MS Strength

I recently received this email from a PR representative promoting the study of the drug Alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis in global clinical trials. I have seen this pitch letter floating around at other websites, and I’m posting it here in case any readers are interested in participating:

Hi Jen,

My name is Brenna Fitzgerald and I’m writing to you from Fleishman-Hillard, a communications company, contracted to create awareness regarding two clinical research studies in multiple sclerosis. As your blog chronicles your journey with multiple sclerosis, I wanted to let you and your readers know about two global clinical research studies that are seeking adults with relapsing-remitting MS.

The Comparison of Alemtuzumab and Rebif® Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis (CARE­MSSM) I and II studies are designed to determine the safety and effectiveness of the investigational drug alemtuzumab as compared to the FDA-approved therapy Rebif (interferon beta-1a), in adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The studies will look for differences between these drugs on the progression of disability and in the number of relapses (flare-ups) and brain lesions caused by MS. The studies also will compare the side effects of the drugs and monitor for risks during and after treatment.

Current therapies require frequent, long-term administration. When compared with no treatment, they have been shown to reduce the number of relapses, slow the formation of MS associated lesions in the brain, and impact progression of disability. A need still exists for more effective therapies to further slow the progression of disability.

Studies measuring investigational treatments against standards of care are advancing knowledge of these drugs on the disabling effects of MS, which may impact the patient’s quality of life. Every patient in the CARE-MS studies will receive active treatment; there is no placebo. Participation in the CARE-MS trials may offer participants the opportunity to help advance research in the treatment of MS while taking a role in their healthcare.

Alemtuzumab, Rebif, the annual dose of steroids, and study-required procedures are provided at no cost.

To be eligible to participate in the studies, volunteers must be between the ages of 18 and 50 (CARE-MS I) or 18 and 55 (CARE-MS II) and meet specific criteria, including having a diagnosis of RRMS and first experiencing MS symptoms within the last 5 years (CARE-MS I) or 10 years (CARE-MS II).

For more information about the studies, please call 1-503-432-4725 or toll-free
1-888-404–MS-CARE (United States only) or visit www.CARE-MS.com. There, you will find additional information about the studies and an online prescreener, which will allow people with RRMS to determine if they meet initial eligibility requirements.

If you find this information useful, I hope you will consider sharing it with your readers and posting 1-888-404–MS-CARE and a link to www.CARE-MS.com on your blog.

Best regards,

Brenna Fitzgerald

Account Executive

Fleishman-Hillard, Inc

855 Boylston St | Boston, MA 02116

I’ve been flattened by some bug for the past 10 days and I have to say that having multiple sclerosis makes the ordeal that much worse. I’m not sure if I have a lingering cold or maybe something more serious, but I am just starting to re-emerge from the sickness that has been holding me down. And yes, it’s very frustrating.

I don’t know if non-MSers understand how infections are compounded by an autoimmune disease. Since we folks with MS are continuously being attacked by our own immune systems, when we get sick with a “real” foreign threat the risk of our MS symptoms worsening or our immune systems launching new autoimmune assaults (or MS relapses) increases. The immune system of someone with an autoimmune disease– MS, lupus, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and so on— can go completely out of whack when the body is fighting a real threat such as an infection, trauma caused by an accident or surgery, or an emotionally-stressful situation. The body becomes very vulnerable to an attack from the immune system itself.

My other frustration lies with taking an immunosuppressive medication— one of the disease-modifying injectable meds— that has a tendency to make me feel worse when I am already sick with something. I take an interferon medication that lowers my resistance to infections and causes flu-like side-effects that are mild to moderate. On a normal day, the side-effects can be slightly annoying, causing headaches or mild fever/chills or maybe absolutely nothing, but when I’m sick with an infection the injections cause me to spike a fever, have bodily aches and pains, nausea, and often a blasting headache. UGH. I sometimes forgo a few shots during these sick times, although I have to admit that the injections have helped me to lead a somewhat symptom-free life during MS remissions. And my MS relapses have slowed down considerably since starting the drug a little over three years ago. So it’s a nonstop battle of weighing the pros and cons of my disease-modifying medication.

One thing I do find interesting about having MS is that it can sometimes work as a barometer to forecast oncoming illnesses. When my usually-dormant symptoms rear their ugly heads, I am often tipped off about a new infection. This has been the case with bladder infections, which I’ve come to experience since my MS diagnosis which was a little over three years ago. Bladder infections can be pretty vague at first– lethargy, a little nausea, and maybe some stomach upset. My MS symptoms become a great forecaster of oncoming bladder infections and other illnesses.

Welcome to 2009. It’s still cold and dry here, but the house is warm and cozy. Bill and I have fixed some things on the homepage, including the comments feature which is now back on. The last 8 or so articles have “comments off” posted at the bottom, but starting with this post the comments are again accessible and we’ll hope for the best in terms of not attracting so much spam–PORN sites, auto insurance ads, casino ads, weight-loss site ads, and so on-LOL! And the previous comments from before the html blunder are still on the pages, so not too much of a casualty. I’m staying away from the html for a while……

******UPDATE: I’ve fixed the comments feature for the 8 or so articles that were affected by the blunder..

Jen (a smile)