| 14 Décembre 2017
Of the various types of multiple sclerosis (MS), diagnosed prevalent cases classified as relapsing remitting (RRMS), corresponded to 70% of all diagnosed prevalent cases across the seven major markets (7MM*) in 2016, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
In the 5EU (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and UK), RRMS accounted for 79% of all diagnosed prevalent cases of MS. The US alone has 241,253 cases of RRMS.
MS affects more than 2.1 million people worldwide. Several different types of MS exist, including RRMS, in which flare-ups are followed by periods of remission and then relapse; primary progressive (PPMS), in which the disease progresses slowly without periods of remission; and secondary progressive (SPMS), in which the symptoms gradually deteriorate with no periods of remission.
RRMS is the most common form of MS with the lowest disease severity, but lacks efficient treatment to effectively prevent the disease from progressing to the more severe forms.
Kasey Fu, Healthcare Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “This disease significantly impacts the most productive years of a person’s life. About 40% of RRMS patients will develop SPMS in 10 to 15 years, where neurological degeneration and disability worsens steadily over time.
“MS symptoms include muscle weakness, weak reflexes, tremor, muscle spasm, prolonged double vision, slurred speech, and balance problems. MS can occur at any age, but commonly affects people aged 15 to 60 years.”
*7MM = US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and Japan