Why Aren’t There More Treatments for Secondary Progressive MS?
One of the most common and deeply felt frustrations in the MS community is that most treatments are focused on people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), while those living with secondary progressive MS (SPMS) often feel left behind. It’s understandable to feel disappointed, angry, or even hopeless when you hear that a treatment isn’t available for […]
Update: Siponimod (Mayzent) for Secondary Progressive MS
At the August 2022 meeting of PHARMAC’s Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC), Multiple Sclerosis NZ (MSNZ) made a submission in support of the funding of Siponimod (Mayzent) for Secondary Progressive MS. At this meeting PTAC recommended listing with low priority and have requested further advice from the Neurological Advisory Committee regarding appropriate Special Authority criteria. PTAC’s recommendation noted specifically the consideration of […]
Addressing the unmet need
Currently, only approximately 1900 of the over 4130 New Zealanders diagnosed with MS are able to access funded Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs). In particular, those with progressive forms of MS, Secondary (SPMS) and Primary Progressive MS (PPMS), have extremely limited access options. While not explicit in the DMT criteria wording, changes advocated for by MSNZ […]
Andrew – Passionate poet and crafter
Andrew Hodson was diagnosed with Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS) in 2008. “I probably had it for 20 years before that. A mixture of symptoms appeared then went away, including numb legs plus pins and needles. The initial diagnosis was very confronting, and I shed many tears.” Shocked by what he was hearing, Andrew can’t recall […]