Patient - Conditions - UCB | Inspired by patients. Driven by ... Internet... · Web viewCrohnsAndMe (US) Inc.'s website for US Citizens providing information about Crohn's Disease

UCB Internet webpages

UCB Internet webpagesDecember, 2009

This document contains all text and images of UCB.comEXCEPT: Partners; Investor Relations, R&D and Media Room

LEGEND

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1/181 eBusiness / NathalieV.


1. PRIVACY POLICY



1. Legal notice & Privacy policy

This page has the same banner as ABOUT UCB

LEGAL NOTICE

1. General. Welcome to http://www.ucb.com/ (this "Website")! This Website is owned by UCB S.A., with registered offices at Allée de la Recherche 60, 1070 Brussels, Belgium ("UCB"). By accessing and browsing this Website, you accept the present terms and conditions. This Website is operated and controlled in Belgium and is governed by the Belgian laws. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND OR ABIDE BY THE PRESENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEN LEAVE THIS WEBSITE IMMEDIATELY. ANY ACCESS OF THIS WEBSITE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRESENT TERMS AND ASSERTION OF RIGHTS.

2. Health related Information/ Medicinal Products. The information and materials on each page of this Website (the "Information") have been compiled for the purpose of providing general information about the activities of UCB and its group of companies. Some information may relate to medical, health or fitness conditions, their prevention and treatment. This Information is provided for information purposes only. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE OR REPLACE MEDICAL ADVICE, OR TO PROMOTE IN ANY MANNER ANY OF THE DRUGS OF UCB AND ITS GROUP OF COMPANIES. DO NOT USE, AND UCB HEREBY PROHIBITS YOU FROM USING, THE INFORMATION FOR DIAGNOSING A HEALTH OR FITNESS PROBLEM OR DISEASE. SHOULD YOU HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OR MEDICAL ADVISER. UCB DOES NOT OFFER PERSONALIZED MEDICAL DISAGNOSIS OR PATIENT-SPECIFIC ADVICE. You should always obtain complete medical advice directly with your prescribing physician. This Website also contains information about medicinal products registered worldwide and usually available upon prescription from a medical doctors or healthcare professional only. These products may not be available in all countries, or may be approved or cleared by a government regulatory body for sale or use with different indications, dosages and restrictions in different countries. Trademarks may also differ between countries. Medical professionals may obtain complete medical information from their local product prescribing information. Patients and physicians should always check with local medical resources and regulatory authorities for information appropriate to their country.

3. Disclaimer & warranties. The Information posted on this Website is provided for general information purposes only. Although UCB will make every reasonable effort to include accurate and up-to-date Information on this site, UCB shall not be liable in any way for errors or omissions in the contents of this website Product information contained on this Web site. ALL INFORMATION IS POVIDED "AS IS". CONSEQUENTLY, THE INFORMATION SHOULD BE CAREFULLY EVALUATED BY SITE VISITORS AND NEITHER UCB NOR ANY COMPANIES OF THE UCB GROUP PROVIDE ANY WARRANTIES ABOUT COMPLETENESS OR ACCURACY OF THE INFORAMTION ON THIS WEBSITE OR ITS POSSIBLE USES. UCB AND ITS GROUP OF COMPANIES SHALL NOT BE NOT LIABLE IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR OTHER DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE


http://www.ucb.com/


OF, RELIANCE ON, ACCESS TO, OR INABILITY TO USE THIS INFORMATION, OR FROM ANY ALTERATION TO THE CONTENT OF THIS SITE THAT UCB MAY MAKE AT ANY TIME. No Information contained on this Website constitutes or shall be deemed to constitute an invitation or offer to invest or otherwise deal in shares or other securities in UCB.

4. Copyright/Use of Information. Except as otherwise indicated, all copyright in the Information is owned by UCB. All rights in the Information are reserved. You may freely browse the Website but may only access, download or use Information from this Website, including but not limited to texts & images, for your private use only provided you retain and reproduce each and every copyright notice and other proprietary tights notice contained in any Information downloaded from this Website. You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, repost or use in any manner the Information for other uses without the prior written consent of UCB. With the exception of the foregoing limited authorization, no license to or right in the Information contained in this Website, or any copyright of UCB or of any other party is hereby granted to conferred to you.

5. Trademarks/proprietary rights. You should assume that all product names appearing on this Website, whether or not appearing in large print or with the trademark symbol, are trademarks either owned by or licensed to UCB or any of its affiliated companies. The Website may also contain or reference patents, proprietary Information, technologies, products, processes or other proprietary rights of UCB and/or other parties. No license to or right in any such trademarks, patents, domain names, technologies, products, processes and other proprietary Information or rights of UCB and/or other parties is hereby granted to or conferred upon you. Do not use UCB trademarks or potentially confusing variations in your Internet domain name. This helps prevent Internet users from being confused as to whether you or UCB is the source of the Website.

