Lindsey Shapiro, PhD, science writer —

Certain neurological symptoms of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) occur at higher rates in patients who also have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a recent review study. Features of NMOSD, including longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis — a type of spinal cord inflammation — and involvement of certain…

CCL2, a signaling protein that recruits immune cells to sites of injury, may play a key role in driving the nerve damage that results from antibodies against the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) protein in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study suggests. The signaling protein was found to be elevated in…

Ultomiris (ravulizumab) has been approved by authorities in Japan to prevent relapses in adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) positive for antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4). The decision from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare comes shortly after a similar approval by the European Commission,…

The risk of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) attacks following vaccination is low, and such attacks have not been found to be associated with any particular type of vaccine, according to a review study. Also, post-vaccine attacks tended to happen more frequently in men, patients negative for antibodies against…

A small subset of people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) do not accumulate significant functional disability in the 15 years following symptom onset, according to a recent study. Called benign NMOSD, these patients were more likely to be Caucasian, less likely to have spinal cord involvement at disease…

SPHERES, a real-world registry for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), is now collecting biological samples from consenting participants. Launched by CorEvitas and the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation (GJCF) in 2021, the registry had been collecting long-term clinical data, but not biological samples. “The launch of this biospecimen…

High-efficacy treatments for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are associated with significant reductions in hospitalizations, relapses, and MRI lesions relative to traditional therapies, according to a recent study. The findings, which were published in the Journal of Neurology, were discussed in an oral presentation at the American…

Up to 4.6 years of treatment with Enspryng (satralizumab) continues to safely reduce relapse rates and prevent disability progression for people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are positive for antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4). That’s according to pooled data from the Phase 3 SAkuraSky (NCT02028884) and…

For one in three people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), bad days — marked by high levels of debilitating symptoms — are more common than good days. Patients who are more comfortable talking with their doctors about their symptoms reported fewer bad days and greater treatment…

Ad Scientiam is developing new digital biomarkers of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) that may allow continuous and remote monitoring of patients’ symptoms over time. The Paris-based software company announced the program launch along with a similar one for people with generalized myasthenia gravis, another rare autoimmune…