MS in the Media - 6 July 2018

NICE has not recommended ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) as a treatment for primary progressive MS in England and Wales.  This initial decision is now open to consultation and the final decision is expected in October.

Source: Pharma Times

MS Trust link: NICE rejects ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) for primary progressive MS

A combination of exposure to chemical solvents and smoking raises the risk of MS according to Swedish research.  The study found that people exposed to solvents such as painting products and varnish at work generally had a higher MS risk. People who also had two genes associated with MS risk were about seven times as likely to get MS. The combination of solvent exposure, having the genes and also smoking made people 30 times more likely to get MS.

Source: Independent
Source: Science Daily

MS Trust link: Smoking

Common air pollutants such as fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone are "not convincingly associated" with incidence of MS according to new Canadian research

Source: MS News Today

MS Trust link: MS research updates

In the first part of a government review of cannabis, the Chief Medical Officer reports "conclusive evidence of the therapeutic benefit of cannabis based medicinal products for certain medical conditions", including spasticity in MS and chronic pain. She is in favour of medical cannabis being made available for prescriptions "under controlled conditions by registered practitioners".  A second part of the review is looking at potential harm to society of changing access to cannabis. There is no intention to change the legal status of cannabis for recreational use.

Source: Department of Health and Social Care
Source: BBC
Source: Independent

MS Trust link: Cannabis