Mitzi Joi Williams, MD

Dr Mitzi Joi Williams, medical director of the Joi Life Wellness Group in Atlanta, Georgia, shares updates from the 2021 CMSC Annual Meeting on the use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).  

Dr Williams begins with a review of findings from ACAPELLA, a prospective real-world study of ocrelizumab-associated adverse events. The various subanalyses found no higher rates of adverse events on the basis of age or EDSS scores, no downward trend in IgG levels, and mild B-cell repletion that had no significant correlation between disease activity or adverse events. 

Next, she turns to several subanalyses from the EXPAND trial that looked at efficacy and safety of siponimod in patients with secondary progressive MS. Siponimod provided similar clinical benefits in all age groups and was well-tolerated at 3 and 6 months. Several MRI measures were found to be prognostic of disease worsening or improvement. 

Dr Williams concludes with a first look at a new agent, ATA188, which is being studied in adults with progressive forms of MS. This phase 1/2 double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-expansion trial aims to evaluate the effect of ATA188 on clinical disability, characterize the agent's safety and tolerability, and evaluate the impact of treatment on biological markers in progressive MS. 

--

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Emory University; Medical Director, Joi Life Wellness Group, Atlanta, Georgia 

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: AbbVie; Alexion; Genentech; EMD Serono; Novartis; Biogen Idec 

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: AbbVie; Genentech; Novartis; Biogen; EMD Serono  

Received research grant from: Novartis; Genentech 

Dr Mitzi Joi Williams, medical director of the Joi Life Wellness Group in Atlanta, Georgia, shares updates from the 2021 CMSC Annual Meeting on the use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).  

Dr Williams begins with a review of findings from ACAPELLA, a prospective real-world study of ocrelizumab-associated adverse events. The various subanalyses found no higher rates of adverse events on the basis of age or EDSS scores, no downward trend in IgG levels, and mild B-cell repletion that had no significant correlation between disease activity or adverse events. 

Next, she turns to several subanalyses from the EXPAND trial that looked at efficacy and safety of siponimod in patients with secondary progressive MS. Siponimod provided similar clinical benefits in all age groups and was well-tolerated at 3 and 6 months. Several MRI measures were found to be prognostic of disease worsening or improvement. 

Dr Williams concludes with a first look at a new agent, ATA188, which is being studied in adults with progressive forms of MS. This phase 1/2 double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-expansion trial aims to evaluate the effect of ATA188 on clinical disability, characterize the agent's safety and tolerability, and evaluate the impact of treatment on biological markers in progressive MS. 

--

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Emory University; Medical Director, Joi Life Wellness Group, Atlanta, Georgia 

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: AbbVie; Alexion; Genentech; EMD Serono; Novartis; Biogen Idec 

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: AbbVie; Genentech; Novartis; Biogen; EMD Serono  

Received research grant from: Novartis; Genentech 

Dr Mitzi Joi Williams, medical director of the Joi Life Wellness Group in Atlanta, Georgia, shares updates from the 2021 CMSC Annual Meeting on the use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).  

Dr Williams begins with a review of findings from ACAPELLA, a prospective real-world study of ocrelizumab-associated adverse events. The various subanalyses found no higher rates of adverse events on the basis of age or EDSS scores, no downward trend in IgG levels, and mild B-cell repletion that had no significant correlation between disease activity or adverse events. 

Next, she turns to several subanalyses from the EXPAND trial that looked at efficacy and safety of siponimod in patients with secondary progressive MS. Siponimod provided similar clinical benefits in all age groups and was well-tolerated at 3 and 6 months. Several MRI measures were found to be prognostic of disease worsening or improvement. 

Dr Williams concludes with a first look at a new agent, ATA188, which is being studied in adults with progressive forms of MS. This phase 1/2 double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-expansion trial aims to evaluate the effect of ATA188 on clinical disability, characterize the agent's safety and tolerability, and evaluate the impact of treatment on biological markers in progressive MS. 

--

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Emory University; Medical Director, Joi Life Wellness Group, Atlanta, Georgia 

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: AbbVie; Alexion; Genentech; EMD Serono; Novartis; Biogen Idec 

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: AbbVie; Genentech; Novartis; Biogen; EMD Serono  

Received research grant from: Novartis; Genentech 

Dr Mitzi Joi Williams, medical director of Joi Life Wellness Group in Atlanta, Georgia, reviews updates from the 2021 CMSC Annual Meeting focusing on important considerations for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have comorbid physical and mental health conditions.  

