EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada, today announced the publication of results from a global Company-sponsored multiple sclerosis (MS) carer survey, as well as the premiere of the #MSInsideOut documentary, Seeing MS from the Inside Out,
| ROCKLAND, Mass., /PRNewswire/ -- EMD Serono the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada, today announced the publication of results from a global Company-sponsored multiple sclerosis (MS) carer survey, as well as the premiere of the #MSInsideOut documentary, Seeing MS from the Inside Out, executive produced by Shift.ms, a social network for people with MS, at the 34th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research In Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), in Berlin, Germany.
The ‘Living with Multiple Sclerosis: The Carer’s Perspective’ report was developed in collaboration with The International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO) and Eurocarers to examine the experiences of 1,050 MS carers across seven countries (U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Spain). The survey found that almost half (48%) of those surveyed became MS carers when they were below the age of 35, and nearly one in three had been caring for somebody for 11 years or more. Additional key findings from the carer survey included:
“MS can be a devastating disease for both patients and carers, with the responsibilities assumed by carers over an extended length of time and intensifying as the disease progresses. Carers can experience a profound impact on their physical and emotional health, finances, and employment,” said Nadine Henningsen, Board Chair, IACO. “Not surprisingly, the survey results reinforced the large number of young people who are becoming carers – often in a formative time of their life.” As part of the #MSInsideOut campaign, an initiative aimed at providing a deeper understanding of MS, the MS Inside Out documentary film, ‘Seeing MS from the Inside Out’, will be premiered. Developed with Shift.ms as executive producers, it is the first global documentary film to pair artists and people from across the MS community, with a view to interpreting the experiences and perspectives of those impacted by MS through art. “In line with our broader mission at Shift.ms, the aim of this documentary is to highlight the individual stories in a unique and innovative way across the MS community, digging deeper into the elements of MS that remain under-represented with a view of interpreting the unmet needs of those impacted by MS through art,” said George Pepper, Co-founder and CEO, Shift.ms. “By bringing these stories out into the open we will be able to address those challenges that remain, opening lines of communication and ultimately raising awareness of MS.” The documentary follows three stories: Maria Florencia, a person living with MS from Argentina, Jon Strum, a caregiver from the U.S., and Dr. Luigi Lavorgna, a healthcare professional from Italy. Each were paired with a local visual artist to bring their stories to life through an emotional interpretation not bound by words but through art, reflecting the often difficult-to-explain nature of MS. The premiere will take place at 12:00 – 1:30 pm EST today on October 11, during ECTRIMS 2018. “We are extremely proud to highlight the unmet needs in the community through our work with Shift.ms, IACO and Eurocarers which expose the experiences of different members of the MS community, including the perspective of MS carers, whose voices have traditionally not been heard as strongly,” said Andrew Paterson, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Neurology and Immunology, at the biopharma business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “Forming part of our ongoing company-wide commitment to carers, and connecting with the broader Embracing Carers initiative, the outcomes from both the survey and documentary film highlight the need for additional support and awareness. We therefore encourage and call upon the MS community to take these findings and identify ways in which they can better assist both MS carers and patients.” All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the EMD Group Website. In case you are a resident of the USA or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service. About Multiple Sclerosis EMD Serono, Inc. and Multiple Sclerosis About EMD Serono, Inc. About Embracing Carers About IACO About Eurocarers About Shift.ms About #MSInsideOut Your Contact
SOURCE EMD Serono |
View original content to download multimedia:
