What's all the buzz about Kesimpta® - the newest FDA approved Drug for Relapsing forms of MS?

OK guys, KUDOS to all those doing incredible research and clinical trials for us living with MS!

Especially during this time of Covid-19, it's nice to hear of the continuous progress being made.  As someone living with MS for twenty years now, I am always interested in learning about new therapies and how research and approaches have changed over the years.   

Today we have ofatumumab, brand name Kesimpta®, the newest disease modifying therapy approved by the FDA for relapsing forms of MS. Kesimpta® is produced by Novartis.  When I heard this, I wanted to learn more!

I’ve been compensated by Novartis in the past but the opinions expressed here are my own

(These thoughts are my own - I am not being compensated for this post.)

Kesimpta® is a disease modifying therapy that targets B-cells in the body to help the immune system manage itself better and help with inflammation.  In doing so the rate of relapses and disease progression can be reduced helping people with MS live a fuller life.  Or at least this is what the research is showing.  I recently wrote about Kesimpta® for Healthline.com and contains a lot more information.   

Just released, Kesimpta® is already being prescribed and used. This Girl with MS is darn excited to hear how folks are liking it!  You can check out their information and patient support at kesimpta.com.  

I sat down the other day and got to interview two interesting folks. One a doctor and one living with MS.  


Kerry, 38: Kerry was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 2012 after experiencing a loss of sensation in half of her face for nearly two weeks. Today, she leads a busy life day-to-day as an advertising executive and mother of two young boys. Kerry’s husband is a key point of support at home when MS symptoms may tire her out. Kerry has never taken and is not currently taking Kesimpta. Of note, Kerry currently works for an advertising agency that services Novartis, but is not being paid for this opportunity.

 

Dr. Robert Shin, Neurologist: Dr. Shin is a Professor of Neurology at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and the Director of the Georgetown Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center. Dr. Shin specializes in multiple sclerosis and neuro-ophthalmology. Dr. Shin is a paid spokesperson for Novartis.


I recently wrote about Kesimpta® for Healthline.com.  Click here for full article. Some excerpts below: 

“This data is very promising and very positive,” Bruce Bebo, PhD, the executive vice president of research at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, told Healthline last week. “We are excited about this option.”

More than 900 people received ofatumumab in the multi-center clinical trial this summer.

In study results published earlier this month, the immune-modulating drug was shown to quiet inflammatory disease activity. 

Researchers said a subcutaneous injection of ofatumumab produced a significant reduction in new inflammation as well as fewer clinical relapses and progression events. 

In the second year of treatment, nearly 9 out of 10 study participants on ofatumumab showed no sign of disease activity.

The study covered two double-blind, double-dummy phase 3 trials, ASCLEPIOS I and ASCLEPIOS II. Both were funded by Novartis.

The trials were conducted at 385 sites in 37 countries, comparing ofatumumab with teriflunomide, currently marketed in the United States as Aubagio, by Sanofi Genzyme.

Ofatumumab is similar in action to ocrelizumab, marketed in the United States as Ocrevus by Genentech.

These two drugs were not compared against each other, but the mechanics are the same as they target B cells in an effort to manage the immune system. 

“The clinical data is similar between the two, but the route of administration is different,” said Bebo.

  I recently wrote about Kesimpta® for Healthline.com. Click here for full article.

You can check out their information and patient support at kesimpta.com.  

(These thoughts are my own - I am not being compensated for this post.)


Just earlier this year we had the FDA approval of Zeposia® (ozanimod), produced by Bristol Myers Squibb.  Click to read my post about it.




9 comments:

Unknown said...

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 1 month after I turned 50. My grandma is 96 and had it since she was in her 20s. I have been on WORLDHERBSCLINIC MS HERBAL FORMULA , the first TWO MONTHS was daily and now I am on 3 times a week. It has made a tremendous difference for me. The fatigue never gets to me again. When I do too much, I don’t feel weak anymore.

Lupitabrasil said...

I am very glad I came across this post and stopped to read it from beginning to end, as it left on a very positive note. I was in the beginning of my own journey with MS and the depression it's was giving me was unbearable , I found some encouragement from several blogs and last year in seeing Rochelle make her personal goals after overcoming the disease with natural medicine I have to tried it also .I’ve kind of resigned to the fact that this is how life will be for me back until I found herbs that stop this multiple sclerosis easily and relief all the Fatigue and other symptoms I was experiencing ,I’m passing this info to anyone at there because ww w .multivitamincare .org has the right cure and caregiver to this disease ….I took various supplements, medicine prescribed by neurologist,massage and physiotherapy still the disease is was progressing very fast until the the MS formula from that caregiver .

Unknown said...

After my Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis, my primary care provider introduced me to RichHerbs Foundation and their MS Formula protocol, the herbal treatment has made a tremendous difference for me. My symptoms including numbness and muscle weakness all disappeared after the treatment plan! Their website is w w w. richherbsfoundation. c o m.

Unknown said...

Please send me the list of natural items u take.im a big believer in natural supplements

Anonymous said...

I am so grateful for this post. I just recently got off Gilyena and got me in real bad shape, highly bloated, bad liver levels, comatose fatigue, my lymphocytes were dangerously low...terrible medicine. Now my Doc prescribed this Kesimpta and anxiously awaiting approval.

Unknown said...

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Unknown said...

Four years ago, I went numb from the waist down. After quite a few MRI’s, spinal tap, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I was on Avenox for almost 2 years, i had 1 year of monthly steroids IV, had to stop due to hip pain. Through my physiotherapist i learnt about a MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS HERBAL TREATMENT from K.H.C (Kykuyu Health Clinic) and their success rate with the treatment, i immediately started on the MS treatment, i experienced decline in major symptoms including hand tremor, back pain, difficulty walking, muscle paralysis and weakness, uncomfortable tingling and burning, fatigue, urinary retention,double vision, slurred speech difficulty swallowing, numbness. Visit www. kykuyuhealthclinic. com. I knew that a positive attitude is everything and to just believe, I’m in control of my life again….

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Willbaylay said...

My Dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 4yeras ago. The only treatment he received after diagnosis was oxygen. He was supposed to have been prescribed immunosuppressive but never got the prescription from the doctor. During the 2020 pandemic I came across a herbal clinic on YouTube which caught my attention .I purchased the herbal products and he used them for almost 5 month as they instructed. To my greatest surprise the herbal formula has successfully gotten rid of his MS condition .They promised us total cure but we did not believe it because all my life we were told there is no cure for MS . He's living proof that there is a cure for MS. Many people are still suffering due to lack of information about this disease ,contact : www. multivitamincare. org for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) treatment.