Despite the unusual weather this weekend, we had a great patient symposium this year!!! We want to thank everyone that came out and participated. A special commendation to our symposium committee, especially Dr. Williams, for organizing this spectacular event. Over the next week or two, we will be posting questions and answers that came up during the event on the website as well as answers to some patient questions that we didn't have time for.

The New England Journal of Medicine has published results of the phase III teriflunomide trial (this center was not involved in this trial). Teriflunomide is a new oral medication developed to treat MS. The phase III data, in 1088 relapsing-remitting MS patients, is encouraging in that this medication showed a significant reduction in relapse rate and MRI endpoints over placebo (sugar pill). Importantly, the saftey profile of this drug is also encouraging. This drug is not yet been approved...

Dr. Stephen Kanter gave Grand Rounds this week, in which he spoke about 'Outcomes Measures for Patients with MS'. The excellent lecture focused on ways of monitoring patients disease activity with physical therapy and identifying and meeting goals of physical therapy for individual patients.

Inhibikase Therapeautics has received FDA approval to begin a Phase II trial of a compound called IkT-001. This compound is intended to clear the body of JC virus, which is the virus that causes PML. PML is the serious brain infection which has been seen in patients on the MS medication called Tysabri. This study is primarily a safety and dosing study in a small number of patients who are receiving Tysabri.

Although the IMSMP is not participating in this small study at this time, we...