APLUSA-blog

What does MM mean to me? A special interview with DR. Christine MAÏ - APLUSA

Written by Melissa YILMAZ | Apr 2, 2024 12:36:13 PM

Myeloma Action Month is held every year for the whole month of March to encourage individuals and groups to take actions that positively impact the myeloma community. 

This year, the IMF invites YOU to take action through its worldwide social awareness campaign that centers on the question, “What Does Myeloma Mean to Me?”  

With the support of the Global Myeloma Action Network (GMAN), the IMF will engage the global myeloma community by encouraging those living well with the disease to share their stories of resilience and hope. 

 

 

Through the power of personal stories and experiences from those affected by multiple myeloma, the #MyelomaActionMonth campaign aims to raise global awareness about the disease while strengthening ties with the members of the global myeloma community. 

In order to increase visibility and awareness of Myeloma Action Month, we asked our expert and Deputy General Manager, Dr. Christine MAÏ, what does MM mean to her through the history of APLUSA and her experience over the years.

 

 

"The adventure of APLUSA in Multiple Myeloma began in the mid-90s when pharmaceutical companies marketing alkylating agents asked us to evaluate the best way to communicate with hematologists and measure the adoption of therapeutic intensification protocols with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Since then, we have developed unique expertise, with almost daily interaction with hematologists and patients worldwide.

2005 marked a pivotal year as it was when APLUSA and major players in this market decided to collaborate on establishing international monitoring based on real-world data (using anonymized patient records).

To standardize the collected information, amidst emerging therapeutic options, we co-created with our clients and practitioners a nomenclature clarifying treatment line definitions for structured data collection, enabling consolidated multi-country analyses and relevant comparisons.

Thus, for the past 18 years, APLUSA has been enriching its proprietary database (MMsyndiTrack™) annually with tens of thousands of new patient records, enabling subscribers to analyze historical trends in patient management, the impact of new entrants on patient care pathways, primarily in Europe and the US. New treatment categories such as CAR-T, bispecifics, etc., have recently become available, offering new perspectives for patients but also raising unprecedented questions (logistics...) and challenging established guidelines. Our quarterly, and sometimes monthly, updated data, particularly in dynamic markets, provide valuable insights into emerging trends.


These international data (covering 17 countries over time) also lead to publications: posters at EHA, abstracts at ASH, posters at ISPOR, for example.

APLUSA, a pioneer in patient studies, has been a partner of af3m in France for over 10 years, an association of Multiple Myeloma patients for whom we conduct annual surveys on various themes such as healthcare pathways, adherence to treatment, benefit of physical activity and the impact of the disease on their daily lives. Similar projects are conducted worldwide for our clients.

In total, more than twenty employees work daily in the Multiple Myeloma market, and I can attest to their pride in contributing, through their expertise, to the strategic marketing decisions of our clients and ultimately improving patient care."

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Make an impact this Myeloma Action Month and be part of a global movement. #MyelomaACTIONMonth aims to strengthen our myeloma community and raise awareness through the power of personal stories and experiences shared by those affected by the disease. Stories evoke empathy and foster hope, helping us better understand ourselves and others.