Current Treatments
BETASERON® (interferon beta-1b) is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations. Patients with multiple sclerosis in whom efficacy has been demonstrated include patients who have experienced a first clinical episode and have MRI features consistent with multiple sclerosis

AVONEX® (Interferon beta-1a) is a 166 amino acid glycoprotein with a predicted molecular weight of approximately 22,500 daltons. It is produced by recombinant DNA technology using genetically engineered Chinese Hamster Ovary cells into which the human interferon beta gene has been introduced. The amino acid sequence of AVONEX® is identical to that of natural human interferon beta.

COPAXONE is the brand name for glatiramer acetate (formerly known as copolymer-1). Glatiramer acetate, the active ingredient of COPAXONE, consists of the acetate salts of synthetic polypeptides, containing four naturally occurring amino acids: L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, L-tyrosine, and L-lysine with an average molar fraction of 0.141, 0.427, 0.095, and 0.338, respectively. The average molecular weight of glatiramer acetate is 5,000 – 9,000 daltons. Glatiramer acetate is identified by specific antibodies.

Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) is a purified 166 amino acid glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 22,500 daltons. It is produced by recombinant DNA technology using genetically engineered Chinese Hamster Ovary cells into which the human interferon beta gene has been introduced. The amino acid sequence of Rebif® is identical to that of natural fibroblast derived human interferon beta. Natural interferon beta and interferon beta-1a (Rebif®) are glycosylated with each containing a single N-linked complex carbohydrate moiety.

Tysabri is a monoclonal antibody that affects the actions of the body's immune system. Monoclonal antibodies are made to target and destroy only certain cells in the body. This may help to protect healthy cells from damage. Tysabri is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. 		Gilenya™ is a new class of medication called a phingosine 1-phosphate receptormodulator, which is thought to act by retaining certain white blood cells (lympohcytes) in the lymph nodes, thereby preventing those cells from crossing the blood-brain barrier into the central nervous system (CNS). Preventing the entry of these cells into the CNS reduces inflammatory damage to nerve cells.

Early Symptoms
The most common early symptoms of MS include:
* Tingling * Numbness
* Loss of balance
* Weakness in one or more limbs
* Blurred or double vision

Less common symptoms of MS may include
* Slurred speech
* Sudden onset of paralysis
* Lack of coordination
* Cognitive difficulties
Listed above, the early symptoms. I tend to be a poster child for these. The symptoms that occur later on are too numerous just to list. There will be a link included that will get you to a site where these symptoms are listed and explained. Keep in mind that someone may have some of these or many of these, there is no way to tell.
Multiple sclerosis statistics show that approximately 250,000 to 350,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with this disease. The life expectancy for people with multiple sclerosis is nearly the same as for those without MS. Because of this, multiple sclerosis statistics place the annual cost of MS in the United States in the billions of dollars. MS is five times more prevalent in temperate climates -- such as those found in the northern United States, Canada, and Europe -- than in tropical regions. Furthermore, the age of 15 seems to be significant in terms of risk for developing the disease. Some studies indicate that a person moving from a high-risk (temperate) to a low-risk (tropical) area before the age of 15 tends to adopt the risk (in this case, low) of the new area and vice versa. Other studies suggest that people moving after age 15 maintain the risk of the area where they grew up.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Federal Focus - June 2010

Take Action!

Ask Congress to Extend Assistance for Medicaid and COBRA
The Senate will soon consider the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 (H.R. 4213), which the House passed just before Memorial Day. With the help of MS Activists, this legislation currently prevents payment cuts for physicians participating in Medicare through 2011. Two vital provisions, however, were stripped out: 1) a six-month extension of state Medicaid fiscal relief; and 2) an extension of COBRA premium assistance to help unemployed workers maintain health insurance. While the Medicaid provision has been restored, both need ardent support to survive the upcoming Senate vote.

Write your Senators today and urge them to support a six-month extension of state Medicaid fiscal relief and an extension of COBRA premium assistance. Both of these provisions are critically important to ensure that people living with MS and other chronic conditions maintain health insurance coverage and the ability to access needed care and therapies. Medicaid fiscal relief is also a proven way to stabilize state budgets and promote economic growth. Take action today and write your Senators!

High Risk Pools Enacted in Health Care Reform to Begin Operations
On or around June 21, 2010, a major and very visible provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act goes into effect, when temporary high risk pools begin operation. The temporary high risk pools will offer comprehensive health insurance to US citizens and legal residents with a pre-existing condition and who have not had 'creditable' health coverage for the past six months. These will be separate high risk pools from those currently operating in 33 states.

Costs related to qualifying individuals' pre-existing conditions will be covered immediately and at least 65% of all health costs must be covered by the pool. Although out-of-pocket costs will be capped at $5,950 for individuals and $11,900 for families (excluding premiums), exact costs, benefits and other details will not be known until closer to the launch date.

For more information on high risk pools, locate and contact your state department of insurance.

National MS Society Supports Additional Funding for National Institutes of Health
The National MS Society is supporting a request by the research community to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $35 billion for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011--an 11.9% increase over FY 2010. The NIH is single largest source of biomedical research funding in the world but it has been losing purchasing power over the last few years as its funding has not kept up with medical inflation costs. In addition, the two-year $10.4 billion allotment for NIH funding from the stimulus bill is closing at the end of 2010. As a result, the NIH is facing a drop in funding in FY 2011. In an effort to maintain the level of research at NIH for diseases including MS, the National MS Society is asking Congress to sustain an investment in NIH as they make funding decisions for the following year. Stay tuned for ways that you can help to advocate for additional research funding at NIH!
Posted by Steve at Wednesday, June 09, 2010

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About Me

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North Grafton, Massachusetts, United States
Well-educated, disabled at this point with Multiple Sclerosis. I am very glad that I was able to do the things that I have been able to do over the years. had to change the picture, this one's more realistic.