cancer from a limit of benefits.
Nerve rerouting and cognition
10 January 2012
In a small study involving 16 people with MS, researchers have suggested that the rerouting of nerve messages around an area of damage may have an impact of cognitive function.
Spartacus report
10 January 2012
The Responsible Reform report (being referred to as the 'Spartacus report') used figures gathered from Freedom of Information requests to show the level of objection expressed in the consultation on benefit changes and how this hasn't been acknowledged by the Government. The report, researched and written by disabled people, has been backed by a number of disability charities
Herald
Daily Mail
Responsible Reform report (download from Scope website - pdf 508kb)