Floridians Living with MS Finally Find Hope in New Treatments
A New Era of Hope
Susie Wyss used to inject herself daily with a medication for multiple sclerosis. However, with new treatments available, she is now on a medication that reduces relapses by a greater percentage, and she only needs to do an infusion every six months.
“The injection hurt. It caused welts, bruises, and sometimes permanent lipoatrophy,” Wyss told more than 800 people gathered in Boca Raton last week to raise awareness for multiple sclerosis and money for research. “Today, I’m on a newer medication that reduces relapses by a greater percentage. And it’s an infusion that I only do every 6 months.”
Breakthroughs in Research
Researchers have made more advancements in multiple sclerosis in the last five years than in the previous 70 years. This disease of the brain and immune system has been debilitating for people of all ages — particularly young women — whose vision and motor strength are often affected.
More than 20 different disease-modifying therapies are now approved to treat MS. The treatments range from oral medications to infusions to help ward off relapses, slow down the disease progression, and ease inflammation in the central nervous system.
Hope for the Future
With new theories about MS’ inner workings, researchers also believe they may soon be able to reverse MS symptoms or even treat the disease before it begins.
“The acceleration of breakthroughs is leading to important changes,” said Robin Nunley, president of Mid and South Florida for the National MS Society. “We have never been closer to a cure for MS.”
Personal Stories
Susie Wyss, who has multiple sclerosis, shares her story during a fundraiser luncheon at West Boca Country Club in Boca Raton. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Michael Weiss, CEO of TG Therapeutics, accepted a Hope Award on behalf of his company, which has developed an IV injection called Briumvi for relapsing forms of the disease. The FDA approved Briumvi two years ago. Weiss’ company plans to start a clinical trial this year to test a cell therapy it is developing for progressive forms of MS.
Weiss said getting Briumvi approved by the FDA was a challenging task. “It took us 10 years and $1.5 billion in research and development. We persevered mostly on the stories of the patients and how this drug was impacting them in trials.”
Why MS Matters
With MS, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin, a protective sheath that covers nerve fibers. It is two to three times more common in women than men, and researchers are still trying to understand why. Some studies point to the roles of female hormones, a lack of vitamin D, inflammation, and even obesity as potential factors.
Men, though, can get it too. Singer Gloria Estefan spoke about her father’s struggles with multiple sclerosis, which he developed at the age of 36. Estefan wants to bring awareness to the disease and spoke about it at the National MS Society fundraiser in Boca Raton.
Conclusion
For Floridians living with multiple sclerosis, there is finally hope. With new treatments and research breakthroughs, the outlook for those diagnosed with the disease is improving. As Susie Wyss said, “I feel fortunate to live at a time when we have so many disease-modifying medications that were just not available a few decades ago.”
FAQs
Q: What is multiple sclerosis?
A: Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the brain and immune system that attacks the myelin, a protective sheath that covers nerve fibers.
Q: How common is multiple sclerosis?
A: Multiple sclerosis is two to three times more common in women than men, and researchers are still trying to understand why.
Q: What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
A: Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty with balance, neuropathic pain, and muscle weakness.
Q: How is multiple sclerosis treated?
A: Multiple sclerosis is treated with disease-modifying therapies, including oral medications, infusions, and physical therapy.
Q: Is there hope for a cure?
A: Yes, researchers believe they may soon be able to reverse MS symptoms or even treat the disease before it begins.
