The ECTRIMS Podcast

New Phase 3 data presented at the AAN conference 2026 provide compelling evidence that fenebrutinib may represent a high-efficacy oral treatment option for people living with relapsing multiple sclerosis.
In this exclusive episode, leading experts Prof. Ludwig Kappos from University of Basel and Dr. Jiwon Oh from Barlo MS Centre join host Brett Drummond to unpack the full FENhance 1 & 2 trial results.
Together, they explore:
How fenebrutinib performed against teriflunomide in relapsing MS
Why BTK inhibition continues to generate strong interest across the MS treatment landscape
What the results reveal about relapse reduction, MRI outcomes, and disability progression
What the safety profile of fenebrutinib looked like in this cohort of patients
Listen for a deep dive into the science, clinical context, and future implications for MS care.

Imaging techniques in multiple sclerosis are evolving rapidly, with MRI and emerging biomarkers playing a central role in diagnosis, prognosis and disease monitoring.
In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, neurologist Gabriel Bsteh and host Brett Drummond explore how MRI, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and imaging biomarkers are reshaping the way clinicians diagnose and manage MS.
They discuss the 2024 updates to the McDonald diagnostic criteria, including the introduction of the central vein sign (CVS), paramagnetic rim lesions (PRL), and the inclusion of the optic nerve.
The episode also examines how imaging biomarkers may be used to:
Predict disease progression
Provide prognostic information at diagnosis
Monitor neuro-axonal damage over time
Support treatment decisions and personalised medicine
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in multiple sclerosis, MRI, OCT, biomarkers, and advances in MS research and care.

How much do the labels used to describe multiple sclerosis actually reflect the lived experience of people affected by the disease?
In this first episode of the new ECTRIMS–MS Journal collaboration series, host Dr. Anneke van der Walt, Controversies Editor at the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, speaks with Jon Strum, MS caregiver and host of the RealTalk MS podcast, and Kathryn Smith, patient advocate and volunteer with the National MS Society, and person living with MS.
Together they explore a deceptively simple question: does the label given to an MS disease course actually matter?
Jon argues that disease labels shape perception, communication and expectations for people living with MS and their families. Kathryn explains why those same labels increasingly fail to capture the day-to-day reality of living with the disease.
They discuss:
Why traditional MS disease course labels can feel disconnected from lived experience
The emotional and practical impact of terms such as relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive
The concept of PIRA (progression independent of relapse activity) and what it reveals about MS progression
Why functional outcomes and patient experience should play a greater role in how MS is described
The importance of patient voice in research, clinical conversations and scientific publishing
 
Although they begin from opposing viewpoints, Jon and Kathryn ultimately arrive at a shared conclusion: the MS community may need a new language — one that better reflects biology, individual experience and the realities of living with the disease.
Note: This episode is part of the MS Journal Controversies in MS series, specifically its new Controversies: Patient Voice section – a dedicated space highlighting the lived experiences of people affected by MS. Please see the following articles for more information:
"Yes" – The label does matter
"No" – The label does not matter
Commentary

Rehabilitation is more than exercise – it is a personalised process of learning and adaptation that empowers people living with MS to maximise independence, participation and quality of life.
In this episode –  recorded at ECTRIMS 2025 in Barcelona during the joint ECTRIMS–RIMS meeting – host Brett Drummond speaks with Prof. Roshan das Nair from SINTEF and Dr. Blanca de Dios Pérez from University of Nottingham about the evolving role of rehabilitation in MS care.
They explore:
·      Why rehabilitation should be integrated from diagnosis
·      The rise of vocational rehabilitation and supporting people to remain in work
·      Mental health as a core component of MS care
·      Digital technologies for cognitive screening and personalised triage
·      The importance of implementation — turning research into real-world care
·      Moving toward a "community of care" model beyond the clinic
As MS care advances, rehabilitation remains essential for translating medical progress into meaningful everyday outcomes.

Clinical trial results unveiled today at ACTRIMS Forum 2026 suggest that fenebrutinib may be a novel and effective treatment option for people living with primary progressive multiple sclerosis.  In this exclusive episode providing the first expert discussion of the complete dataset, FENtrepid trial leads Prof. Amit Bar-Or (University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Stephen Hauser (University of California San Francisco) break down what the fenebrutinib results really show. Together, they explore:
Why BTK inhibition is uniquely positioned to address progressive MS biology
How fenebrutinib compared to ocrelizumab in the Phase 3 FENtrepid PPMS trial
What the data suggest for patients with non-relapsing, chronic disease
Listen for a deep dive into the science and the clinical implications.
Editorial Note: At 21:49, the discussion refers to Müller cells. The correct term is Kupffer cells. 
Download the transcript