The European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) held its 41st annual conference in Barcelona on September 24-26 at the Barcelona International Convention Center. As the largest global congress dedicated to multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment and research, the event drew more than 9,600 attendees including clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals from around the world who gathered to share insights and advance the field.
This year’s programming emphasized investigating disease origins, expediting pathways to accurate diagnosis, and deepening the understanding of disease prevalence, according to the ECTRIMS website. Among the extensive research presented, one of the most potentially impactful developments came from a phase II clinical trial exploring remyelination therapies. Brett Drummond, MS researcher and co-founder of MStranslate, described these findings as having the potential to revolutionize treatment by introducing a novel drug class that could elevate patient outcomes and shift the standard of care.
“While current treatments focus on reducing inflammation and relapses, the promise of remyelination therapy is to restore function, slow progression and truly change the outlook of people living with MS,” Drummond stated in a post-conference podcast. “It’s a glimpse of what could become the next era of MS treatment.”
Pathology and pathogenesis sessions examined environmental factors influencing multiple sclerosis, with particular attention to environmental risk factors, viruses such as Epstein-Barr Virus, and stressors such as how cold exposure attenuates autoimmune disease. Additional sessions evaluated the impact of lifestyle approaches and their impact on MS, with one presentation finding that consumption of highly processed foods appeared to accelerate disease progression. Holistic health and wellness in the MS population was also addressed.
Throughout the conference, pharmaceutical companies sponsored satellite symposia featuring discussions of biological therapies such as CAR-T therapy and anti-CD20 cell therapy. Emerging treatments and symptomatology management remained prominent topics across all programming.
ECTRIMS 2025 underscored a clear trajectory toward precision medicine and individualized treatment strategies, moving beyond the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to MS management. From groundbreaking remyelination research to advances in biological therapies and deeper understanding of environmental influences, the presentations in Barcelona reflected both the field's maturation and its continued evolution. As the MS community looks ahead, the innovations and collaborative spirit demonstrated at this year's congress offer renewed optimism for improving outcomes and quality of life for patients worldwide.
Frieda Wiley, PharmD has no conflicts of interest to report.
Illustration by April Brust
