The Handoff: This Week in Neurology News

The Handoff is a weekly roundup of neurology news covering various developments in subspecialties, as well as pharmaceutical and association and society news. Keep your finger on the pulse of neurology with The Handoff.

– The New York Times took a deep dive into SUDEP — and why the conversation around the risk is still so quiet.

– The FDA has approved Pfizer’s new opioid analgesic, Troxyca ER. The oral drug is intended to have abuse-deterrent properties, but Pfizer warns that abuse is still possible.

– Novartis and Amgen, together with BAI have begun enrolling participants in the 5-year Generation Study, which will evaluate the effects of both an active immunotherapy and oral medication in patients with 2 copies of the APOE ε4 gene.

– A Cambridge, MA-based biotech company is banking on gene therapy to help elongate the effectiveness of L-Dopa treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

– Novartis is reporting that siponimod hit its primary endpoint in the EXPAND trial for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

– A team from UCLA report that they’ve “jump-started” the brain of a man with severe brain injury with low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsation.

– A startup biotech company has re-emerged with a plan to resurrect a once-dead drug that targets the LRRK2 gene in Parkinson’s disease.

– Mylan NV wins one round against Teva after a court ruled that 2 of Teva’s patents for MS drug copaxone were not valid.

– Researchers from McGill University are using Microsoft’s Kinect gaming system to evaluate gait disability in patients with multiple sclerosis. Watch how the technology works below.