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Subscribe to RSSIn clinical trials, the new drug, BG-12, has been shown to lower the number of nerve cell attacks with fewer side effects. It is expected to cost about $50,000 a year, the same as other similar drugs. NBC's Robert Bazell reports.
Multiple sclerosis is a horrible disease afflicting an estimated 400,000 Americans. There is no cure and little understanding of the cause, even though the patterns of MS leave many tantalizing clues.
An experimental drug called BG-12 helps reduce the number of “flare-ups" in the disease, researchers reported on Wednesday -- much like the nine other drugs already approved to treat MS.
MS occurs because the immune system – mostly disease-fighting T-cells – destroy the myelin sheath, the coating on the outside of brain and spinal nerve cells. This doesn’t happen continually, but in separate attacks or flare-ups, often a year or more apart. No part of the brain or spinal cord seems resistant. Although people with MS can appear very healthy, these autoimmune attacks often inflict severe damage.
Lorie Osco was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 15 years ago. She says the drug BG 12 is easy to take and says she has not had any side effects since she began taking it.
“MS can affect vision, movement, strength, sensation, bowel, bladder, sexual function, mood, cognition," says Dr. Robert Fox, a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic who headed the BG-12 study. "Everything the brain does can be impaired from MS.”
Like most autoimmune diseases, it's possible MS is set off by a viral infection. After the infection, the immune system starts to mistake neurons for virus or infected cells and destroys them. The evidence for a viral role comes from studies done in the Orkney, Shetland and Faroe Islands off Scotland. All these islands share similar geography and ethnic makeup. Prior to 1943, the Orkneys and Shetlands had a high incidence of MS, and the Faroe Islands almost none. Then it evened out. The best guess is that the movement of British troops spread a virus.
Dr. Robert Fox, a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic who headed the BG-12 study, says the drug is not a cure for MS, but it is well tolerated and helps decrease new lesions.
Despite this and similar other areas that became infected at a certain time, scientists have yet to identify the virus.
There also strong evidence for genetic susceptibility. Much of that comes from the incidence of MS among various ethnic groups. Caucasians have the highest incidence. Some ethic groups have almost no MS. These include the Inuit of Canada, Yakuts of Russia, the Hutterites, a religious group in Montana, Hungarian Romani, Norwegian Lapps, Australian Aborigines and New Zealand Maoris.
Many populations in Africa almost never suffer MS, but when they migrate to Europe or the U.S. their rates go up. Many Asian populations have almost no MS, and for them migration does not seem to increase susceptibility. In general, MS seems to occur far more often in cooler climates than closer to the equator. Also like many autoimmune diseases, hormones seem to play a role. MS occurs about three times as often in women as men — especially for cases diagnosed for people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.
Scientists have focused on each of these clues. But none has so far yielded the cause or a cure for the disease. And although people with MS have near-average life expectancies, until there are better medications, they will likely end up in a wheelchair with many other disabilities.
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I really appreciate this article! I have been diagnosed with MS, just last Friday. There are so many things running through my mind, as I am trying to figure out which treatment to go with. I will talk with my specialist about this new one! Thanks again!
Read the Multiple Sclerosis Diet book written by Dr Swank. It works! My brother has MS and has been in remission for 20 years. You can also read the Swank Diet on line. Trust me it works.
I was diagnosed 5 years ago. Be patient with your body, and pay attention to all of its cues.
There's no evidence that a specific diet works. Its all about whatever gives you energy and makes your body happy. Best of luck to you :)
BG-12 is a Nrf2 activater that cause production of the bodies survival genes to increase thus letting the body try to heal itself. This is done by reducing free radicals. There is also a herbal supplement on the market that does the same thing and is proven to be more effective than BG-12. This product is called Protandim and can be seen at www.mylifevantage.com/rjw1972 . There are 12 clinical and peer reviewed studis on it published at www.pubmed.gov.
For those of you interested in this study, you can access the entire research article at the following website:
please note the conclusion of this study (page 92) which states "Interestingly, Protandim, a dietary supplement consisting of herbal ingredients, was the most potent inducer and therefore may be the most suited as a therapeutic strategy." I am a distributor of Protandim and I urge you to research this all natural alternative to BG 12. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at pallmon@spsmail.org.
