NeurologyLive® Mind Moments®

Welcome to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice.

In this episode, Joanne Donovan, MD, PhD, chief medical officer at Edgewise Therapeutics, sat down to discuss the clinical program of EDG-5506, an investigational drug in development for Becker muscular dystrophy, and the recent progress in treating and understanding Becker muscular dystrophy. She spoke on the mechanism of action of the drug, also known as sevasemten, and why the company believes it can be therapeutically beneficial for this patient population. Furthermore, Donovan spoke on the previous failures in drug development for Becker, advances in biomarker detection, and how other trials paved the way for the company's phase 2 study and open label extension, dubbed CANYON (NCT05291091) and GRAND CANYON. Furthermore, she spoke on the ways the clinical community has tried to improve the quality of life for patients with Becker, focusing on approaches and tactics that curve cardiac issues commonly seen in this group. 

Episode Breakdown:

1:15 – Overview of CANYON study and extension phase 

3:50 – Mechanism of action of EDG-5506

6:30 – How previous trial experiences shaped CANYON 

10:10 – Neurology News Minute

11:50 – Ongoing challenges with treating and testing drugs for Becker

15:25 – Safety profile of EDG-5506

16:45 – Ways to tackle cardiac issues in Becker

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

Welcome to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice.

In this episode, epilepsy expert Imad Najm, MD, PhD, sat down to discuss the upcoming Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Summit, an educational symposium that takes place September 11-15, in Cleveland, Ohio. Najm, who serves as the director of Cleveland Clinic's Epilepsy Center at the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute, spoke about the objectives and goals of the meeting, including updates on sEEG, epilepsy surgery, treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy, and gene therapy. In addition, he provided an overview of the latest advances in epilepsy surgery, genetics, and seizure controlling approaches. Furthermore, he spoke on some of the educational challenges with adjusting to changes in neurosurgery, the potential benefits and limitations of gene therapy, and the future of epilepsy treatment. 

Episode Breakdown:

1:10 – Mission and goals of Epilepsy Summit 

3:05 – Overviewing sessions and educational attainment

4:55 – Changes to epilepsy surgery, advances over the years

9:15 – Neurology News Minute

11:50 – Learning curve for understanding new epilepsy surgery tactics

13:50 – Closing thoughts on the upcoming meeting

15:50 – Potential benefits and challenges to gene therapy for epilepsy

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

Welcome to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice.

In this episode, Sharon Cohen, MD, a behavioral neurologist, sat down to discuss positive data from an ongoing phase 1 study of mivelsiran (Alnylam Pharmaceuticals), the first investigational RNA interference therapeutic targeting amyloid precursor protein for Alzheimer disease (AD). Cohen, who also serves as the medical director of the Toronto Memory Program at the University of Toronto, discussed the potential of RNA therapeutics for treating AD, the unique mechanism of action of mivelsiran, and some of the early promising safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic data observed in the phase 1 trial. In addition, Cohen touched upon the idea of how RNA therapeutics could be used in combination with previously approved novel treatments and the benefits mivelsiran brings with no observed amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. Furthermore, the discussion covered some of the potential of this investigational agent, what to expect in the multi-dose part B of the study, and an additional phase 2 study in cerebral amyloid angiopathy. 

Episode Breakdown:

1:15 – Mechanism of action of mivelsiran and how it can be potentially beneficial in AD

4:15 – Growing knowledge of RNA therapeutics and their impact on neurologic conditions

7:00 – Neurology News Minute

10:10 – Phase 1 study data, including efficacy, safety, biomarker, and pharmacokinetic results

19:20 – How mivelsiran fits with other approved therapies for AD; future goals and directions of the drug

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

Welcome to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice.

