World MS Day: Novartis launches a new campaign to raise awareness of MS and the unique experiences of people living with the disease
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World MS Day: Novartis launches a new campaign to raise awareness of MS and the
unique experiences of people living with the disease
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* New campaign 'MS and:Our Story' announced today, providing MS community with
platform to share experiences of life with MS
* Launch of new Novartis social media platforms to help generate dialogue,
information and experience exchange amongst MS community
* Novartis offices around the world undertake initiatives to support the MS
community
Basel, May 29, 2013 - Today Novartis is joining the global multiple sclerosis
(MS) community in celebration of World MS Day by launching a new campaign and
participating in initiatives that encourage information and experience exchange
around MS. Novartis is committed to supporting the MS community through these
initiatives, in addition to delivering and researching innovative treatments to
help address the high unmet medical needs of people with MS at every stage of
the disease.
World MS Day was created by the Multiple Sclerosis International Foundation
(MSIF) in 2009 to raise global awareness of MS and its impact on approximately
2.5 million people with MS around the world[1],[2]. This year's World MS Day
campaign focuses on young people; MS is normally diagnosed between the ages of
20 and 40[3], but can also occur earlier in life. This diagnosis can be
devastating at a time when young people may be starting careers and making plans
for the future.
"Novartis proudly supports World MS Day, and we recognize and support the
importance of creating dialogue amongst people with MS and the wider community
to help create an environment of understanding," said David Epstein, Head of the
Pharmaceuticals Division of Novartis Pharma AG. "As a leader in the field of MS,
we are not only committed to hosting initiatives that foster this dialogue
exchange, but also to ensuring that people with MS have the appropriate care and
support to manage their disease."
MS and:Our Story
Novartis is proud to introduce MS and:Our Story, an interactive online campaign
launched today which aims to capture the inspiring real-life stories of the MS
community to increase awareness of MS and the unique experiences of those living
with the disease. The campaign consists of a series of four animated films that
chronicle the lives of people with MS and those who help care for them. The
films are hosted on a dedicated website, www.msandourstory.com, and can also be
accessed through links on Twitter and Facebook.
From now until the end of August, the global MS community will also have the
opportunity to submit their personal story on www.msandourstory.com for the
chance to have it produced into an animated video featured on the website. More
information about the campaign, including how to submit MS stories and key
timings, can be accessed at www.msandourstory.com.
Novartis initiatives to support World MS Day
Social Media Engagement: The Novartis Pinterest page is also launched today.
Images and videos of interest to the MS community will be posted regularly and
can be accessed via http://pinterest.com/novartis/. This Pinterest page adds to
the ongoing dialogue on Twitter and Facebook pages: http://twitter.com/Novartis
and http://www.facebook.com/novartis.
2nd International MS Patient Summit: On May 17, 2013, Novartis hosted the 2nd
International MS Patient Summit in Dublin on 'Young People with MS: Staying
Active and Interactive' in partnership with MS Ireland. Leading MS patient
organizations and advocates and bloggers met in advance of World MS Day to
discuss topics of particular relevance to young people with MS.
Novartis Group company offices around the globe are also conducting activities
in support of World MS Day, including Brazil, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain,
Turkey, the UK and USA. Initiatives range from raising MS awareness through
surveys and public events, to developing patient support materials and
partnering with patient associations, physicians and parliamentarians to
highlight the challenges people with MS face when trying to access specialists
and treatments.
Novartis' Research Commitment to MS
Novartis is leading the way in delivering and researching ground-breaking
therapies to help address the high unmet medical need in MS.
Marketed products
Extavia® (interferon beta 1b for subcutaneous injections) is approved to treat
people with relapsing forms of MS, secondary progressive MS with active disease
and people who have had a single clinical event suggestive of MS[4].
Gilenya® (fingolimod), the first oral therapy approved to treat relapsing forms
of MS is the first in a new class of compounds called sphingosine 1-phosphate
receptor modulators[5],[6].( )Gilenya is also being investigated for the
treatment of primary progressive MS.
