Serono Symposia International Foundation (SSIF) "The Biological Basis of
Progressive MS"

- Towards Improvement of Future Management of Progressive Forms of MS

- Montreal, Canada - November 6, 2010

ROME, Nov. 5 /CNW/ - Some of the most experienced clinicians and scientists working in the field of multiple sclerosis will gather in Montreal on November the 6th during the Symposium- "The biological basis of progressive MS held by Serono Symposia International Foundation," in order to discuss the most recent developments and discuss the future management of progressive MS.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100629/397361 )

Participants in this Symposium will be updated on the latest developments on the pathophysiology of the progressive forms of MS, discuss current and future innovative options for their treatment, and be informed about the most recent and innovative diagnostic approaches.

Multiple sclerosis results from the interplay of two clinical processes, relapses and progression. The three main clinical forms may be identified as relapsing-remitting (RRMS), secondary progressive (SPMS) and primary progressive (PPMS). The last decades have allowed the development of clinical databasing and the assembly of large cohorts of persons with MS. These sustained efforts have led to major advances in the knowledge of several key clinical aspects of MS, notably the assessment of the weight of relapses and the long term accumulation of irreversible disability.

We are moving towards a new era in the management of the less severe form of MS, when more specific therapies will be able to markedly reduce, or suppress, disease activity. Although physicians and scientists working in multiple sclerosis have devoted enormous efforts to studying the progressive forms of MS, many aspects of this process remain obscure and a challenging issue for health care professionals, as well as a heavy burden for patients.

"By assembling some of the most experienced scientists in the field," said Pierre Duquette, Service de Neurologie Hopital Notre Dame, Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal (CHUM), Montreal, Quebec Canada, one of the Scientific Organizers of the event, "we intend to discuss what has been recently achieved and propose solutions for improving the management of the progressive forms of MS in research and clinical practice."

"More deeply," added Jack Antel, Departement of Neurology and Neurosurgery Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Scientific Organizer along with P. Duquette, "during the Panel on Future Therapies will discuss and identify short and long term opportunities and challenges that will be central to the development of effective therapeutic strategies to prevent, slow or reverse the progressive phases of MS."

"As Continuing Medical Education Partner, Serono Symposia International Foundation is committed to offer its know-how in the International scenario," said Jean Daniel Baki, Board Member and Secretary of the Board of Serono Symposia International Foundation, "and more even so in Canada in order to support the local efforts in organizing scientific educational panels and events tailored for Canadian Health care professionals and clinicians."

Serono Symposia International Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Geneva (Switzerland). It was founded to disseminate the most innovative achievements and potential developments of medical and scientific research through conferences, training courses, online courses and publications. In particular, it provides Continuing Medical Education for doctors and healthcare professionals by organizing high-level scientific programs. Over the past four decades Serono Symposia International Foundation has organized more than 1500 international scientific congresses and published more than 500 proceedings with the most important international publishers.

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For further information: GAS Communication, Chiara Ippoliti, Tel. [phone] - fax [phone], [email protected]