Margarida Maia, PhD,  science writer—

Astrocytes, star-shaped cells found around nerve cells, make an inflammation driver of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) called interleukin-6 (IL-6) in part by gearing up a chain of reactions involving nuclear factor kappa B, or NF-kappaB, according to a study in rat cells. Researchers also observed that by blocking…

Longer-term treatment with immunosuppressants may halve the risk of relapse, or of symptoms returning, in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study in China found. When taken non-stop for up to five years, such treatment reduced the risk of relapse in NMOSD patients, with a mild rebound when immunosuppressants…

Rituximab may be a more effective immunosuppressive therapy for preventing a first relapse in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) than mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), a new meta-analysis found. The anti-CD20 antibody rituximab, commonly used off-label in NMOSD, also appears to work better than azathioprine, though the results failed…

Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon), a medication for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), is now available in the U.S. through specialty distributor BioCareSD and specialty infusion pharmacy BioTek Remedys. The companies added the medication to their portfolio of specialty therapeutics to expand upon their product offering…

A branch of the European Medicines Agency has recommended that Enspryng (satralizumab) be approved to treat patients, 12 and older, with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), who carry antibodies against the aquaporin-4 protein (AQP4-IgG). The recommendation, made by the agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use…