Being diagnosed in 2000, I have tried the ABC drugs (Avonex muscular once a week injection)(Betaseron every day injection) and Copaxone every other day injection. All of these resulted in side effects I could not tolerate. I have waited for this pill to be approved by the FDA. My doctor will not prescribe this oral medication due to lack of information as to the effectiveness. None of these drugs come with any assurance that they will indeed deter MS's progression. I have fallen into the category, of no current treatment and am hoping more information will become available to the doctors to make them confident in prescribing the pill form, we all have waited so long to materialize.
Elizabeth my wife has MS and we went through all of those drugs also. They didn't do as much as we would have hoped, but we still can't say it hurt any either. If your insurance will continue to cover these very expensive drugs I would advise you to take them. Remain strong and have hope for the future. A positive attitude and outlook is so very important.
Read the Multiple Sclerosis Diet book by Dr. Swank. It works.
i've had ms for 12 years,i'm 33, i've also been on all of these drugs and am currently on copaxone, but i take it everyday....not every other day
I have had MS for 3 years and I am on copaxone everyday. I have also been diagnosed with Crohns and take Humira injections every 14 days. I am waiting for copaxone to make a pill form or change the injections to once a week. I have had no side affects from the copaxone
Woohoo, cancel the horsey order. I have a new treatment to try and thank you, Lord, it's not a shot!
I was misdiagnosed as having MS when, in fact, I had lyme disease and two other tick-borne infections (babesia and human monocytic ehrlichia). This mistake often happens. Since links won't likely post, web search: ILADS - and LymeDisease.org -- the book: Cure Unknown by Pamela Weintraub -- and the film "Under Our Skin" -- search "27 Reasons why a seronegative test result might occur"
Also search new test: Advanced Lab Borrelia Culture
Links and working keep changing. Correction to phrasing of one search suggestion in my last post. Search:
"Reasons for False Negative (Seronegative) Test Results in Lyme Disease"
A cross search with Melissa Kaplan's site will also reap some good detail.
Also see: CpnHelp.org - Cpn, chronic has also been linked to MS - and a protocol called the Wheldon protocol has been helpful for many.
Really good article (and video) for a change. I guess it helps when someone "important" has your disease.
Please tell me this new drug is not going to cost 5,200.00 dollars a month like my current injection, please. However, the next oral drug about a year out is having interesting and good results in trials. I like my Copaxone but hate the rotating injection sites and the incredibly high cost. Most people don't realize what our medicines cost. Also, in the United States, Washington State ranks number one for MS.
And Tia... Yes, many people with MS are aware of the Lyme disease false positive and as an MS patient, I can say you are better off not having MS. See, we know the cause of Lyme disease and there are vaccines for it. If caught early, it is totally curable. MS is an unknown change in our genetic code; MS theories include links to the Epstein Barr virus, low Vitamin D3 levels (prone in areas lacking long hours of sunlight, your best source of vitamin D) and recent evidence suggests hereditary links. 4 years ago, 2 genes were known. I believe we are now up to 63. But trust me, when having an attack or recent attack, a T1 flare MRI with and without contrast fluid, the lesions on your brain or in your spinal cord will light up like a Christmas tree. You might not know it, but you are lucky. Imagine paying 60K a year for one daily injected drug... Lyme Disease caught early on is totally curable. MS is not.
I have co-pay assist with Rebif, and only pay $50/month. Have you looked into the pharmaceutical assistance plans? I can't imagine paying full price.
