Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

The European Commission has approved Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon) to treat adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who test positive for antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG). The approval covers all member states in the European Union, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Horizon Therapeutics, the company marketing Uplizna,…

The European Commission is expected to propose a new governing framework for health data next month, called the European Health Data Space (EHDS), with the aim of connecting national health systems to facilitate secure and efficient transfer of data across systems in different European nations. The move is expected to…

Blood levels of two proteins, GFAP and neurofilament light chain (NfL), may help predict the course of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), according to new research. Findings also suggest that many NMOSD patients have evidence of brain lesions with active inflammation without any associated symptoms, which indicates that disease…

A system that stages neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) based on damage to astrocytes — the specific brain cells that are attacked in NMOSD — was recently developed by a team of researchers in Japan. While more work is needed, the system identifies four stages, largely based on astrocytopathy…

The European Commission has approved Enspryng (satralizumab) for the treatment of people, 12 and older, with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are positive for antibodies against the aquaporin-4 protein (AQP4-IgG). The approval covers Enspryng for use as a monotherapy (on its own) or in combination with other…

The Illness Challenge Foundation (ICF) sponsored the second annual Asia-Pacific NMOSD Patient Day in Beijing, China, to increase awareness and improve care for those living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The May 25 event brought together NMOSD patients, neurologists and other healthcare professionals, and representatives from a variety…

Treatment with Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon) can reduce disability progression in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), findings from the N-MOmentum clinical trial show. The results were published in Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, in a study, “Disability Outcomes in the N-MOmentum Trial of Inebilizumab in Neuromyelitis…

Soliris (eculizumab) significantly reduced the risk of disease relapses in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) over nearly three years, according to new data from the clinical trial PREVENT and its extension study. Additional findings project that long-term Soliris treatment may reduce relapse risk over the course of…

Using a live cell-based assay to test for the presence of aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-IgG) can accurately identify people who have neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), new research suggests. Scientists said the cell-based assay was “a highly specific diagnostic biomarker of NMOSD and did not yield false positive results.” These findings…

In summer 2014, 22-year-old Connor Judge was working as a landscaper when he experienced unusual pain in his legs and back. At first, the symptoms were presumed to be related to his landscaping work; visits to a few general practitioners were unremarkable. Then, on Aug. 29,…