She begins with a longitudinal mediation analysis that assessed how differences in socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and comorbidities may affect Black vs White patients with MS. Overall, Black patients had longer timed 25-foot walks than White patients, and it was concluded that elevated BMIs, higher rates of hypertension, and living in lower income neighborhoods all played partial roles in this disparity.  

Dr Williams next discusses a study that examined the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with primary-progressive MS (PPMS), secondary-progressive MS (SPMS), and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Rates of both conditions were lower in patients with PPMS than in those with SPMS and RRMS, but overall they were higher in patients with MS compared with the general population.  

The final study she reports on looked at the relationships between cognitive, emotional, and physical factors and weekly engagement in physical activity among patients with MS. Unsurprisingly, meeting weekly physical exercise recommendations was associated with improvement in leg functioning, whereas decreased exercise was associated with increased symptoms of depression and with underweight and obese BMIs.  

--

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Emory University; Medical Director, Joi Life Wellness Group, Atlanta, Georgia 

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Abbvie; Alexion; Genentech; EMD Serono; Novartis; Biogen Idec  

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Abbvie; Genentech; Novartis; Biogen; EMD Serono  

Received research grant from: Novartis; Genentech  

Dr Mitzi Joi Williams, medical director of Joi Life Wellness Group in Atlanta, Georgia, reviews updates from the 2021 CMSC Annual Meeting focusing on important considerations for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have comorbid physical and mental health conditions.  

She begins with a longitudinal mediation analysis that assessed how differences in socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and comorbidities may affect Black vs White patients with MS. Overall, Black patients had longer timed 25-foot walks than White patients, and it was concluded that elevated BMIs, higher rates of hypertension, and living in lower income neighborhoods all played partial roles in this disparity.  

Dr Williams next discusses a study that examined the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with primary-progressive MS (PPMS), secondary-progressive MS (SPMS), and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Rates of both conditions were lower in patients with PPMS than in those with SPMS and RRMS, but overall they were higher in patients with MS compared with the general population.  

The final study she reports on looked at the relationships between cognitive, emotional, and physical factors and weekly engagement in physical activity among patients with MS. Unsurprisingly, meeting weekly physical exercise recommendations was associated with improvement in leg functioning, whereas decreased exercise was associated with increased symptoms of depression and with underweight and obese BMIs.  

--

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Emory University; Medical Director, Joi Life Wellness Group, Atlanta, Georgia 

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Abbvie; Alexion; Genentech; EMD Serono; Novartis; Biogen Idec  

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Abbvie; Genentech; Novartis; Biogen; EMD Serono  

Received research grant from: Novartis; Genentech  

Dr Mitzi Joi Williams, medical director of Joi Life Wellness Group in Atlanta, Georgia, reviews updates from the 2021 CMSC Annual Meeting focusing on important considerations for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have comorbid physical and mental health conditions.  

She begins with a longitudinal mediation analysis that assessed how differences in socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and comorbidities may affect Black vs White patients with MS. Overall, Black patients had longer timed 25-foot walks than White patients, and it was concluded that elevated BMIs, higher rates of hypertension, and living in lower income neighborhoods all played partial roles in this disparity.  

Dr Williams next discusses a study that examined the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with primary-progressive MS (PPMS), secondary-progressive MS (SPMS), and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Rates of both conditions were lower in patients with PPMS than in those with SPMS and RRMS, but overall they were higher in patients with MS compared with the general population.  

The final study she reports on looked at the relationships between cognitive, emotional, and physical factors and weekly engagement in physical activity among patients with MS. Unsurprisingly, meeting weekly physical exercise recommendations was associated with improvement in leg functioning, whereas decreased exercise was associated with increased symptoms of depression and with underweight and obese BMIs.  

--

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Emory University; Medical Director, Joi Life Wellness Group, Atlanta, Georgia 

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Abbvie; Alexion; Genentech; EMD Serono; Novartis; Biogen Idec  

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Abbvie; Genentech; Novartis; Biogen; EMD Serono  

Received research grant from: Novartis; Genentech