ECF 2022
Follow the latest discussions concerning multiple sclerosis (MS) disease course with our coverage of the Merck–hosted symposium from the European Charcot Foundation (ECF) 30th Annual meeting with the theme Progressive MS from pathology to treatment, held in November 2022 in Baveno, Italy. Learn from experts in the field as they debate whether MS has one disease course and present the following positions:
- MS has one disease course represented by primary progressive MS (PPMS)
- MS disease courses are defined by focal inflammatory activity
MS has one course
Watch as Professor Gavin Giovannoni and Professor Fred Lublin debate whether MS has one disease course in this symposium. Professor Gavin Giovannoni argues that PPMS is the one true MS disease course, and MS therapies should aim to target the progressive pathology independent of relapse activity. Professor Fred Lublin presents the view that not all MS is progressive and that MS disease courses are defined by focal inflammatory activity.
Catch-up with the highlights from the ECF 2022 Symposium
Professor Fred Lublin presents a brief overview of how MS phenotypes are currently characterised.
Professor Gavin Giovannoni argues that MS is represented by one disease course, which is PPMS. Amongst his supporting evidence, he presents data showing that clinical disease activity is a weak predictor of disease progression and targeting focal inflammation is not enough to prevent brain volume loss.
Professor Gavin Giovannoni explains the impact that current MS phenotypes have on a patient’s access to treatment and how treatment with disease-modifying therapies may influence clinical phenotypes.
Professor Fred Lublin argues against MS having one disease course and presents the view that MS disease courses are defined by focal inflammatory activity. Here, he summarises the differences and similarities between progressive and relapsing disease.
Professor Fred Lublin shows that relapses contribute to disease worsening and argues that not all MS is primary progressive. He discusses the importance of precision phenotyping based on the updated understanding of MS disease biology.
Watch as the speakers respond to questions from the audience.
Professor Gavin Giovannoni
Professor Giovannoni was appointed to the Chair of Neurology, Blizard Institute, Barts, and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK, in 2006. His clinical interests lie in the field of MS and inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system, with a particular focus on clinical issues related to optimising MS disease-modifying therapies. Professor Giovannoni's current research is focused on Epstein–Barr virus as a possible cause of MS, MS-related neurodegeneration, MS biomarker discovery, MS clinical outcome measures, MS clinical trials and immune tolerance strategies.
Professor Fred Lublin
Professor Lublin, MD is the Saunders Family Professor of Neurology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Director of the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS, US. Along with his colleagues at the National MS Society, he has re-defined the clinical course definition of MS, updated in 2014. He has been involved in the development of nearly all MS treatment agents on the market and is currently involved with clinical research looking into several promising new agents for the treatment of MS. Professor Lublin is a member of numerous professional societies and advisory boards and has published many scientific articles. He is a member of the international panel that periodically revises the McDonald Criteria for the diagnosis of MS.
Developed by EPG Health, for Medthority. This content has been developed in collaboration with Merck KGaA. The materials shown in the webinar are intended for discussion purposes and must not be considered medical advice from a healthcare professional. EPG Health, received funding from Merck KGaA in order to help provide its healthcare professional members with access to the highest quality medical and scientific information, education and associated relevant content. Any data on non-Merck KGaA products are based on publicly available information at the time of content update. Prescribing information may vary depending on local health authority approval in each country. Before prescribing any product, always refer to the SmPC or product information approved in your local country.
GL-NONNI-01196 | February 2023