Synergizing Forces to Make Care Accessible: The First China Multiple Sclerosis Summit Held in Beijing
Apr 17, 2021 15:34
CST Updated
15:34
Novartis China
Innovative Drug Developer
On April 17, 2021, the inaugural China Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Summit, hosted by Novartis China, was held in Beijing. Zhao Lin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Rare Disease Alliance, joined more than 200 experts from neuroimmunology specialties across China to focus on hot topics such as the current status of MS diagnosis and treatment, interdisciplinary collaboration, whole-course disease management, and progress in new drug research and development and approval. In light of the most urgent needs of MS patients in China, the participants explored an integrated, patient-centered model for diagnosis, treatment, and disease management. The summit also specially invited the Pain Challenge Public Welfare Foundation and the MS Home patient organization to participate, building a platform for sincere communication between doctors and patients in the “national health insurance era,” fully incorporating patients’ voices and opinions to discuss the future together.
Zhao Lin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Rare Disease Alliance, stated, “The Party and the state attach great importance to the prevention and treatment of rare diseases. Under the continuous implementation of the ‘Healthy China’ strategy by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, a series of policies have been introduced to incentivize rare disease research and orphan drug development. China has also witnessed rapid progress in clinical research, diagnostic and therapeutic innovation, and drug accessibility. We hope that this high-level forum will pool the collective strengths of medical professionals, patients, academics, researchers, and enterprises. We look forward to using multiple sclerosis (MS) as a breakthrough point to explore innovative, patient-centered models for clinical diagnosis and treatment, disease management, payment, and security, thereby making care accessible to all.”
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the patient’s own immune system attacks neural tissue, leading to neurological impairment. Most patients experience their first symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40, making MS one of the most common causes of neurological disability in young and middle-aged adults.
85% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have the relapsing-remitting form of the disease. Without effective treatment, as patients age and the disease progresses, remyelination and repair mechanisms weaken, potentially leading to irreversible neurodegeneration, gradually worsening disability, and cognitive decline. According to the “2020 Comprehensive Social Survey Report on Patients with Multiple Sclerosis in China,” 43% of patients are unable to perform activities of daily living due to physical disability and require family caregiving. Up to 88.5% of patients experience job loss or school discontinuation due to the disease.
Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMTs) are the standard-of-care medications recommended by domestic and international guidelines and consensus statements for the relapse-remitting phase of multiple sclerosis. Adherence to long-term, standardized treatment can effectively reduce relapses and delay disability progression. However, the utilization rate of DMTs in China is only 10%, compared to 86% in European and American countries.
Professor Yang Huan from the Department of Neurology at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University stated, “Insufficient diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for multiple sclerosis will directly lead to high relapse rates. Long-term management of multiple sclerosis requires regular follow-ups, during which physicians need to assess the safety of patients’ medications and comprehensively evaluate and adjust treatment plans based on the patients’ disease status. Furthermore, physicians should play a more significant role in patient education and disease management, including disseminating the latest treatment concepts and correcting misconceptions among patients.”
Gu Hongfei, co-founder of the Multiple Sclerosis Home, stated, “As the only national patient organization for multiple sclerosis in China, the Multiple Sclerosis Home was established in 2014 and is dedicated to providing patients with knowledge and guidance on disease education, treatment, and rehabilitation. In disease management, patient organizations will play a greater role, serving as a bridge for communication between patients and healthcare providers. We also hope to more actively integrate into the rare disease ecosystem, engage at an earlier stage, and promptly convey patients’ voices to the government, physicians, and enterprises, ensuring that drug development and treatment are centered around patients’ needs.”
