AQP4 antibody-positive NMOSD

Rheumatoid factor in NMOSD linked to long-term disability: Study

About half of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients who test positive for self-reactive antibodies, or autoantibodies, against the AQP4 protein — a hallmark of the autoimmune disease — have at least one other type of autoantibody, according to a new study from South Korea. Many of these other…

FDA approves Ultomiris to treat adults with AQP4-related NMOSD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz) to treat adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are positive for antibodies against the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) protein. About 75% of people with NMOSD produce antibodies that bind to AQP4, according to the therapy’s developer, Alexion…

Ultomiris now approved in Canada for AQP4-positive NMOSD adults

Ultomiris (ravulizumab) is now approved in Canada to treat adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are positive for antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4). According to a press release from Alexion Canada, which will market Ultomiris in the country, it’s the “first and only” long-acting therapy…

Genetic analysis links cold sores, shingles to NMOSD

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…