May 29,2024

Accelerated Cure Project & iConquerMS to Launch the Largest-Ever Study of a Novel Therapy to Treat Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis

The iConquerMS™ People-Powered Research Network, part of the Accelerated Cure Project (ACP), has partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), GAIA AG, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the University Medical Center Göttingen, and Ordinal Data, Inc., to conduct a four-year clinical trial of digital therapeutics for treating fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS). Funded by a nearly $4.5 million grant from the Department of Defense’s Multiple Sclerosis Research Program, the trial aims to assess the effectiveness of two online programs designed to help MS patients manage fatigue, a common and debilitating symptom. The large-scale, decentralized trial will enroll 2,000 participants and aims to achieve FDA approval for a non-pharmacological fatigue treatment. The US study will consist of three groups: two receiving one of the online programs in addition to their usual treatment, and one receiving only the usual treatment. Recruitment is set to begin in Summer 2024 for iConquerMS and Fall 2024 for VA sites.

COLLABORATION PARTNERSHIP

#r&d

#mobile app

View Analyst & Ambassador Comments
Go to original news
Oct 20,2023

Effectiveness of a Digital Health Application for Multiple Sclerosis (Levidex)

GAIA Group has registered a new study aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel digital health application (levidex), which was designed to increase quality of life in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Therefore, 470 people with MS will be recruited and randomized to two groups: (1) an intervention group that will receive access to levidex in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 235) and (2) a control group receiving an overview of relevant brochures from the German Multiple Sclerosis Society on the topic of lifestyle in MS in addition to TAU (n = 235).The primary outcome measure is the total score on the Hamburg Quality of Life Questionnaire for Multiple Sclerosis (HALEMS), collected 6 months post-randomization. The study is still not recruiting, and planned to start in the following days.

CLINICAL STUDY

#pdt

View Analyst & Ambassador Comments
Go to original news
Oct 17,2023 TOP STORY

Immersive Virtual Reality Seems to Ease Cancer Patients' Pain and Distress

Immersive virtual reality - digital technology that allows a person to experience being physically present in a non-physical world - seems to ease the pain and distress felt by patients with cancer, suggests a pooled data analysis of the available evidence published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. The researchers trawled research databases for studies that looked at the use and effectiveness of immersive virtual reality for aiding psychological adjustment to a long term condition in adults. They found 31 relevant studies, published between 1993 and 2023, in which the technology had been used in patients with cancer (16), dementia (5), cardiovascular disease (4), MS (2), kidney disease (2), inflammatory bowel disease (1), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1). Pooling the study results showed that patients were happy to use immersive virtual reality and that it helped those with cancer, dementia, cardiovascular disease, MS and kidney disease cope better with required medical treatments and the emotional impact of their condition. The types of virtual reality and procedures used varied widely across the included studies, and no one particular type emerged as noticeably more effective than any of the others.

CLINICAL STUDY

#virtual reality

View Analyst & Ambassador Comments
Go to original news
Sep 28,2023 TOP STORY

GAIA's New Depression Therapy for MS Shows Significant Results

In the study published in Lancet Digital Health, GAIA’s (digital) depression therapy “amiria” was able to show that it can significantly reduce depression symptoms and that the positive therapy effects were even detectable up to 1 year after the end of therapy. This parallel-group, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial of an iCBT programme to reduce depressive symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis was carried out at five academic centres with large outpatient care units in Germany and the USA. The predefined primary endpoint, which was analysed in the intention-to-treat population, was severity of depressive symptoms as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at week 12 after randomisation. 279 participants were enrolled, of whom 101 were allocated to receive stand-alone iCBT, 85 to receive guided iCBT, and 93 to the control condition. he dropout rate at week 12 was 18% (50 participants). Both versions of the iCBT programme significantly reduced depressive symptoms compared with the control group. The approval of amiria for the treatment of depression in MS patients in Germany (BfArM) is currently being prepared.

CLINICAL STUDY

#cbt

#pdt

View Analyst & Ambassador Comments
Go to original news
Sep 06,2023

New Analysis Shows Reduction in Annual Patient Costs and Medical Claims with Medisafe

Medisafe, a leading digital health company specializing in medication engagement, released the results of a new retrospective, pre and post claims study of 207 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and epilepsy using Medisafe to manage their medication regimen and overall health. The analysis showed an average annual cost reduction of $6,280 per MS patient and $4,600 per epilepsy patient using Medisafe to manage their therapeutic regimen.These cost reductions – which represent savings for patients and reduction in burden on the entire healthcare system – derived from reduced utilization of costly care services as a result of better medication management. Patients with MS experienced a 34% reduction in total medical claims – including a 63% reduction in ER visits and 34% reduction in outpatient visits. Patients with epilepsy experienced a 28% reduction in total medical claims – including a 36% reduction in ER visits and a 45% reduction in ambulance visits.

PRODUCT

#mobile app

View Analyst & Ambassador Comments
Go to original news
Jul 25,2023 TOP STORY

New MS patient companion App, Ekiva-MS, launched by Dawn Health to empower patients through innovative remote monitoring and care

Dawn Health today released a patient companion App called Ekiva-MS to support people living with multiple sclerosis (PlwMS). The remote patient monitoring App has been co-created with patients and aims to address unmet needs of PlwMS around understanding disease activity and receiving support with their chronic care in the remote at-home setting. Launching today in Germany, the App supports patients to better manage their life with MS, be more empowered and enable more shared decision making with their HCP based on new levels of insights into their disease activity. Ekiva-MS is the first product emerging from the collaboration between Dawn Health and Novartis announced earlier this year.

PRODUCT

#mobile app

#rpm

View Analyst & Ambassador Comments
Go to original news
Feb 22,2023 TOP STORY

Dawn Health, Novartis partner to develop chronic condition management tools

Copenhagen-based digital health company Dawn Health announced a strategic partnership with pharma giant Novartis to develop a chronic condition management platform. Under the collaboration, Dawn and Novartis will build remote monitoring and management tools for chronic conditions where they see unmet need and concerns around disease progression, like multiple sclerosis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. The platform will include patient mobile apps, symptom monitoring, digital biomarkers, clinical decision support services and virtual clinic offerings geared toward specific diseases and conditions.

COLLABORATION PARTNERSHIP

#r&d

#rpm

#mobile app

View Analyst & Ambassador Comments
Go to original news
Jan 14,2020

MedRhythms Advances Pipeline of Neurologic Rehabilitation Products in Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease

MedRhythms, digital therapeutics company that uses sensors, software, and music to measure and improve walking, today announced the advancement of its pipeline in multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease (PD). As part of this effort, MedRhythms has established MS and PD Scientific Advisory Boards that will provide guidance related to the Company's clinical and research activities in these disease states. Additionally, MR-004, the Company's pipeline product for walking rehabilitation in MS, will be studied at Cleveland Clinic in a pilot-scale randomized controlled trial to evaluate its safety and efficacy.

PRODUCT

#connected device

View Analyst & Ambassador Comments
Go to original news
Aug 02,2019

Progentec Diagnostics Merges with Karate Health to Expand Autoimmune Disease Management Platforms

Progentec Diagnostics, Inc. and Karate Health, Inc. announced that they have merged, offering laboratory testing and digital technologies for the diagnosis and management of lupus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), and other autoimmune diseases. Progentec’s experienced team of clinical researchers and laboratory operations experts will be joined by Arif Sorathia and Brett Adelman, the co-founders of Karate Health. Sorathia and Adelman will lead digital initiatives including the exploration and development of digital therapeutics, the expansion of direct-to-patient toolkits, and the refinement of 21 CFR Part 11 compliant data-capture tools.

COLLABORATION MERGERS & ACQUISITION

#product & service

#mobile app

#software

View Analyst & Ambassador Comments
Go to original news
Sep 19,2019

Sanofi targets digital by cutting new deals with Abbott, Happify

Sanofi has been active in the digital space this week inking two big deals: one with tech company Abbott and the other with digital platform Happify. Sanofi’s deal with Happify is focused on treating multiple sclerosis symptoms, in particular anxiety and depression. The pair are collaborating on a digital therapeutic app to help people manage and improve their psychological outcomes. The plan is to develop and test the app in clinical trials before seeking FDA clearance.

COLLABORATION PARTNERSHIP

#r&d

#mobile app

#software

View Analyst & Ambassador Comments
Go to original news
Subscribe to MS