World MS Day 2026: raising awareness, supporting people living with multiple sclerosis and connecting with the neurology community at EAN Congress 2026

Today, 30^th May, Neuraxpharm marks World MS Day, an important moment to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis (MS), recognise the experiences of people living with the condition, and highlight the continued need for earlier diagnosis, timely intervention and improved support.

Approximately 2.9 million people are living with MS worldwide¹, with a mean age at diagnosis of 322,3 making it one of the most common neurological conditions affecting young adults^2,3. MS is also around twice as likely to occur in women than men^2,3, and every five minutes, someone new is diagnosed with the condition¹.

Symptoms of MS can vary significantly between individuals and may appear, disappear or change over time. For many people, this can make relief hard to find – symptoms may be dismissed or attributed to other causes, diagnosis can be delayed, and misdiagnosis remains common. In Europe, it can take more than two years on average from first symptom to confirmed diagnosis⁴, and up to one in five patients may be misdiagnosed initially⁵.

Effective clinical dialogue helps to build a clearer understanding of the condition, including the importance of early diagnosis and timely management in supporting long-term outcomes and quality of life^6,7.

Today more than 20 approved therapies exist⁸ and evidence increasingly supports starting with high-efficacy therapy early in the disease course rather than escalating after initial treatments fail^6,7,9,10. Continued research, clinical dialogue and innovation are helping to shape a future in which patients, caregivers, researchers and healthcare professionals can work towards the same goal: a future where no one with MS is left without hope for an effective treatment.

At Neuraxpharm, supporting this future is central to our work in which we are committed to advancing scientific understanding and innovation to address unmet needs in MS and other neurological conditions. Increased awareness helps people recognise potential signs and seek appropriate care, supporting more informed dialogue among patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

For the first time, the Neuraxpharm team is attending the 12th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), taking place in Geneva from 27–30 June 2026, where the company will welcome delegates at an exhibition booth and a hospitality suite. The Congress provides an important opportunity to engage with healthcare professionals, partners and the wider neurology community, with a particular focus on MS. Neuraxpharm will also present data at EAN from a European MS study to characterize the long-term efficacy and safety of our innovative therapy in real-world clinical practice.

Neuraxpharm will continue to support awareness, education and scientific progress in neurology, contributing to better understanding, helping to reduce stigma and improving care for patients affected by neurological conditions.

Find out further information about the symptoms and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis via our website resource: https://www.neuraxpharm.com/disorders/multiple-sclerosis/

References:

1. Multiple Sclerosis International Federation – Atlas of MS. Available at: https://atlasofms.org/map/global/epidemiology/number-of-people-with-ms
2. Walton C, King R, Rechtman L, et al. Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis worldwide: Insights from the Atlas of MS, third edition. Mult Scler. 2020;26(14):1816-1821. doi:10.1177/1352458520970841
3. Multiple Sclerosis International Federation – Atlas of MS – 3rd Edition. Available at: https://www.msif.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Atlas-3rd-Edition-Epidemiology-report-EN-updated-30-9-20.pdf
4. Fernández O, Fernández V, Arbizu T, et al. Characteristics of multiple sclerosis at onset and delay of diagnosis and treatment in Spain (the Novo Study). J Neurol. 2010;257(9):1500-1507. doi:10.1007/s00415 010-5560-1 Titel anhand dieser DOI in Citavi-Projekt übernehmen
5. Kaisey M, Solomon AJ, Luu M, Giesser BS, Sicotte NL. Incidence of multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis in referrals totwo academic centers. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2019;30:51-56. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2019.01.048
6. Harding K, Williams O, Willis M, et al. Clinical Outcomes of Escalation vs Early Intensive Disease-Modifying Therapy in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA Neurol. 2019;76(5):536-541. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.4905
7. He A, Spelman T, ManouchehriniaA, Ciccarelli O, Hillert J, McKay K. Association between early treatment of multiple sclerosis and patient-reported outcomes: a nationwide observational cohort study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2023;94(4):284-289. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2022-330169
8. Ridler C. Treatment of multiple sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol 2018. Available at: https://www.nature.com/collections/whyfzwfvvr/timeline/
9. Selmaj K, Cree BAC, Barnett M, Thompson A, Hartung HP. Multiple sclerosis: time for early treatment with high-efficacy drugs. J Neurol. 2024;271(1):105-115. doi:10.1007/s00415-023-11969-8
10. Spelman T, Magyari M, Piehl F, et al. Treatment Escalation vs Immediate Initiation of Highly Effective Treatment for Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Data From 2 Different National Strategies. JAMA Neurol. 2021;78(10):1197-1204. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.2738