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.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Federal Focus - October 2011

Weigh-in with Your Member to Protect MS Research
As many of you have probably heard, Congress has appointed a "Supercommittee," a bipartisan body consisting of six Senators and six Representatives, to find ways to reduce spending and tackle the federal deficit. This committee is tasked with drafting and voting on a proposal to find at least $1.5 trillion dollars in savings over ten years, by November 23.

Although an important task, we must ensure that federal cuts don’t harm research and critical programs for people with chronic diseases and disabilities, like MS. While the Society is advocating for many investments like Medicaid and Social Security to be protected, our community has prioritized maintaining MS research as a top priority.

Senate and House committees have until October 14 to provide recommendations to the Supercommittee. Click here to contact your members today and urge them to remind the Supercommittee of the importance in investing in MS research.

Federal Appropriations Update
This week, Congress cleared and the President signed a “Continuing Resolution” (CR) that will fund the federal government and its programs through November 18. Congress was to have completed work on its 12 annual appropriations bills by the beginning of the fiscal year--October 1. Because this did not happen, the CR grants Congressional appropriators and leadership time to determine final funding levels for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012.

The Society has been and will continue to urge robust appropriations for MS research and many programs that support people affected by MS. Last month, the Senate Appropriations Committee moved forward the Department of Defense appropriations bill, which funds the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). This vote comes months after the House approved its bill in June. As in years past, the Senate did not include a specific line item for the MS Research Program in the CDMRP. The MS program received $3.8 million in the House Appropriations bill. The Society will continue to urge Congress to adopt the House’s appropriation as the process moves forward.

The House Appropriations Majority recently released a draft of its Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bill that funds critical research and health programs. The draft provides $31.7 billion in program funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is $1 billion over last year’s level, while the Senate Appropriations Committee bill would provide $30.5 billion for NIH. The House draft bill also includes $2.495 million for the Lifespan Respite Care Program, which is the same funding level that the Senate Committee provides.

As November 18 approaches, stay tuned for opportunities to urge your federal lawmakers to provide meaningful support for people with MS in the FY 12 budget.

Lifespan Respite Grants
At the end of July, the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) announced more than $1.1 million total in grants to the following six states to implement statewide respite system to serve family caregivers: Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia. The Lifespan Respite Care Program was enacted in 2006 to increase access to and quality of respite services for some of our nation’s 65 million family caregivers, including those that support people living with MS. Just last Friday, AoA announced another $1.1 million in grants to the following six states that have received previous grants to expand their programs: Delaware, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, and the District of Columbia. These grants stem from the program’s funding FY 2011 funding that MS activists advocated for at the Society’s 2010 Public Policy Conference.
Posted by Steve at Friday, October 07, 2011

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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.