NewsSpeak: the aftermath of the negative ASCEND trial

Bad news and Biogen's share price rises: the perverse side of capitalism. #NewsSpeak #MSBlog

"In the aftermath of yesterday's news of the negative ASCEND study, we have just been informed that Biogen are closing down their dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in SPMS trial. I think this is very premature as lessons learnt from the ASCEND study could have been applied to the DMF trial. I am now convinced that our length-dependent axonopathy and asynchronous progressive MS hypotheses are correct. We should let these inform our current and future trial designs, i.e. adapt them and not stop them from happening."

"My heart goes out to all the SPMSers who will almost certainly be let down by this news. Don't get too despondent we will continue to work on getting progressive trials off the ground. We are currently in the process of designing a proof-of-concept study of testing a combination treatment in people with progressive MS who are EDSS 6.5 and above. Yes, we will include wheelchair users. Our primary outcome will by design ignore lower limb function and focus on the arms and a bulbar function (swallowing and speech)."
"Our message to you if you have progressive MS is that we won't give up on you!"


Inspire investigator study close letter 20 oct15 not actively screening from Gavin Giovannoni

"I note that Biogen have announced that they are pruning their workforce by 11% and are pulling the plug on several projects. I know many  brilliant people who work for Biogen; I hope they are okay. All in all the fall-out of the negative ASCEND trial is like a Tsunami. What I find sad is the simple announcement that there are to be job cuts at Biogen has resulted in their share price rising; this is capitalism at its worst! The heart of this story is bad news for SPMSers and for a lot of Biogen staff who were simply trying to make the lives of MSers better."

CoI: multiple

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