Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease.[1]

No one knows exactly how many people have MS. It is believed that, currently, there are about 250,000 to 350,000 people in the U.S. with MS diagnosed by a physician. This estimate suggests that approximately 200 new cases are diagnosed each week. [2]

Developing new medicines to treat both the disease and symptoms of multiple sclerosis is a long and complex process, but an essential one in finding new and innovative treatments.

Find our more about multiple sclerosis studies currently enrolling at Novartis, and connect to participating study centers by taking our online screening questionnaire.