ROCKLAND, Mass. - Today, EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada, announced the availability of the MS in the 21st Century (MS21) website, for MS communities in the United States and Canada. MS21 is a Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany sponsored initiative dedicated to improving communication between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and people with MS, aiming to ultimately improve patient engagement, shared decision-making, and the overall standard of MS care.
With 'connections' (#MSConnections) as the focus of the recent World MS Day 2020, EMD Serono is proud to support this important initiative built around shared understanding and trust between people with MS and HCPs. MS21's work to help improve community connections and connections to quality care is consistent with EMD Serono's patient-centered approach and work in understanding the journey of people with MS.
'Those of us in the MS professional community confront painful issues such as disease progression, ongoing losses, constant reminders of MS, and/ or planning for the future,' said June Halper, MSN, APN-C, MSCN, FAAN; CEO, CMSC and IOMSN. 'These can be very difficult topics. MS21 provides an important perspective from real people living with MS to improve patient involvement, open communication, and shared decision-making with a goal of a wellness quality of life despite the presence of multiple sclerosis.'
The MS21 joint patient and HCP steering committee has been working closely together in Europe for nearly five years, gathering data and developing resources to improve HCP-patient communication. The committee is excited to now learn from and share their own insights and resources with the U.S. and Canadian MS communities for the first time.
Visit the MS21 website for more information.
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory condition of the central nervous system and is the most common, non-traumatic, disabling neurological disease in young adults. It is estimated that approximately 2.3 million people have MS worldwide. While symptoms can vary, the most common symptoms of MS include blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the limbs and problems with strength and coordination. The relapsing forms of MS are the most common.
EMD Serono, Inc. and Multiple Sclerosis
For more than 20 years, EMD Serono has been relentlessly focused on understanding the journey people living with MS face in order to create a meaningful, positive experience for them and the broader MS community. However, there is still much that is unknown about this complex and unpredictable disease. EMD Serono is digging deeper to advance the science.
About EMD Serono, Inc.
EMD Serono - the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada - is engaged in the discovery, research and development of medicines for patients with difficult to treat diseases. The business is committed to transforming lives by developing and delivering meaningful solutions that help address the therapeutic and support needs of individual patients. Building on a proven legacy and deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology, EMD Serono is developing potential new oncology and immuno-oncology medicines while continuing to explore potential therapeutic options for diseases such as psoriasis, lupus and MS. Today, the business has approximately 1,300 employees around the country with commercial, clinical and research operations based in the company's home state of Massachusetts. www.emdserono.com
Contact
Emma.Silva@emdserono.com
Phone: +1 781 681 2152
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