World MS Day, What can we expect?

We are at a turning point for multiple sclerosis for many different reasons. The first disease modifying treatment has been approved about 30 years ago, followed by many new drugs that have now allowed for persons with MS to look more positively to the future. All the recent studies indicate that early treatment and personalized approach are fundamental to optimize the control of the disease. Unfortunately, still not all persons with MS have access at the full spectrum of disease modifying treatments and to an optimized monitoring of disease evolution and response to treatment.

To overcome these problems, the European Charcot Foundation is promoting the MS Care Unit as the model of assistance for MS, characterized by an integrated approach having the person with MS at the centre. Personalised medicine implies such a key role of patient who should be protagonist of her/his care.

The project PROMS, jointly promoted by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation and ECF, with Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, as leading agency, aims to promote science with patient imputs giving value to patients reported outcomes, both in clinical trials and clinical practice. Unfortunately, all the available treatments that are so successful in contrasting the relapsing course of the disease have a modest impact on the degenerative processes underlying progressive multiple sclerosis. Pathophysiological mechanisms active in the progressive phase of the disease are to some extent shared by other neurodegenerative diseases. It will be of great help to establish common research strategies in order to advance research for a cure for MS and other chronic neurodegenerative diseases.