Multiple Sclerosis Society

LONDON, March 12, 2010 - Laura Weir, Head of Policy & Campaigns at the MS Society, said: "This latest report has many positive recommendations, both for long-term changes and immediate steps to support people with social care needs.

LONDON, January 20 - Following the results of data from trials of two different oral therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS), fingolimod and cladribine, set to be reported online in the New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday 21 January, the MS Society has prepared the following statement: Dr Doug Brown, Biomedical Research Manager at the MS Society, said: "This is great news for people with MS and signifies a shifting tide in the treatment of the condition.

LONDON, December 2 - In 2002 the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) ruled that certain drugs for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis were not cost effective.

LONDON, November 24 - Following the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry paper concerning the study investigating the effects of childbirth in MS, the MS Society has produced the following comment: Dr Susan Kohlhaas, Research Communications Officer at the MS Society, said: "It is difficult to form any meaningful conclusions from this research given the small size of the study and its flaws, but further studies will hopefully clarify the effects of pregnancy in women with MS." Notes to Editors: - This was a small study and results did not reach statistical significance - There were significant differences between the groups of women the researchers were comparing (including age at diagnosis of MS) - They didn't account for the fact that women with more severe forms of MS may choose not to get pregnant because they are worried about how a post-partum relapse might affect their progression or even worry about taking care of a baby during severe relapses.

LONDON - In response to today's results from pharmaceutical firm Novartis on its oral multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy FTY-720 (fingolimod), the MS Society has released the following statement: MS Society Head of Research, Dr Lee Dunster, said: "The availability of oral therapies will herald a new dawn for people with MS and if trial results satisfy the regulator there could be a real alternative to inconvenient and unpleasant injections." Notes to Editors: Oral therapies in MS - There are currently two oral therapies in development for MS.