Blue Ridge Chapter Weekly E-list Update
November 19, 2008
Contents:
Programs:
1. Holiday Dinners in Henry County and the Winchester/Front Royal area
2. Couples workshop in Lynchburg
3. Spirituality Teleconference
4. Join the Blue Ridge Chapter at Afternoon Ballroom
5. Save the Date: MS Action Day
Research:
6. MS Trial Alert: Large Study of Oral Laquinimod Seeking People with Relapsing-Remitting MS
Programs:
1. Holiday Dinners in Henry County and the Winchester/Front Royal area
Join the Blue Ridge Chapter for a fun holiday dinner in your community! Bring your family, friends, and loved ones to this awesome opportunity to celebrate the season.
December 5, 2008 in
Quality-Dutch Inn at 6pm
$5 per person
December 5, 2008 in Strasburg
Hotel Strasburg at 6:30pm
$10 per person
RSVP by December 1, 2008 at 1-800-344-4867 or email vab@nmss.org. Come and join the fun!
2. Couples workshop in Lynchburg
Save the Date...for a very special opportunity in
For more details, click here.
3. Spirituality Teleconference
On December 9, 2008 at 7:30 pm, you will have the opportunity to participate in a teleconference on Spirituality.
Research supports the idea that people heal faster when they are at peace, relaxed, and connected to a power greater than the body and mind alone. Spirituality can provide that connection. Enjoy hearing John Jordan, MSW, LCSW, Vice President of Clinical Services at United Family Services, and gain tools to better understand your spirituality and grow comfortable with your own humanity.
This teleconference is free and open to all who are interested. Please register by December 2 by calling 1-800-344-4867 or email vab@nmss.org.
4. Join the Blue Ridge Chapter at Afternoon Ballroom
You are invited to join a ballroom dancing class specifically designed for people with Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. This class will be crafted to meet your unique needs. Join the fun each Thursday at 2 pm at Terry Dean’s Ballroom Dance Studio, located at
If you have questions about the class, call the studio at (434) 977-3327. Bring your special partner or come alone; dance partners are provided. Each class is $10 per person. The Blue Ridge Chapter will share in the cost of these classes through our Wellness Scholarship program. The scholarships are not need based and everyone with MS is welcome to apply. Call 1(800) 344-4867 or email vab@nmss.org for more information about our Wellness Scholarships for this or other exercise or recreation programs.
5. Save the Date: MS Action Day
On January 25-26, 2009, Blue Ridge Chapter volunteers and staff will travel to
Research:
6. MS Trial Alert: Large Study of Oral Laquinimod Seeking People with Relapsing-Remitting MS
Summary: Investigators at sites worldwide are seeking volunteers for a clinical trial studying oral laquinimod (Teva Pharmaceuticals) in comparison with inactive placebo or interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Biogen Idec) in 1200 people with relapsing-remitting MS (RR MS, a course of MS characterized by clearly defined flare-ups followed by complete or partial remissions). The study is funded by Teva Neuroscience.
Rationale: Multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks nerve fiber-insulating myelin and other brain and spinal cord tissues. Laquinimod is believed to affect this attack. Oral laquinimod (Teva Pharmaceutical Industries) reduced disease activity by 40.4% compared with inactive placebo in a phase 2 study of 306 people with relapsing-remitting MS. (Lancet 2008; 371: 208592) A phase 3 study of laquinimod versus inactive placebo is currently underway in 1000 people with relapsing-remitting MS.
Eligibility and Details: Participants must be between 18 and 55 years of age, with a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS, and at least one MS relapse in the 12 months before screening; or two relapses in the 24 months before screening; or one relapse within 24 months and one active lesion observed on MRI. Exclusion criteria include previous use of interferon beta, among other drugs. Please use the contact information below to find out about further inclusion/exclusion criteria.
Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either laquinimod 0.6 mg (one capsule daily), inactive placebo, or Avonex 30 mcg/wk for 24 months. Subjects completing this “core” study will be offered the opportunity to enroll in an open-label (meaning no placebo group) extension study in which all subjects will take the study drug.
The primary goal of the study is to determine the effect of laquinimod on the number of relapses during the 24-month core study. Secondary goals include impacts on disease activity as observed on MRI scans and accumulation of disability.
Contact: To learn more about the enrollment criteria for this study, and to find out if you are eligible to participate, please visit http://www.tevaclinicaltrials.com/, or call 1-800-840-5601. Sites are enrolling in the cities listed below.
Puerto Rico -
For information about sites outside of the
Click here to learn more about issues to think about when considering enrolling in a clinical trial.
-- Research and Clinical Programs Department
Click here to view the very latest research news on the National MS Society website.
The Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is proud to be a source of information about multiple sclerosis. Our comments are based on professional advice, published information, and expert opinion, but do not represent therapeutic recommendation or prescription. For specific information and advice, consult your qualified physician.
The Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society does not endorse products, services, or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. The chapter assumes no liability whatsoever for the contents or use of any product or service mentioned.