World MS Day 2018: Call for Greater Curiosity to Drive Understanding of the Disease and Future Innovation

Darmstadt, Germany (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Launch of #MSInsideOut campaign, aimed at providing a deeper
understanding of multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Donation to the MS International Federation (MSIF)* of up to
EUR20,000
- Shift.ms to Executive Produce a documentary to highlight stories
and unique perspectives within the MS community

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced
its support of World MS Day 2018 and MS International Federation
(MSIF)'s #BringingUsCloser campaign through a new campaign,
#MSInsideOut, to support the multiple sclerosis (MS) community and
deepen understanding of the disease. The initiative will involve a
collaboration with Shift.ms, the social network for people with MS,
who will be Executive Producers on a new documentary which will
feature unique perspectives from the MS community. The documentary
will premiere at the 34th Congress of the European Committee for
Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Berlin,
Germany in October.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.mu
ltivu.com/players/uk/8337651-merck-ms-insideout-campaign/

In addition, for every use of the hashtag #MSInsideOut on Twitter
until June 8, Merck will donate EUR1 (up to EUR20,000) towards MSIF's
research fellowship program (https://www.msif.org/research/awards-gra
nts-and-fellowships/global-ms-research-fellowships/) - to mark
Merck's commitment to MS over the last two decades.

"To create further advances it is critical that we continuously
ask questions, listen and learn," said Rehan Verjee, Chief Marketing
and Strategy Officer at the Biopharma business of Merck. "At Merck,
we want to truly understand MS from the inside-out, and more
importantly, help others do the same."

"We are pleased to be working as Executive Producers on this new
Merck documentary in an effort to shine a light on the untold stories
of MS," said George Pepper, Co-founder and Director, Shift.ms. "In
line with our broader mission at Shift.ms, the aim of this
documentary is to highlight the positive stories of our members, as
well as the elements of MS that still remain under-represented. We
hope that by bringing these stories out in the open we will be able
to address the challenges that remain and drive further innovation to
tackle these barriers."

For people living with MS, a diagnosis often occurs in the prime
of their lives, ages 20-40[i], and MS produces significant physical
disability within 20 to 25 years in more than 30% of patients[ii].
Despite advances in MS care, a deeper understanding of the unique
challenges both patients and care partners face is needed.

Last year, Merck announced the largest global MS care partner
study to date in partnership with the International Alliance of Carer
Organizations (IACO). Findings from previous research have shown that
problems identified among care partners include anxiety, depression,
insomnia and pain, along with concerns about the financial impact of
MS for families[iii]. These data, which will be published at ECTRIMS
in Berlin, Germany, October 10-12, 2018, further demonstrate the need
for a deeper understanding of those affected by MS and their care
partners.

Merck, a company celebrating its 350th anniversary in 2018, has
played an important role in innovation, as well as supporting the MS
community more broadly, for more than two decades. Curiosity has
always been the force that drives Merck and will continue to motivate
the company to apply its expertise in science and technology to
achieve human progress.

In addition, today, MS in the 21st Century, a Merck-sponsored
initiative, is launching a website that will support the facilitation
of discussions between patients and healthcare professionals,
available at http://www.msinthe21stcentury.com.

To learn more about the company's activities and the #MSInsideOut
Campaign, visit our website (https://www.merckgroup.com/en/expertise/
neurology-and-immunology/ms-inside-out.html). Follow @MerckHealthcare
(https://twitter.com/merckhealthcare) on Twitter and Healthcare
Business of Merck on LinkedIn
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthcarebusinessofmerck) from
World MS Day onwards to view, like and share stories that will help
others better understand MS.

* For every use of the hashtag #MSInsideOut until June 8, Merck
will donate EUR1 towards MSIF's ongoing research fellowship program-
to mark Merck`s commitment to MS over the last two decades.

All Merck Press Releases are distributed by e-mail at the same
time they become available on the Merck Website. Please go to
http://www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your
selection or discontinue this service.

About Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, chronic and inflammatory
condition that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and is the
most common, non-traumatic, disabling neurological disease in young
adults. Relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) is the most common form of MS,
and around 85% of people with MS are diagnosed with this type.[iv]
The exact cause of MS is unknown but it is thought that the body's
immune system attacks myelin, disrupting the information flow along
the nerves. There is currently no cure for MS, but treatments are
available to help slow the course of the disease.

About World MS Day 2018

World MS Day is officially marked on the last Wednesday of May.
Events and campaigns take place throughout the month of May. It
brings the global MS community together to share stories, raise
awareness and campaign with and for everyone affected by multiple
sclerosis. In 2009, the MS International Federation (MSIF)
(http://www.msif.org/) and its members initiated the first World MS
Day. Campaigns are rolled out globally which focus on a different
theme each year. The theme for World MS Day 2018 is 'Bringing Us
Closer'.

About Shift.ms

Shift.ms - http://www.Shift.ms - is the social network for people
with multiple sclerosis. Founded by MSers, for MSers, the charity
supports many thousands of recently diagnosed people across the world
as they make sense of MS. It's independent and it's free.

About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare,
life science and performance materials. Almost 53,000 employees work
to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life - from
biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis,
cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to
liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2017, Merck
generated sales of EUR15.3 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and
chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of
the publicly listed corporate group. Merck holds the global rights to
the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States
and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma
and EMD Performance Materials.

References

i. National Institute of Neurology Disorders and Strokes. Multiple
Sclerosis: Hope Through Research. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/
multiple_sclerosis/detail_multiple_sclerosis.htm (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/multiple_sclerosis/detail_multiple_sclerosis.htm). Accessed May 3,
2016.

ii. Luzzio C, Dangond F. Multiple Sclerosis. Medscape.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1146199-overview . Accessed
February 22, 2017.

iii. Kantar Health. May 2017. NATIONAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SURVEY,
2016 [EU]. New York, NY.

iv. MS Society. Relapsing Remitting (RRMS). https://www.mssociety.or
g.uk/what-is-ms/types-of-ms/relapsing-remitting-rrms (https://www.mssociety.org.uk/what-is-ms/types-of-ms/relapsing-remitting-rrms) Accessed March
7, 2017.

(Logo:
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/697963/Merck_MS_Inside_Out_Logo.jpg
)

Video:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8337651-merck-ms-ins
ideout-campaign/ (https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8337651-merck-ms-insideout-campaign/)

ots Originaltext: Merck KGaA
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Erin-Marie Beals
+49-151-1454-2694

Original-Content von: Merck KGaA, übermittelt durch news aktuell