In this episode, Phil Jochelson, therapeutic head for Clinical Development Neuroscience at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, sat down to discuss the phase 4 XYLO study, a randomized controlled study evaluating the effects of switching from high-sodium to low-sodium oxybate on blood pressure in patients with narcolepsy. Jochelson gave some insight regarding the conduct of the trial, including end points, objectives, and patient demographics, as well as some of the benefits to studying blood pressure and cardiovascular risks. In addition, he discussed enhancements to narcolepsy care through low-sodium oxybate, the importance of unique studies like XYLO, and the need to educate clinicians on sodium load and its risks. 

Episode Breakdown:

1:15 – Reasons behind the XYLO study and links between high sodium intake and cardiovascular risk

4:45 – Patient demographics; inclusion and exclusion criterias

6:40 – Neurology News Minute

9:25 – Overview of XYLO and determining what a successful study looks like

15:30 – Improved understanding of the benefits of low-sodium oxybate

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

Welcome to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice.

In this episode, Michael Weiss, chief executive officer of TG Therapeutics, discussed ublituximab (Briumvi), a recently approved anti-CD20 therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis, and the advantages it brings to patients. Specifically, he talked about the Department of Veteran Affairs' decision to award national contract to ublituximab as the preferred anti-CD20 for this patient population, and how this facilitates greater access to the treatment. In addition, he discussed how the knowledge profile of the agent has grown over time, as well as the additional efforts to gain a better understanding of its efficacy and safety. Furthermore, he spoke on the differences between ublituximab and other approved agents, and why it may be more applicable to certain patients. 

Episode Breakdown:

1:05 – Significance of ublituximab awarded national contract as preferred anti-CD20 for relapsing MS

3:30 – Advantages and differences of ublituximab vs approved therapies for MS

11:40 – Neurology News Minute

14:30 – Growing knowledge profile of ublituximab over the years

19:05 – Future plans of ubtlituximab; long-term goals of the therapy

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

Welcome to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice.

In this episode, Douglas Wajda, PhD, an assistant professor of neurology at Cleveland State University, discussed a pilot study presented at the 2024 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting using a functional electrical stimulation approach, Neural Sleeve, to treat gait in MS. Wajda, who has been studying gait in MS for several years, gave clinical insight on the functionality and feasibility of this approach, and the personalized treatment patients can gain from it. He also discussed the pilot study in detail, including the major end points and takeaways from the small group of patients observed. 

Episode Breakdown:

1:00 – Functionality of Neural Sleeve

2:45 – Feasibility and self-administration of Neural Sleeve

3:50 – Neurology News Minute

5:50 – Greatest clinical takeaways from pilot study

8:15 – Steps in advancing this therapeutic approach

9:45 – Challenges with gait in MS and personalizing treatment methods

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

Welcome to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice.

In this episode, Sameea Husain-Wilson, DO, a movement disorder specialist at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute of Baptist Health, provided clinical perspective on the use of the Syn-One diagnostic test for patients with Parkinson disease (PD). She gave an overview of how the test is utilized in clinic, ways to interpret results, and the right personnel needed to ensure an accurate diagnosis. In addition, she provided clarity on the role of alpha-synuclein in PD, the advances in research in this area, and how the test incorporates this prominent biomarker. Furthermore, Husain-Wilson detailed some of the next steps in further optimizing the test in clinical settings, highlighting the importance of other non-movement disorder specialists who will play a major role in the diagnostic evaluation of future patients with PD.

Episode Breakdown:

1:10 – Step by step process on how Syn-One test is used; considerations after process is done

3:15 – How the test differentiates PD from other neurodegenerative disorders

9:50 – Neurology News Minute

12:20 – Value and role in assessing alpha-synuclein in PD

14:50 – Ways to further optimize Syn-One going forward

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

Welcome to this special episode of the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice. For major FDA decisions in the field of neurology, we release short special episodes to offer a snapshot of the news, including the main takeaways for the clinical community, as well as highlights of the efficacy and safety profile of the agent in question.

