Novartis Canada is driving the shift to a more proactive care approach for people living with multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that manifests differently from person to person. As a result, the severity and complexity of this condition requires tailored, personalized and adaptive treatment strategies based on individual needs and the rate of disease evolution.
“The neurological condition typically presents itself in younger adults, with people often showing their first signs in their 20s or 30s,” says Dr. Paul Giacomini, MS Clinic Director at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Chief Medical Officer at Innodem Neurosciences. “Patients can show a variety of neurological symptoms including vision problems, sensory symptoms like pain or numbness, weakness and clumsiness, and if they go unchecked, they can become progressively worse.”
Earlier detection of disease progression
Although MS is not a uniquely Canadian problem, it does disproportionately affect the Canadian population with more than 90,000 – or one in 400 people – living with MS in this country. Fortunately, new research and innovations could enable clinicians to usher in an era of truly personalized medicine.
Detecting and monitoring disease progression is an essential component of optimal MS management. “In recent years, there’s been a remarkable increase in the number of available treatments for MS, but how disease progression is detected and monitored has remained vastly unchanged,” says Jason Brown, Vice-President of Neuroscience and Gene Therapies at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. (Novartis Canada).
Disease progression in MS has traditionally relied on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for new or growing brain lesions. Clinic visits may occur only a handful of times each year, so doctors often react only once a relapse has occurred and new lesions are formed.
Redefining MS management
“With a more proactive care approach, we could enable doctors to make more informed care decisions and allow people living with MS to access the right treatment when they need it most,” says Brown.
Through an ongoing collaborative effort, Innodem Neurosciences and Novartis Canada are advancing that new, patient-centric approach, by facilitating the adoption of AI to drive a more modernized care approach.
“Investing in strategic relationships with stakeholders who share our commitment is an important building block to collaborative solutions,” says Brown. To accelerate timely access to innovative medicines and help to provide people living with MS the best chance for optimal outcomes, Novartis Canada signed a multimillion, multi-year commercial framework agreement with Innodem Neurosciences to continue advancing research in the application of biomarkers.
“What we’ve developed is a tool called the Eye-Tracking Neurological Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (ETNA™-MS) that uses eye movement biomarkers – an objective measure that helps us assess disease severity – to help track disease progression in people living with MS,” says Dr. Giacomini.
ETNA™-MS turns an iPad Pro into a medical device and analyzes hundreds of patient eye movement biomarkers, which are then funneled through an AI tool and correlated with gold-standard clinical scales. Dr. Giacomini adds, “from here, we can build algorithms that could detect subtle changes over time and potentially help us identify patients having premature disease progression.”
The integration of this new technology is welcomed by the MS community as a step forward to help facilitate more efficient healthcare access and improve the delivery of care for people living with the disease.
“Advancements in MS research, such as the development of innovative technologies, will allow the MS community to take a proactive approach to their care. This type of innovation can create opportunities for early intervention, personalized treatment and care, and improved disease management,” says Benjamin Davis, Senior Vice-President, Mission at MS Canada.
Embracing AI in MS care
“I’m proud to be a part of the collaboration between Innodem Neurosciences and Novartis Canada. It’s been a rewarding journey so far and I am delighted to finally bring this to the Canadian marketplace and hopefully beyond,” says Dr. Giacomini.
Novartis Canada recognizes the tremendous potential AI holds for the industry and healthcare landscape at large. “When we can seamlessly integrate modern technology, it’s a win for not only the patients, but also the physicians and broader stakeholders involved in the healthcare system,” says Brown. “I believe these new innovations will play a crucial role in improving and shaping the future of MS care.”
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This piece was made possible by the support of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
