GENEVA, May 26, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck Serono, a
division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced the launch of Real MS today
on World MS Day 2010. Real MS, a global multiple sclerosis (MS)
awareness campaign, aims to unite the voice of those affected by
the disease and demonstrate how life with MS can be lived
positively. Comprising inspirational educational competitions
throughout 2010 and into 2011, the Real MS campaign will celebrate
the stories, the achievements and the ideas of the global MS
community, and help share their vision for the future management of
the disease.
MS affects approximately two million people around the world and
is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40. Common symptoms
of MS include unexplained constant fatigue, loss of sight, loss of
sensations, loss of balance, weakness and speech/swallowing and
cognitive problems.
The unpredictability of MS means that people have to reinvent
their lives every day to overcome the daily struggles and reminders
of their condition.
"A diagnosis of MS can be devastating at first," said Dr.
Roberto Gradnik, Head of Global
Business Unit Neurodegenerative Diseases at Merck Serono. "The goal
of Real MS is to change global perception of the disease and we
hope that its positive message will inspire and empower the MS
Community to find ways to live the lives they want."
The first element of the campaign, Real MS: Your Story, will
launch in June 2010, along with the
campaign website. This element of the campaign aims to use the
power of short film to show the world that life with MS can be
redefined in a positive and fulfilling way. Real MS: Your Story
invites competition entrants to submit their idea for a short film
plot in the form of a script concept. The winning script concept,
to be determined by an international judging panel of experts and
online voting through the Real MS campaign website, will be
developed into a 3-5 minute short film and distributed later in
2010.
For more information on World MS Day, click here:
http://www.worldmsday.org/home
About Real MS campaign
Real MS is an international campaign that aims to raise global
awareness of the disease and demonstrate how life with MS can and
should be better. Comprising inspirational educational competitions
throughout 2010 and into 2011, the first campaign competition (Real
MS: Your Story) aims to use the power of a short film to show the
world that life with MS can be redefined in a positive and
fulfilling way. The Real MS: Your Story competition is not open to
US residents.
About multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory condition of
the central nervous system and is the most common, non-traumatic,
disabling neurological disease in young adults. It is estimated
that approximately two million people have MS worldwide. While
symptoms can vary, the most common symptoms of MS include blurred
vision, numbness or tingling in the limbs and problems with
strength and coordination. The relapsing forms of MS are the most
common.
About Merck Serono
Merck Serono is the division for innovative prescription
pharmaceuticals of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a global pharmaceutical and chemical
company. Headquartered in Geneva,
Switzerland, Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures
and markets innovative small molecules and biopharmaceuticals to
help patients with unmet medical needs. In the United States and Canada, EMD Serono operates through separately
incorporated affiliates.
Merck Serono has leading brands serving patients with cancer
(Erbitux(R), cetuximab), multiple sclerosis (Rebif(R), interferon
beta-1a), infertility (Gonal-f(R), follitropin alpha), endocrine
and metabolic disorders (Saizen(R) and Serostim(R), somatropin),
(Kuvan(R), sapropterin dihydrochloride) as well as cardiometabolic
diseases (Glucophage(R), metformin), (Concor(R), bisoprolol),
(Euthyrox(R), levothyroxine). Not all products are available in all
markets.
With an annual R&D expenditure of more than EUR 1 billion, Merck Serono is committed to
growing its business in specialist-focused therapeutic areas
including neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, fertility and
endocrinology, as well as new areas potentially arising out of
research and development in autoimmune and inflammatory
diseases.
About Merck
Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total
revenues of EUR 7.7 billion in 2009,
a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by approximately
33,600 employees in 64 countries. Its success is characterized by
innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating
activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the
Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and free
shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S.
subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an
independent company ever since.
For more information, please visit http://www.merckserono.com or
http://www.merck.de