Latest MS drug approved by FDA hailed as a majorbreakthroughBy Jocelyn Maminta Medical/Health Reporter (http://wtnh.com/author

/wtnhjocelynmaminta/)

Published: April 21, 2017, 6:02 pm  |  Updated: April 21, 2017, 7:19 pm

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)–Every year, hundreds lace up their sneakers for the Walk MS

in Connecticut, raising thousands for local programs and services for families affected by

multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system.

It also helps fund research–paving the way for the development of much needed drugs

Latest MS drug approved by FDA hailed as a major breakthroug... http://wtnh.com/2017/04/21/latest-ms-drug-approved-by-fda-ha...

1 of 4 5/12/17, 4:17 PM

like this one.

“I wouldn’t want to use the word cure but it may be as close that we can get to a cure.”

Well known neurologist Dr. David Hafler with the Yale Multiple Sclerosis Center, led a

secondary clinical trial on the recently FDA approved – Ocrevus.

He points to video, “Here we have the b-cells, which are interacting with the t-cells, which

are attacking the nervous system.”

The drug attacks the b-cells in the brain and by doing so turns off the t-cells.

“If you don’t allow the t-cells to get activated then you stop the disease.”

It works best for patients recently diagnosed with M-S.

“If someone has new onset-MS, we believe this should be a first line drug, to see if it can

stop the inflammation. It appears to be incredibly effective in terms of stopping the

early, early disease.”

The intravenous treatment — was also approved for primary progressive M-S.

“It does appear to have a modest effect but not nearly as dramatic as in relapsing

remitting disease.”

Still, Dr. Hafler says it’s a major breakthrough.

“What we don’t know and this will take decades to really figure out– is if you stop the

very early inflammation, the relapsing remitting, do you prevent patients from going into

the progressive phase? Time will tell but our guess is that it will.”

Walk MS starts this weekend and goes through May. There are nine sites across the

state.

News 8’s Darren Kramer and Teresa Dufour will be in Cheshire this Sunday.

Registration is at nine am. The walk is at 10.

Latest MS drug approved by FDA hailed as a major breakthroug... http://wtnh.com/2017/04/21/latest-ms-drug-approved-by-fda-ha...

2 of 4 5/12/17, 4:17 PM