Leaders of the International Progressive MS Alliance have published a paper calling for a globally coordinated, multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary approach to address the important and ongoing questions related to COVID-19 and progressive MS.
The publication outlines key scientific priorities and corresponding actions where study is needed to better understand the effects of disease modifying therapies, COVID-19 and vaccinations on MS. It additionally calls for studies to fully gauge the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the physical, emotional and social well-being of people with progressive MS.
The call to action was initiated by an April 2021 meeting of the Alliance Industry Forum. The Forum is a group of pharmaceutical and biotechnology experts that serve in an advisory role to the Alliance Scientific Steering Committee. The event gathered stakeholders including scientists, health care professionals, MS patient advocacy organization leaders, pharmaceutical and biotechnology experts, and people affected by MS to discuss what has been learned about SARS-CoV-2 infection, the Covid-19 pandemic and progressive MS as well as identify needed action going forward.
Reference:
“Researching COVID-19 in progressive MS requires a globally coordinated, multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder approach – perspectives from the International Progressive MS Alliance,” by Paola Zaratin, Brenda Banwell, Timothy Coetzee, Giancarlo Comi, Anthony Feinstein, Robert Hyde, Marco Salvetti and Kathryn Smith was published in Multiple Sclerosis Journal online on May 3, 2022. This is an open-access paper that can be read in full by anyone.
About the International Progressive MS Alliance
The Alliance exists to accelerate the development of effective treatments for people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis to improve quality of life worldwide. It is an unprecedented global collaboration of MS organizations, researchers, health professionals, the pharmaceutical industry, companies, trusts, foundations, donors and people affected by progressive MS, working together to address the unmet needs of people with progressive MS ─ rallying the global community to find solutions. Our promise is more than hope, it is progress.