Zhao Lin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Rare Disease Alliance, stated, “The Party and the state attach great importance to the prevention and treatment of rare diseases. Under the continuous implementation of the ‘Healthy China’ strategy by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, a series of policies have been introduced to incentivize rare disease research and orphan drug development. China has also witnessed rapid progress in clinical research, diagnostic and therapeutic innovation, and drug accessibility. We hope that this high-level forum will pool the collective strengths of medical professionals, patients, academics, researchers, and enterprises. We look forward to using multiple sclerosis (MS) as a breakthrough point to explore innovative, patient-centered models for clinical diagnosis and treatment, disease management, payment, and security, thereby making care accessible to all.”
Group Photo of Attendees: Uniting Strengths to Make Love Accessible
Innovative Breakthroughs: Bridging the “Last Mile” in DMT Therapy
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the patient’s own immune system attacks neural tissue, leading to neurological impairment. Most patients experience their first symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40, making MS one of the most common causes of neurological disability in young and middle-aged adults.
85% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have the relapsing-remitting form of the disease. Without effective treatment, as patients age and the disease progresses, remyelination and repair mechanisms weaken, potentially leading to irreversible neurodegeneration, gradually worsening disability, and cognitive decline. According to the “2020 Comprehensive Social Survey Report on Patients with Multiple Sclerosis in China,” 43% of patients are unable to perform activities of daily living due to physical disability and require family caregiving. Up to 88.5% of patients experience job loss or school discontinuation due to the disease.
Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMTs) are the standard-of-care medications recommended by domestic and international guidelines and consensus statements for the relapse-remitting phase of multiple sclerosis. Adherence to long-term, standardized treatment can effectively reduce relapses and delay disability progression. However, the utilization rate of DMTs in China is only 10%, compared to 86% in European and American countries.
Professor Hu Xueqiang, Chairman of the Neuroimmunology Branch of the Chinese Society of Immunology, stated, “The early initiation of high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) can effectively prevent disease relapses and delay disability progression in patients. Previously, insufficient patient awareness of the disease and high treatment costs were the most significant barriers to DMT utilization. Thanks to the national emphasis on rare diseases and continuously optimized medical insurance policies, we are pleased that four DMTs have now been included in the national medical insurance catalog. In the future, we hope to further accelerate the implementation and standardized use of DMTs, enabling patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to return to high-quality work and life.”
Since March 1, the National Basic Medical Insurance, Work-Related Injury Insurance, and Maternity Insurance Drug Catalog (2020 Edition) has been fully implemented, further reducing the financial burden on patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: Paving the Way for a New Era in Comprehensive Disease Management of Multiple Sclerosis
Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: Paving the Way for a New Era in Comprehensive Disease Management of Multiple Sclerosis
Time is particularly critical in the treatment and management of multiple sclerosis (MS). There is an urgent need to establish a rigorous, high-standard, and high-quality single-disease management system to achieve standardized, whole-course care encompassing diagnosis, patient communication, treatment, and follow-up. This involves refined management of MS referral, MRI examinations, treatment assessment, physician-patient communication, and follow-up, thereby safeguarding the long-term quality of life for patients with MS.
Professor Yang Huan from the Department of Neurology at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University stated, “Insufficient diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for multiple sclerosis will directly lead to high relapse rates. Long-term management of multiple sclerosis requires regular follow-ups, during which physicians need to assess the safety of patients’ medications and comprehensively evaluate and adjust treatment plans based on the patients’ disease status. Furthermore, physicians should play a more significant role in patient education and disease management, including disseminating the latest treatment concepts and correcting misconceptions among patients.”
Gu Hongfei, co-founder of the Multiple Sclerosis Home, stated, “As the only national patient organization for multiple sclerosis in China, the Multiple Sclerosis Home was established in 2014 and is dedicated to providing patients with knowledge and guidance on disease education, treatment, and rehabilitation. In disease management, patient organizations will play a greater role, serving as a bridge for communication between patients and healthcare providers. We also hope to more actively integrate into the rare disease ecosystem, engage at an earlier stage, and promptly convey patients’ voices to the government, physicians, and enterprises, ensuring that drug development and treatment are centered around patients’ needs.”