Lundbeck today announced the launch of LGS Together, an online initiative for people impacted by epilepsy, including those affected by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). LGS Together will help parents and family members share their personal experiences and find strength for the journey of caring for someone with a challenging seizure disorder like LGS. The LGS Together launch coincides with Epilepsy Awareness Month in November and LGS Awareness Day on Nov. 1.
LGS Together is a result of collaboration among people with LGS, their families and friends, leading epilepsy and LGS patient organizations and Lundbeck. The website, LGSTogether.com, features stories, advice and knowledge from members of the community, as well as resources and information parents can use in their daily lives. On the LGS Together Facebook page, parents and families can get regular updates about the program, discover epilepsy community events and activities, share personal experiences and encourage each other.
“As a mother whose daughter has experienced seizures associated with LGS for most of her life, I know how difficult it can be to find answers and support,” said Jane Medlock, a member of Lundbeck’s LGS Working Group whose insights and input led to the creation of the site. “I’m happy to be able to share my story and be part of a community where parents and family members can find strength from other people who really understand the ins and outs of caring for someone with challenging seizures.”
Throughout the month of November, the LGS Together Facebook page will feature the “Find Your Strength” campaign, which provides opportunities for people to describe how they find strength in their daily lives. Weekly posts will include videos highlighting unique insights and providing encouragement to the epilepsy community. For each visitor who “Likes” the weekly featured post, Lundbeck will make a $1 donation to the LGS Foundation and Epilepsy Foundation, up to $10,000 to each organization.
“We know from our ongoing conversations with members of the epilepsy community that parents truly appreciate hearing from other families who understand epilepsy and LGS. We created LGS Together to help foster that connection,” said Jill Gattone, manager of epilepsy advocacy and patient support at Lundbeck. “Parents can visit the website to get guidance from others living with LGS and join the Facebook page to extend the conversation.”
For more information, please visit www.lgstogether.com and www.facebook.com/LGSTogether.
About Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS)
LGS is a rare and severe form of epilepsy.1 The most common features of LGS are multiple types of seizures, frequent seizures, delays in mental and/or physical motor skills and an abnormal EEG or brain wave pattern.1,2 LGS typically occurs between 2-8 years of age,3 and 80 percent of children diagnosed with LGS will continue having seizures into their adult years.3 The prognosis of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome can greatly vary from person to person.4 Complete recovery, with freedom of seizures and normal development, is unusual for a child with LGS. There is no cure for the disorder.4
About the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Foundation
The LGS Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information about Lennox-Gastaut syndrome while raising funds for research, services and support for individuals living with LGS and their families.
The LGS Foundation is based in New York City and provides services and information to thousands of members across the world.
About the Epilepsy Foundation
The Epilepsy Foundation, a national nonprofit with affiliated organizations throughout the United States, has led the fight against epilepsy since 1968. The Foundation's mission is to stop seizures, find cures and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy. For additional information, please visit www.epilepsyfoundation.org.
About Lundbeck in the U.S.
A wholly owned subsidiary of H. Lundbeck A/S in Denmark, Lundbeck U.S. is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, and is committed to providing innovative specialty therapies that fulfill unmet medical needs of people with brain disorders. In its late-stage research pipeline, the company has neurology compounds under investigation for Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and epilepsy, in addition to therapies in development for mental health disorders.
With a special commitment to the epilepsy community, Lundbeck makes a scholarship available to help families attend the LGS Foundation’s Family & Professional Conference. Each year our employees actively support and participate in hundreds of community-based initiatives, including Studio E, an art therapy program Lundbeck makes available with the Epilepsy Foundation. Learn more about our epilepsy community programs at YourPartnerInEpilepsy.com.
About Lundbeck
Lundbeck is a global pharmaceutical company highly committed to improving the quality of life of people living with brain diseases. For this purpose, Lundbeck is engaged in the entire value chain throughout research, development, production, marketing and sales of pharmaceuticals across the world. The company’s products are targeted at disorders such as depression and anxiety, psychotic disorders, epilepsy, Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Lundbeck’s pipeline consists of several mid- to late-stage development programs.
Lundbeck employs more than 5,800 people worldwide, 2,000 of whom are based in Denmark. We have employees in 57 countries and our products are registered in more than 100 countries. We have research centers in Denmark, China and the United States and production facilities in Italy, France, Mexico, China and Denmark. Lundbeck generated revenue of approximately DKK 15 billion in 2012. Lundbeck’s shares are listed on the stock exchange in Copenhagen under the symbol “LUN.” Lundbeck has a sponsored Level 1 ADR programme listed in the US (OTC) under the symbol “HLUYY.”
For additional information, we encourage you to visit our corporate site www.lundbeck.com.
Sources
1 Medscape. Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1176735-overview. Accessed 9/19/13.
2 Arzimanoglou, Alexis et al. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: a consensus approach on diagnosis, assessment, management, and trial methodology. The Lancet. 2009: 8(1) 82-93.
3 Van Rijckevorsel, Kenou et al. Treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: overview and recent findings. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2008: 4(6) 1001-1019.
4 NINDS. Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Information Page. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/lennoxgastautsyndrome/lennoxgastautsyndrome.htm. Accessed 9/19/13.
Contacts:
Matt Flesch, 847-282-1154
