Multiple Sclerosis News: European Research Program To Monitor Multiple Sclerosis Through Wearable Device, Smartphones As EU Approves Biogen, AbbVie MS Drugs

Over 2.3 million people are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) worldwide. Fortunately, a new research program called the RADAR-CNS (Remote assessment of disease and relapse Central Nervous System) project targets to improve patients' quality of life with new drugs approved from Biogen and AbbVie.

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the United States can only be estimated since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not require American doctors to report cases. But in the U.K., the neurological condition affects about 100,000 people and most are diagnosed between the ages of 20-40, Multiple Sclerosis Society reveals.

What Is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable yet chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that covers the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. It is an auto-immune disease, where the immune system incorrectly attacks healthy CNS tissue, National Multiple Sclerosis Society defines.

Multiple Sclerosis Signs And Symptoms

The cause of multiple sclerosis remains unknown but it is linked to genetic and environmental factors. MS signs and symptoms may vary but it include prolonged double vision, partial or complete loss of vision, numbness or weakness in one or more limbs, tingling or pain in parts of your body, unsteady gait or tremor, slurred speech, fatigue and dizziness, Fox 8 reports.

New European Research Program

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), which includes 24 member organizations across Europe and the U.S., has funded a new European research program known as the RADAR-CNS project. According to Multiple Sclerosis News Today, the program focuses on developing ways to monitor three main central nervous system diseases: multiple sclerosis, depressive disorder and epilepsy.

Launched on Apr. 26, the RADAR-CNS program is led by Kings College London and Janssen Pharmaceutica NV. By using smartphones and wearable device technology, the program enables a continuous remote assessment of patients and with multiple sclerosis, depressive disorder and epilepsy.

This latest multiple sclerosis monitoring scheme also provides a complete picture of real-time health status with levels of detail once unachievable. It also has the potential to initiate treatment before someone's health deteriorates by preventing relapses or arresting progression before a patient's need for treatment.

Biogen And AbbVie Multiple Sclerosis Injection

In addition to the latest multiple sclerosis monitoring program, EU regulators has finally approved a monthly, self-administered and under-the-skin injection from Biogen and AbbVie. The European Medicines Agency said on Apr. 29 that experts had endorsed Zinbryta, or daclizumab, for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), Reuters notes.

This multiple sclerosis injection is the latest addition to a range of modern MS therapies in the United Kingdom. But regulators in the United States, Switzerland, Canada and Australia are also reviewing the drugs.

So, what do you think about the latest developments in multiple sclerosis? Share your thoughts below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.