ECTRIMS 2026
Dr. Gillani, Dr. Katz and Dr. Bouley attended MSToronto2026, the 10th Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting in Toronto October 21-23 2026!
They joined MS clinicians from around the world to share the latest advances in MS research, treatment, and care.
Dr. Katz was excited to see that Fenebrutinib, a BTK inhibitor, is on track for potential FDA approval next spring. In clinical trials Fenebrutinib was effective for treating both relapsing and progressive multiple sclerosis. At the conference new data was presented showing that Fenebrutinib may have a greater impact than Ocrelizumab on PRLs (paramagnetic rim lesions that are a marker for chronic inflammation), meaning it may have the potential to have a bigger long-term impact on disease progression than Ocrelizumab.
Dr. Bouley enjoyed learning more about the state of CAR-T trials. CAR-T, or chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, is a treatment strategy in which a patient’s T-cells are reprogrammed to find and destroy specific cells (such as B-cells that are CD19+). CAR-T is particularly exciting because it would ensure that all B-cells involved in MS pathology are destroyed, even B-cells found within the brain tissue or “hidden” deep in tissue. Some patients have responded well to treatment. Unfortunately, there are some very major and severe complications from the treatment, and some patients in early studies have died. We still need to learn more about these therapies and develop safer strategies to administer them before they become available to the general MS public.
Dr. Gillani was excited to see a strong focus on women’s health this year’s combined ECTRIMS / ACRTIMS meeting in Toronto. Women have traditionally been undertreated for their multiple sclerosis due to concerns about risks of disease modifying therapies on pregnancy and breastfeeding. This has led women to be treated with less effective multiple sclerosis disease modifying therapies compared to men, and even having long periods with no treatment at all. The consequence was increased risk for new relapses and worsening in neurologic symptoms. With a growing body of research on how to safely use multiple sclerosis disease modifying therapies during childbearing, women no longer have to choose between growing a family and controlling their multiple sclerosis.