Investigational Medicines
In addition to these marketed products, the Novartis portfolio includes
investigational compounds BAF312 (siponimod), a second generation S1P modulator
for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis currently being
studied in a Phase III trial; and AIN457 (secukinumab), a fully human monoclonal
antibody inhibiting interleukin-17A (IL-17A) with a Phase IIb trial for patients
with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis due to start in June 2013.
About Multiple Sclerosis
While its exact cause is unknown, multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune
disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that causes the body to turn against
itself by mistaking normal cells for foreign cells[7]. In MS, the immune system
attacks the fatty layer that surrounds and protects nerve fibers, called
myelin[8]. This activity damages the myelin and strips it off the nerve
fibers[8], causing a range of physical and mental problems including loss of
muscle control and strength, vision, balance, sensation and mental function[9].
Up to 2.5 million people worldwide are affected by MS[2], most often in younger
people between the ages of 20 and 40[3].
Disclaimer
This press release contains expressed or implied forward-looking statements,
including statements that can be identified by terminology such as "undertake,"
"committed," "supports," "will," "investigational," "due to start," or similar
expressions. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the
Group regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially
different from any future results expressed or implied by such statements. These
expectations could be affected by, among other things, risks and factors
referred to in the Risk Factors section of Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on
file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the
information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any
obligation to update it in the future.
About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving
needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis
offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines,
eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and
diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the
only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2012, the Group
achieved net sales of USD 56.7 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted
to approximately USD 9.3 billion (USD 9.1 billion excluding impairment and
amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 129,000
full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around
the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow (at)Novartis at
http://twitter.com/novartis.
References:
[1] http://www.worldmsday.org/wordpress/about-world-ms-day/. Accessed April 2013
[2] Multiple Sclerosis International Federation. Atlas of MS [online]. Available
at: www.atlasofms.org. Accessed April 2013
[3] http://emsp.org/multiple-sclerosis/ms-fact-sheet. Accessed April 2013
[4] Extavia SmPC http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-
_Product_Information/human/000933/WC500034701.pdf. Accessed May 2013
[5] Brinkmann V. FTY720 (fingolimod) in multiple sclerosis: therapeutic effects
in the immune and the central nervous system. Br J Pharmacol
2009;158(5):1173-1182.
[6] Chun J, Hartung HP. Mechanism of Action of Oral Fingolimod (FTY720) in
Multiple Sclerosis. Clin Neuropharmacol. 2010 March-April;33(2):91-101.
[7] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001747/. Accessed April 2013
[8] http://www.mssociety.org.uk/what-is-ms/information-about-ms/about-ms.
Accessed April 2013
[9] http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-
about-ms/symptoms/index.aspx. Accessed April 2013
# # #
Novartis Media Relations
Central media line : +41 61 324 2200
Eric Althoff Katrina Lucking
Novartis Global Media Relations Novartis Global Pharma Communications
+41 61 324 7999 (direct) +41 61 324 1218 (direct)
+41 79 593 4202 (mobile) +41 79 171 8267 (mobile)
eric.althoff(at)novartis.com katrina.lucking(at)novartis.com
e-mail: media.relations(at)novartis.com
For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.thenewsmarket.com/Novartis
For questions about the site or required registration, please contact:
journalisthelp(at)thenewsmarket.com.
Novartis Investor Relations
Central phone: +41 61 324 7944
Samir Shah +41 61 324 7944 North America:
Pierre-Michel Bringer +41 61 324 1065 Stephen Rubino +1 862 778 8301
Thomas Hungerbuehler +41 61 324 8425 Jill Pozarek +1 212 830 2445
Isabella Zinck +41 61 324 7188 Edwin Valeriano +1 212 830 2456
e-mail: investor.relations(at)novartis.com e-mail:
investor.relations(at)novartis.com
Media release (PDF):
http://hugin.info/134323/R/1705346/564113.pdf
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Datum: 29.05.2013 - 07:25 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 264129
Anzahl Zeichen: 12351
contact information:
Town:
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Kategorie:
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