Walter Gefrom

Project Manager in Civil Engineering

New Medication for Treating EBV Shows Promise

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Recently, Walter Gefrom discussed the announcement from scientists and researchers that the Epstein-Barr Virus could be to blame for triggering or even causing Multiple Sclerosis. With this in mind, doctors are now setting their focus on ways to treat EBV directly; one such treatment is already showing great promise for patients.

Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. is entering Phase 2 of a clinical trial of an experimental new T-cell immunotherapy treatment, ATA118.  This new medication specifically targets Epstein-Barr Virus in people with MS.  Among the 24 volunteers involved in the clinical trial, 20 have already shown signs of improvement with their MS symptoms and/or major indication of a halt in disease progression after a year of treatment with ATA118.

This is incredibly exciting news for the MS warrior community!  A longtime advocate for the advancement of research and treatment accessibility for individuals living with MS, Walter Gefrom is ecstatic to learn of this glimmering beacon of light in the community.  Here’s to more positive news in the development of how the treatment of EBV could impact how so many people experience multiple sclerosis.

US Military Research Suggests EBV Causes MS

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A study from the United States military has confirmed a long postulated theory that the Epstein-Barr Virus triggers the development of Multiple Sclerosis. MS awareness advocate, Walter Gefrom discusses:

Walter Gefrom Virus

For people living with multiple sclerosis and the healthcare professionals who treat them, the idea that MS may be linked to EBV is nothing new.  But it was not until a new study published by Harvard University that the long-standing hypothesis was proven true.  The proposed information cites the fact that out of 801 MS patients, only 1 did not show symptoms of MS prior to EBV infection.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is better known as ‘the kissing disease.’  In Walter Gefrom’s personal research, he has played close attention to the link between EBV and mononucleosis.  Now, there is something to be said about EBV, as well as mono, and the connection to MS.  As researchers work towards creating a vaccine to protect against EBV infection, Gefrom has hope that the amount of individuals diagnosed with MS has the potential to decline in the future.