News

People with a genetic makeup that causes them to be more susceptible to COVID-19 are nearly five times as likely to develop neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) associated with antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a study finds. Evidence for a cause and effect, or causal, link between COVID-19 and NMOSD…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked for modifications to the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy — known as REMS — for Ultomiris (ravulizumab) before approving the therapy for most adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Ultomiris already is available in the U.S. for treating…

Genetic variations linked with cold sores and shingles infections have been associated with the development of AQP4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), according to genetic analysis. The findings suggest that the herpes simplex virus, which is the cause of cold sores, and the varicella-zoster virus, which leads to…

Treatment with Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon) effectively prevented disease attacks and disability worsening for Asian people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in the Phase 2/3 N-MOmentum clinical trial, a new analysis found. “In the Asian [patient] subgroup, the risk of NMOSD attacks was reduced with [Uplizna] versus placebo ……

A Phase 2 clinical trial is testing InnoCare Pharma’s experimental oral medication orelabrutinib in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The trial (NCT05284175), being conducted at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, in Beijing, China, was cleared by the country’s regulatory agency last year. InnoCare…

AstraZeneca has announced filing a legal challenge to certain aspects of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), arguing that there may be unintended but harmful consequences for people living with rare diseases such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). It joins a number of other pharmaceutical companies…

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is associated with a faster loss of white matter volume in the brain, but taking the corticosteroid prednisolone may help counter this effect, according to a small study in Japan. The brain’s white matter contains the long, wire-like projections, or fibers, that nerves use…

A history of smoking is associated with poorer recovery from disease relapses in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study reports. Findings indicate that patients who smoke or are past smokers are more likely to have neurological lesions that persist months after the relapse, and that these…

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…

Nearly two in 10 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients develop new asymptomatic brain and spinal cord lesions during the period of disease remission, but these do not appear to increase risk of relapse, according to a study in Argentina. Asymptomatic, or silent, lesions are those that can be…