About MS
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that can damage the central nervous system,
including the brain and spinal cord, as well as nerves in the eyes. The disease
causes a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, difficulty walking, numbness
and vision problems, and can progress to cause severe disability. With RRMS, the
most common form of this disease, a person will experience flare-ups (relapses)
of MS symptoms followed by periods of partial or complete recovery (remissions).
The exact cause of MS is not known.
MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease in which the white blood cells in the
body's immune system attack the tissues of the central nervous system.2 This
process can damage nerve fibers in the body, resulting in the distortion and
interruption of nerve signals traveling to and from the brain and spinal cord.
Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS)
Eighty-five percent of people with MS are first diagnosed with RRMS, a condition
in which people experience isolated and unpredictable relapses (flare-ups) of MS
symptoms followed by periods of partial or complete recovery (remissions).
Affected Population
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society estimates that more than 2.5 million
people worldwide live with MS. The disease affects at least two to three times
more women than men. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50,
however, the disease can strike at any age. The average onset of symptoms is
between 30 and 35 years of age. Although MS is not contagious or hereditary,
researchers believe factors such as gender, genetics, age, geography, and
ethnicity impact the distribution of people with MS around the world.
Treatment
There is no cure for MS. Current therapies require frequent, long-term
administration. When compared with no treatment, they been shown to reduce the
number of relapses, slow the formation of MS-associated lesions in the brain,
and impact progression of disability. A need still exists for more effective
therapies to further slow the progression of disability.
Studies measuring investigational treatments against standards of care are
advancing knowledge of these drugs on the disabling effects of MS, which may
impact the patient's quality of life. Participation in the CARE-MS studies may
offer participants the opportunity to help advance research in the treatment of
MS while taking a role in their healthcare.
To find out if you may prequalify to participate in CARE-MS I or II, complete
the
online
prescreener
now. If you have questions or would like to speak with someone about CARE-MS
today, call 1-503-432-4725 or toll-free
1-888-389-MS-CARE (U.S. only).
If you have been diagnosed with RRMS, you may be eligible for the CARE-MS I or
II clinical studies. Complete the
online
prescreener
now to learn if you may qualify.
If you have questions and would like to speak with someone today, call
1-503-432-4725 or toll-free 1-888-389-MS-CARE
(United States only).