This article is so right and informative! I've had MS, diagnosed since 1982, just behind the curve of all the new medications, I had my first MRI in 1992 and the neuro says WOW you're right!...my brain was riddled with lesions like a true nor'easter....so I'm pretty knowledgable at this point. First: health insurance has ALWAYS been our first priority (after food). My Copaxone costs $30/month, but the maker is very noisy about providing financial aid to those not covered. Alas, the interferons don't work for me. Secondly, I swear, attitude and information are as important as the drugs. Thirdly, having a support system is essential to override those sad, uniformed, medical people, people "on the street" and clueless family members, that try to say that it isn't so, or not so bad....been there done that; Lastly, Humor is essential: like my daughter and I trying to figure out who needed a wheelchair more at Mayo, where she was getting her liver transplant. Like falling down stone steps at my youngest daughter's wedding, and laughing, saying I guess I'd better use the rag-a-tag wheelchair down the aisle. Did you har me talking about drugs? Having them is wonderful, sorry I just missed them, and as a "secondary progressive" MS person, I truly appreciate my Ampyra which just helped me do four or five quick walking spurts, in this case furniture walking, to refill my coffee and let the dogs out (two of which now want in). but best I have regained some of my cognitive abilities enabling me to better reason and retain enough to do a few of my crafts I had to abandon..sady not my financial/numbers strength, but gotta be thankful for what I've got! p.s. I did have a crying jag yesterday brought by frustration, but I'm a Weeble: I don't fall down.
Article was not clear about what type of MS this new Drug targets. Based on my online search, it's for Relapsing but not Progressive MS. I hope and pray there will be some positive news on the research front for those who have Progressive MS. It seems all of the advances are for Relapsing which is a wonderful thing, but more needs to be done on the Progressive MS front.
At the end of my post, I talked about Ampyra that could help you, too. Just because I went through relapse remitting to start (making me a SECONDARY progressive), the others choices simply don't help me either. Keep reading your MS newsletters, there is something in trials right now for progressive MSers....and they're looking for patients to be in the trials...I'm 59 now, and the top age level is just over 60..BUT look into this, and join in the the MS newsletters and the Momentum, the MS quarterly. Judging by your username, you've got 8 years on me....the MS society has their own website and can lead you to the other stuff...information is the root of it all. If you can post here, I'm sure you can find what you need....trouble..post again and I'll find you, Rex, with better details.
I know people who have this terrible disease and I hope there is more success in actually finding a cure.
I had to take large doses of a what was a new medication for nerve damage and was a bit stressed at the amount it took to reduce the symptoms until the damage began to heal. Then I found out a relative had to take three times as much for her MS to have any affect at all. I felt like a fool. At least for me it was going to go away. I wish it had worked out so well for her. The misery I went through for 6 years was nothing to what she continues to go through. I wish all of you the best.
and you're a good person, Goody! Sorry you had to learn the "hard way." My post was the tip of the iceberg of the problems with my family, but there are those who are worse..."transplant girl" died 10 years after her transplant, at 26. Her nickname from birth was Joy....and everyone who knew her said it fit. Yet painful as it still is (its been 7 years now), I know there are people with the pains of small children being brough through hell (and hopefully back), at least Joy was healthy for her first 13 years..see what I mean, Goody? Its all in how you think about it.
I am so sick and tired of seeing people on tv with MS that are NOT struggling with this MonSter of a disease. I am elated for the MS person, just upset with the media! I think the public needs to see the ones that live with this disease day to day and just how our world really functions,or doesn't function.
Stop the sugar coating. Let's see more medi coverage on what MS is like for others!!!
I agree. I am blessed to be among the high-functioning MS patients, and I've always easily tolerated a full dose of Rebif, but we need to see more people who are suffering to advance awareness and hopefully find a cure in my lifetime
For those of you interested in this study, you can access the entire research article at the following website:
please note the conclusion of this study (page 92) which states "Interestingly, Protandim, a dietary supplement consisting of herbal ingredients, was the most potent inducer and therefore may be the most suited as a therapeutic strategy." I am a distributor of Protandim and I urge you to research this all natural alternative to BG 12. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at pallmon@spsmail.org.
I agree with you Diane and they made it sound like only women or older men get MS. I was diagnosed with MS 7 years ago when I was 29. I wish I could walk a straight line like the MSers the media shows. I look like a drunk when I have to walk alone. Well Diane we could go on and on,but why? People will just read this and shake their heads. Telling us to get over it. I guess we should be happy we don't have a life threatening disease.
Interesting....How "Auto-Immune Diseases" tend to TARGET different parts of the body. For Instance: Muscles (myositis), joints, (Rheumatoid Arthritis), Nerves, Spine, Brain ( MS ), and skin (various)....etc.
There is also some "overlap".
Why ?
