Biogen Idec's stock was up 4 percent in early trading Thursday after federal regulators approved the company's multiple sclerosis drug Tecfidera.

The Food and Drug Administration's decision on Wednesday came just days after the European Union backed the drug, a new oral treatment for people with relapsing forms of MS.

Biogen Idec, which employs more than 1,000 people at its Research Triangle Park campus, also makes the multiple sclerosis drugs Avonex and Tysabri.

Tecfidera could generate $3.25 billion in annual revenue by 2017, according to Bloomberg News.

Sharon Denise Powell, news assistant, Eastern Wake News and Clayton News-Star, writes: My quest to reach a healthy weight, strengthen my muscles, control my blood pressure, fit into my jeans, walk in the MS Walk-a-thon next March and live to be 100 continues.

I heard CNN anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta talking about the new research that suggests dark chocolate helps people lose weight. My first thought was, ‘Oh my goodness is this why I’m so skinny?’

My colleague, Carole Tanzer Miller doesn’t have a thing on me. I am a chocoholic. I can’t possibly give up chocolate. I keep Lindor Extra Dark Chocolate Truffles and unsalted peanuts (gotta watch my blood pressure) on the nightstand beside my bed. I may miss a meal, but I’ll have some chocolate along with a handful of peanuts before I go to sleep. And I’ll have a little more again in the morning when I wake up, too.

I eat the chocolate for its antioxidants and for no other reason. It never occurred to me that this is why I’m so scrawny. What am I to do? I can’t give up chocolate. Medical scientists have to conduct more research; maybe I should volunteer for a research study on underweight grandmothers who are a few, few years over 40. I’m sure the result will help in the research on malnutrition.

On the lighter side, my wonderful significant other, my ‘Beloved’ offered to make my lunch the other day. I was eager, but he looked at me over the top of his glasses and then said, “On second thought no, because you won’t eat what I make.”
‘Yes, I will, I will,’ I pleaded in desperation.

“No, he said,” as he shook his head. “I will give you two dollars so that you can buy a dollar burger and some fries from McDonalds,” Then he walked away as he mumbled, “ I live to eat and she eats to live.”  

I stood there fighting back the urge to beg for his mercy, but I didn’t. After all, I’m a woman sailor – he’s a Marine, not that that matters. I know what he was doing, he was trying to get me to eat more, but he like so many well meaning people doesn't understand that it is not always about not wanting to eat. I don’t always have the energy or I don’t have an appetite. Still, he had a point. It would be better to make my lunch at night, just as it would be better if I made extra food during the week when my energy is up.

The next morning it was business as usual. I rushed downstairs, walked the dog and hurriedly slapped a slice of turkey between two slices of bread, grabbed a small bottle of grape juice and rushed out the door. As I drove to work I imagined the lunch he would have meticulously packed for me.

What did I learn? He is trying to prompt me to put more thought into meal planning. I will. On a good note, this morning I did 25 pushups – MS Walk here I come.
 

TV One's "Unsung" series (10 tonight) ends its season with a look at the O'Jays, the seminal Ohio group that sang Philly Soul.

The O'Jays are relevant enough, after 52 (!) years together, to have performed their hit "Love Train" at the recent Rally to Restore Sanity/Promote Fear. And there episode is more "Behind the Music" than "Unsung", but that's OK. Because they are the mighty mighty O'Jays!

While not one of the best episodes, you get a good history of the group from its origins as five friends coming together as teens to the successful union with Philadelphia's Gamble and Huff, which brought them the hits that brought them on the map.

A small Research Triangle Park company developing a promising treatment for multiple sclerosis has won a prestigious award to pay for further research.

Cognosci will use the $330,000 grant to continue evaluating an experimental compound that shows potential in helping rebuild the central nervous system, rather than just blocking damage from MS.

It's not a lot of money for a seven-employee company that's attracted more than $18 million, mostly in federal grants, since it was founded in May 2000. But the award does elevate Cognosci's reputation and could help its leaders land new partnerships.

The money was one of two initial grants handed out by Fast Forward, a nonprofit organization set up by the National MS Society to accelerate the development of promising treatments, and EMD Serono, the subsidiary of a German drug maker that's also working on MS drugs.

Cognosci's grant also includes a license option for EMD Serono. That means that if Cognosci's early testing continues to be successful, EMD could invest more money to help test the drug in patients and commercialize it, said Dale Christensen, left, Cognosci's vice president of research and business development.

"It's really not that long before patients could start seeing benefits," said Christensen, whose father died from MS. "That helps keep our energy up."

That's just a taste of what's up for auction Thursday night at the Scout & Molly's Bike MS cocktail party at the Pavilions at Angus Barn.

Lisa Disbrow, who owns Scout & Molly's, is the throwing the bash to help raise money for multiple sclerosis. As many regular customers to the boutique may know, Lisa was diagnosed with MS last year and is passionate about raising money to help find a cure. (More on this later in September. We're writing a story about Lisa's journey and her fight to help find a cure.) And part of that effort includes spending the last six months training and fundraising for the Bike MS race in New Bern Sept. 12-13.

So far, she and the Scout & Molly's team have raised more than $21,000, and they're hoping to raise even more Thursday. Tickets are $100. And it looks as if they've secured some pretty nice auction items. In addition to the chance to play with Francis and Rutherford, you can bid on a Slane & Slane necklace from Elaine Miller, Judith Leiber eyewear from The Spectacle or a piece of jewelry from Reliable Loan.

The party gets started at 7 p.m. Cocktail attire is encouraged, especially for the ladies, because, as Lisa explained, we don't get enough chances to dress up in a pretty dress.