UCB Joins with ILAE and IBE to Encourage World Health Assembly Members to Continue Recognition of Epilepsy as Global Health Priority

Brussels and Geneva (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Significant gaps in epilepsy management, awareness, and effective
treatment access continue around the world
- Groups are launching a call to action for public and private
engagement to join the fight against Epilepsy through a sustained
commitment towards the Resolution on Epilepsy
- Call to action builds on 2015 WHO Resolution on Epilepsy, which
aims to improve knowledge, services, and treatment of epilepsy
worldwide

Representatives from the International League against Epilepsy
(ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE), alongside
prominent members of the Global epilepsy community, are meeting this
week to encourage World Health Assembly (WHA) members and the World
Health Organization (WHO) to continue to recognize epilepsy as a
global health priority in countries around the world.

Coinciding with the 71st World Health Assembly, advocates will
focus on progressing the milestone 2015 WHO Resolution on epilepsy to
encourage countries to prioritise epilepsy at national levels,
including promoting awareness, eliminating stigma of the disease,
expanding research capacity, improving monitoring and surveillance,
and expanding access to care.

One of the particular areas of focus will be how to better develop
and shape public health policy to better support people living with
epilepsy achieve a better quality of life.

Epilepsy is the most common serious disease of the brain,[1]
affecting 65 million people around the world.[2] In developing
countries, 60% to 90% of people with epilepsy receive no treatment
due to inadequacies in healthcare resources and delivery and due to
social stigma.[1]

"This World Health Assembly can be a turning point for the
epilepsy community. Our organizations are fully committed to seeking
international support to the 2015 Resolution on epilepsy" said
Martin Brodie and Samuel Wiebe, respectively IBE President and ILAE
President, in a joint statement. "We hope that this renewed momentum
will inspire the creation of a broad-ranging coalition carrying on
further innovative programs and activities consistent with the
objectives of the Resolution" they added.

Supporting these efforts, ILAE and IBE have convened a
distinguished expert panel to highlight recent progress and global
achievements made to improve awareness and management of epilepsy by
WHA countries, and to identify some of the outstanding challenges
which unfortunately still remain. These include significant gaps and
disparities in epilepsy management, awareness and access to effective
treatment around the world, which contribute to inequality and
stigma.

"As Global leaders in epilepsy, UCB is proud to support the ILAE
and the IBE in their continued efforts to improve the lives of people
with epilepsy throughout the world" explained Bruce Lavin, Head of
Neurology External Engagement and Policy at UCB. "We share a joint
commitment to provide additional value to people living with epilepsy
around the world. Whether by improving epilepsy care by creating
tools, engaging with stakeholders to raise awareness about the
complex spectrum of epilepsy, or facilitating the exchange of
information and developing standards and guidelines which support
people at each stage of their epilepsy journey".

In convening this meeting, the group hopes to inspire the creation
of a broader public-private coalition and develop an action plan for
further innovative programs and activities consistent with the
objectives of the WHO Resolution.

The ILAE and IBE have a long standing formal collaboration with
the WHO, which was renewed by the WHO's Executive Board at the their
140th Annual session in 2017. This collaboration provides a continued
platform to help ensure epilepsy is recognized as a health priority
worldwide, and that the human and civil rights of people with
epilepsy are enhanced and protected wherever they might live.

About Epilepsy[2],[3]

Epilepsy is a disease of the brain affecting approximately 65
million people worldwide.[2] It is defined as either the occurrence
of two or more unprovoked seizures >24 hours apart or one unprovoked
(or reflex) seizure and a probability of further seizures occurring
over the next 10 years that is similar to the general recurrence risk
(at least 60%) after two unprovoked seizures or diagnosis of an
epilepsy syndrome.[3] Although epilepsy may be linked to factors such
as health conditions, race and age, it can develop in anyone at any
age, and approximately 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their
lifetime.[2]

About UCB in Epilepsy

UCB has a longstanding commitment to improving the lives of people
with epilepsy around the world. With over 20 years of experience in
the research and development of antiepileptic drugs, our goal is to
become a preferred partner for the global epilepsy community,
improving knowledge about and access to effective solutions to help
patients better manage their individual epilepsy journeys. We strive
to partner and create super-networks with world-leading scientists
and clinicians in academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies and
other organizations who share our goals. At UCB, we are inspired by
patients, and driven by science in our commitment to support people
with epilepsy.

About UCB

UCB, Brussels, Belgium (http://www.ucb.com ) is a global
biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of
innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people
living with severe diseases in immunology and neurology. With
approximately 7500 people operating in 40 countries, the company
generated revenue of EUR4.5 billion in 2017. UCB is listed on
Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news

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References:

1. http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/neurological/en/ date
accessed 18 May 2018
2. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/about-epilepsy-basics/who-gets-epil
epsy date accessed 18 May 2018
3. ILAE official report: a practical clinical definition of epilepsy.
Epilepsia. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24730690) 2014
Apr;55(4):475-82. doi: 10.1111/epi.12550. Epub 2014 Apr 14. (
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24730690) date accessed 18 May
2018

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Contact:
Corporate Communications
France Nivelle
Global Communications
UCB
T+32-2-559-9178
France.nivelle@ucb.com Jim Baxter
Neurology Communications
UCB
T+32-2-473-78-85-01
jim.baxter@ucb.com Laurent Schots
Media Relations
UCB
T+32-2-559-92-64
laurent.schots@ucb.com Investor Relations Antje Witte
Investor Relations
UCB
T+32-2-559-94-14
antje.witte@ucb.com Isabelle Ghellynck
Investor Relations
UCB
T +32-2-559-9588
isabelle.ghellynck@ucb.com

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