The theme of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) conference 2025 was “A New Era of Precision,” referring to advancements in both diagnosis of MS and its treatment.
Though a couple of factors kept me from attending the conference in person, I have been poring over the stacks of research presented at this year’s annual event.
A few areas hold my attention as I look to the future of precision MS care.
Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) Inhibitors
A number of studies involving BTK inhibitors — which appear to reduce immune activity linked to MS — showed compelling long-term efficacy and safety data. By blocking BTK, B cell and microglia activation, which can cause inflammation and axonal damage, is prohibited.
This is a big step in targeted treatment, particularly for people with progressive forms of the disease.
Promoting Myelin Repair
A British study presented at ECTRIMS 2025 showed strong evidence that a combination of metformin, a diabetes medication, and clemastine, an antihistamine, may help repair myelin in people with relapsing-remitting MS after six months of treatment. This has been a holy grail for researchers (and people living with MS) for as long as I can remember.
‘Precision’ Has Gone Beyond Buzzword
From the evidence that serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is emerging as a reliable marker for treatment response and disease activity to AI-driven analytics. From personalized biomarker integration to more succinct genetic profiling.
Study protocols are being redeveloped and active treatment strategies are being reinterpreted based on the quickly evolving research that is bearing fruit at a rate that was only a hopeful speculation when I was diagnosed nearly 25 years ago.
Cognition Being Taken Seriously
When professor Maria Pia Amato, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Florence, stepped to the podium and declared that cognitive impairment was to be a major focus for targeted research as well as be incorporated as a clinical endpoint on other MS research, many of us who wonder whether we’re cognitively aging faster than our peers crossed our fingers and hoped that this line of research would finally go beyond exploratory endpoints and enter the phase of solid research, effective treatments, and preventive measures.
High Hopes for the Future
The past year was a good one for MS research. We’ll hope that that research quickly translates to treatment, prevention, and eventually cure of this disease.
I go forward into 2026 and beyond with a firm belief that things are getting better, and they’re getting better faster. I just hope, as I celebrate a big, round-number birthday in August, that they happen fast enough to be of use for me and my MS cohort.
Wishing you and your family the best of health.
Cheers,
Trevis