You are here:

MS in the Media - 6 July 2018

Published on

On this page

  1. Ocrelizumab not approved for PPMS
  2. Solvents, smoking and MS risk
  3. Air pollutants not linked to MS
  4. Cannabis review finds benefits

30 June - 6 July 2018

These are links to news stories from the last week that may be of interest to people in the UK. The link beneath each item will take you to the original story.

Please note that the MS Trust did not write the original items and does not endorse their content nor any claims made in them.

To keep up to date on all the latest news, views and research on multiple sclerosis, sign up for Open Door, our free newsletter or regular email alerts

Ocrelizumab not approved for PPMS

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

Solvents, smoking and MS risk

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

Air pollutants not linked to MS

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

Cannabis review finds benefits

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

Print this page