Carphology

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13 Nov 2026 0 comments

Rituximab in MS: coughing up the difference?

A phase 3 trial of rituximab vs ocrelizumab in newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS gave a remarkably diplomatic result. Rituximab was non-inferior to ocrelizumab in suppressing MRI disease activity between 6 and 24 months. Relapse, disability and cognitive outcomes were similar, although analyses were underpowered to exclude clinically important differences. The separation came with infection rates: 82% with rituximab vs 69% with ocrelizumab. Most were mild, but with no long-term safety data. However, rituximab’s lower acquisition cost looks different when including recurrent infections. Patients might end up paying the difference in coughs and antibiotics.

Torkildsen Ø et al. NEJM 2026;3951,:44-53.

Time for a human tickle festival

A recent Nature paper examined ticklishness in >400 adults across diverse cultures. The results were strikingly consistent: similar social relationships involved tickling, similar responses followed, and the experiences were independent of culture. The axillae, sides...