In this episode, we're covering the recent approval of donanemab as a new treatment for adults with early symptomatic Alzheimer disease (AD). Marketed as Kisunla, donanemab's approval marks the third antiamyloid therapy to get FDA greenlight for early-stage AD, following the controversial approval of aducanumab (Aduhelm; Biogen) in 2021 and lecanemab (Leqembi; Eisai) in 2023. Donanemab, administered as a 350 mg/20 mL once-monthly injection for intravenous infusion, had its approval supported by the phase 3 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ-2 trial (NCT04437511), a large-scale, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that featured 1736 patients with early-stage AD. Following the approval, NeurologyLive sat down with Joel Salinas, MD, MBA, a behavioral neurologist at NYU Langone and clinical assistant professor in the department of neurology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Salinas, who also serves as the chief medical officer at Isaac Health, discussed the positive impacts of the approval, the importance of patient selection for the medication, and how clinicians should discuss its benefits and harms to patients. In addition, he commented on how approvals like donanemab continue to carry momentum in the AD field going forward. 

For more of NeurologyLive's coverage of donanemab's approval, head here: FDA Approves Eli Lilly's Donanemab for Early Symptomatic Alzheimer Disease

Episode Breakdown:

2:10 – Positive downstream impacts of donanemab's approval

4:20 – Considerations and caution with prescribing donanemab

6:05 – Salinas on patient-clinician conversations about AD treatments

8:00 – Closing remarks and continued progress in AD field

Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive Mind Moments podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

Welcome to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice.

In this episode, Anne Marie Morse, DO, FAAN, a pediatric neurologist and sleep medicine specialist at Geisinger Medical Center, sat down at the 2024 SLEEP Annual Meeting to discuss a poster presentation highlighting a listening analysis that characterized the struggles and unmet needs of people with narcolepsy. in the discussion, Morse outlined some of the major findings, including the rates of missed and misdiagnosis, how cataplexy impacts daily life, and some of the other comorbidities associated with the condition. She spoke on the value of gaining patient perspectives and using their descriptions for their disorders helps in understanding true unmet needs. Furthermore, she spoke on the importance of a strong patient-clinician relationship, the ability to communicate openly, and the steps following diagnosis to ensure effective long-term treatment outcomes. 

Episode Breakdown:

1:10 – Motivations behind conducting listening analysis

3:15 – Major clinical takeaways from study; notable quality of life impairments in narcolepsy

7:00 – Impact of cataplexy and patients' overreaction

9:50 – Neurology News Minute

12:20 – Reasons for missed and misdiagnosis

14:50 – Early tips to pathing patients towards treatment success

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

Welcome to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice.

In this episode, we spoke with a variety of specialists in neurology who presented research and gave talks at the 2024 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting, held May 29-June 2, in Nashville, Tennessee. Those included in this week's episode, in order of appearance, are:

Anthony Feinstein, PhD, FRCPC, MBBCh, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.

Brian G. Weinshenker, MD, a professor of neurology at the University of Virginia.

Douglas A. Wajda, PhD, an assistant professor of neurology and member of the Health and Human Performance Department in the College of Education at Cleveland State University.

Le Hua, MD, director of Clinical Operations and director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program at Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Eion P. Flanagan, MB, BCh, a professor of neurology and chief of the Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology at Mayo Clinic; and director of the Autoimmune Neurology Fellowship. 

Episode Breakdown:

1:40 – Feinstein on the difficulties with improving fatigue in multiple sclerosis and the lack of improvement seen from approved disease-modifying therapies.

5:20 – Weinshenker on the key diagnostic aspects of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and how it differs from other similarly presenting autoimmune disorders.

9:40 – Wajda on the use of the Cionic Neural Sleeve, the advantages it holds, and how it may be used to treat gait dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

12:00 – Hua on the differential diagnosis of pediatric-onset MS vs late-onset MS, and the notable biologic changes observed.

19:30 – Flanagan on the diagnostic pearls for MOG-antibody associated disease and the importance of early recognition of this group. 

Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.