News

Committee-based tests can reliably ID NMOSD attacks in Uplizna trial

Committee-based assessments are reliable for identifying disease attacks in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in the N-MOmentum clinical trial, which tested the approved therapy Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon), a new study shows. The study, “Attack adjudication in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: Substantiation of criteria by…

Lesion resolution may distinguish NMOSD, MOGAD, MS in children

Brain and spinal cord lesions resolve less often in children with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) than with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), a related disorder, according to a small study. No significant differences in resolving lesions were seen between children with NMOSD and those with multiple…

Ultomiris approved in Japan for AQP4-positive NMOSD

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,…

Rituximab found effective for NMOSD in racially diverse patients

In a racially diverse group of people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), rituximab worked better to prevent relapses than did oral immunosuppressive therapies, a single-center U.S. study showed. This result was particularly relevant for Black patients — who are usually underrepresented in NMOSD clinical trials but who, the…

Subset of NMOSD patients may have benign disease course

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 registry to now include NMOSD patients’ biological samples

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…

Ultomiris approved in EU for adults with AQP4-positive NMOSD

Ultomiris (ravulizumab) has been approved by the European Commission to treat adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who test positive for antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4). “Effective NMOSD management hinges on reducing relapses – even a single relapse may cause irreversible disabilities leaving patients unable to move, speak…