MS research advances reported at AAN.

The results of more than 200 MS-related clinical trials and studies were presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 58th Annual Meeting in San Diego this past April. Among the highlights:

Early good news that will need confirmation

* A study funded by the National MS Society's Initiative on Gender Differences in MS showed that applying AndroGel (a testosterone gel) to the skin of 10 men with relapsing-remitting MS for one year improved cognitive function and slowed brain tissue loss. Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl and colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles, did this work.

* Dr. Timothy Vollmer of Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, reported that 30 people taking a combination of BHT-3009, an immune system modifier, and Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering drug, did well. The combination appears safe and provided protection from MS immune attacks.

Larger studies, closer to fruition

* Dr. Paul O'Connor and team at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, released results from a phase 2 clinical trial of an oral MS drug called FFY720, or Fingolimod. Relapse rates and inflammation as detected by MRI were both significantly reduced by the drug. A definitive phase 3 study is underway in Europe and planned for North America; go to www.novartisclinical trials.com/portals/MSClinicaltrials/page.do for details.

* Dr. Mark Freedman of the University of Ottawa presented the BENEFIT study data. Of 487 people at high risk of developing MS, those given Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) were 50% less likely to develop definite MS than those given an inactive placebo. Participants in this trial had CIS, or clinically isolated syndrome, meaning they had each had a single demyelinating event, but had not been diagnosed with MS.