Autoimmune diseases tend to target certain parts of the body because the particular cellular components they attack (whatever they are for the particular disease) are more prevalent in certain parts of the body - however, there is a lot of similarity or even lower amounts of the cellular components being attacked in other parts of the body, explaining the overlap seen.
I should add that the genetics of most autoimmune diseases also overlap. There are very similar genes involved from disease to disease.
and if that question could be answered easily, so much could be curable. Fortunately progress IS being made. rheumatoid arthritis is successfully being treated with Humera, as is crohn's disease, too late for my mother in law. Type I diabetes (formerly called Juvenile diabetes) is well on the road for new treatments and hopefully a cure, my son is just patiently waiting as he depends on insulin. MS is advancing, though its hard for us with MS its a painful wait. Aside from a liver transplant, there's nothing for PSC, autoimmune blocking of the bile ducts. Unfortunately, my daughter's liver transplant only worked so long and then she was too sick for a second. The bad part here, is that my MS didn't rear its ugly head til after these two kids were born. My youngest daughter also has a couple of autoimmune diseases , but at the time it was thought that only a girl would be affected with double the chance of MS. Her Hashimoto has killed her thyroid, but pills take care of that. The Behcet's...only usually found with those that have Asian or middle eastern roots. but finally we found it to also can have eastern european roots....like her grandmother had. Its can be annoying but not fatal. She was 15 when her brother was diagnosed. Her immediate response was "great! what am I going to get." Sent her to the computer to look at autoimmune diseases, just don't pick liver. Not sure I could go through that twice...so Bork, you sent the Billion dollar question!!
I am surprised to see that no one has mentioned about CCSVI. Are you aware of this :
MS starts in the gut ... See Dr.Natasha Campbell McBride. Diet is essential like it has already been mentioned above. Pills are bandaids and lucrative....Diet and supplements are not. A pill without a good diet is like getting a bypass for heart disease and still eating junk food. Eat food that are alive ( no processed food). Chemicals do not heal. They are bandaids !!!
Obviously with the new researches recently published regarding cholesterol and low fat diet and Alzeimer's on the rise ( not to mention gluten in grains that is bad for the gut), the Swank diet is not for me. I prefer following Dr.Terry Wahls's advice : She is on facebook :
Good article, but the closing comment "And although people with MS have near-average life expectancies, until there are better medications, they will likely end up in a wheelchair with many other disabilities." ... is simply not true. I have MS and my doctor said MS takes many different courses in different people. Some people never have future problems, and others have severe disabilities. I have been well for for the past 7 years. If you have MS, do not be discouraged.
For those of you interested in this study, you can access the entire research article at the following website:
please note the conclusion of this study (page 92) which states "Interestingly, Protandim, a dietary supplement consisting of herbal ingredients, was the most potent inducer and therefore may be the most suited as a therapeutic strategy." I am a distributor of Protandim and I urge you to research this all natural alternative to BG 12. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at pallmon@spsmail.org.
Why do we always get snake oil salesmen/women trying to peddle their wears. i.e. miracle diets, herbs and all natural mumble jumble? If the mythical cure all's worked don't they think we would already be using them. Effing scam artists
No one has mentioned using Low Dose Naltrexone for their MS, or if they did I missed it. I have refused all of the expensive injectable drugs and have taken 3 mg of LDN every night for 8 years now. No disease progression during that time. Look it up, a web search for LDN should bring up a lot of information. It is useful for other auto immune diseases as well and has been studied for Crohn's disease. Nope, I'm not a doctor. Just an MS'er who has been able to have a very stable version of the MonSter with the help of an old, safe, and fairly inexpensive drug. I just ordered a refill, six months worth cost me about $200.
And LDN is not snake oil. Naltrexone is an old medication, normally used on drug addicts. Look it up.
I have been very fortunate that my MS has not progressed much. The 3 years that I have had it I ave been mostly tired. I can't seem to get enough rest. I have medication to help but I am still tired. I went on a diet and that seemed to give me more energy. I lost 30 lbs then gained it back now I am trying to diet again and exercise. I am having problems with my arms, hands, legs and feet going numb. I am not sure if my MS is causing this or not. I have not had much things happen to me so I unsure. If you have anyinsight on this please let me know