6. Links to other sites. This Website contains links to third-parties' pages or websites. UCB MAKES NO REPRESENTATION ABOUT AND HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY IN RELATION TO ANY MATERIAL OR INFORMATION YOU OBTAIN FROM ANY SUCH PAGES OR WEBSITES.

7. Links to UCB Website. No link to this Website may be included in any other website without the prior written consent of UCB except that the domain name of this Website unless it only directs the web visitor to the home page of this Website, in a separate pop-up window, with the full UCB domain name and an appropriate pop-up notification to the visitor that it is accessing a third-party website.

8. Website availability. UCB does not warrant that access to the Website will be available at all times or that the Website or the server that mares it available are free of viruses or other harmful components. You, and not UCB, assume the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair or corrections to your hardware, software or information whether or not caused by any such virus or harmful component.

9. Revisions. UCB may at any time revise these terms and conditions by up-dating this posting. You are bound by any such revisions and should therefore periodically visit this page to review the then current terms and conditions to which you are bound.



DATA PRIVACY POLICY

As used in this Privacy Policy:- "Cookies" refers to small pieces of information that are stored by your web browser on your computer's hard drive. Cookies can be used to remember certain information about You in order to customize the information you see during visits to a website and/or to collect information about Your visit;

- "Personal Data" refers to Your personal information such as but not limited to Your name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number, IP address, resumé, etc., that can be used to identify You;

- "Third Parties" refers to UCB affiliated companies and third party vendors who support UCB in the frame of its business activities, such as but not limited to for the maintenance of this Website or other IT systems and/or the provision of other business support services, evaluation or technical support;

- "UCB" refers to UCB S.A., Allée de la Recherche, 60, 1070 Brussels;

- "We" or "Us" refers to UCB;

- "You" or "Your" refers to users of this Web site.

Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains our online information practices regarding collection, use, and disclosure of information that You may provide via this Website. Please be sure to read this entire Privacy Policy before using or submitting Personal Data to this Website. This Privacy Policy applies only to the use and collection of data collected by this Website and does not apply to any other data collected by UCB online or offline.

When you register with us, you may need to complete certain fields (some being required, others optional), and/or to choose a user name and password. If you choose to withhold any Personal Data which is required by us, it will not be possible for you to register and to obtain a response from us to your query.

The Personal Data provided by You will be used by UCB only for the purpose of responding to your query or request for information. UCB will not use your Personal Data for direct marketing purposes.

If you post your Personal Data as a job applicant, Your Personal Data will be used for:- recruitment, staffing and employment purposes;- reference and profile matching purposes with a view to staff job vacancies;- informing you of future job opportunities.

Unless you ask to remove it earlier, your data will be stored in our recruitment system for no longer than two years, extended to five years in case you have been invited to an interview by UCB or any of its affiliated companies. Should your application be successful, your data shall be processed for and included in your employment file.

UCB may pass your Personal Data to Third Parties who may be located in countries offering a



lower level of protection; however UCB will take all necessary steps to ensure confidentiality of your Personal Data and treatment in accordance with the present policy and applicable data privacy laws. UCB may also have to disclose your Personal Data where required by applicable laws, court orders or government regulation.

It is your responsibility to update your Personal Data held in UCB's system. However UCB may from time to time request you to update your data. You have the right, free of charge, to access, modify or delete your data at any time by accessing the system where available, or by contacting us by e-mail: [email protected] or mail: UCB S.A., Allée de la Recherche 60, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium.

UCB uses Cookies that collect the first level domain name of the Website visitor, your IP address, date and time of access, duration of Your visit and type of web browser used. This is logged automatically by the web server and is only used for system administration and to provide statistics to evaluate the use of our site.

UCB also uses cookies to help identify you to the Website and provide you with an additional level of security. After you have accessed the Web site and supplied your user ID and password, UCB places a temporary cookie on your computer indicating that you have been verified to access the Service. This cookie enables you to enter a digital workspace throughout your current working session and will remain on your computer until you log out of that digital workspace or you close your web browser. If your browser is set not to accept cookies, you will not be able to sign into and/or use the Web site. Again, these cookies are temporary and are not used for tracking your behavior within or outside of the Website.

Except as described in this privacy policy, UCB does not use cookies in conjunction with this Website.


mailto:[email protected]


2. CONTACT



2. Contact

(Same banner image as in About UCB, without the quote)

Contact

We value your interest in UCB. If you have any questions, please use the details below:

UCB S.A.

Allée de la Recherche, 601070 BrusselsBelgium

Tel: +32/2/559.99.99Fax: +32/2/559.99.00Email: [email protected] 0403.053.608, Brussels

Please note : to apply for a job or send your CV, please visit Jobseekers. E-mails sent to this e-mail address attaching CVs will not be answered.

+ Contact form

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http://www.ucb-group.com/careers/index.asp

mailto:[email protected]


5. PATIENTS



5. Patients



Translation for quotes in banners

Latest versions of banners to be checked on ucb.com



5A

Patient – Conditions1st column

CNS Immunology More conditions

2nd column

Therapy areas

For many years, UCB has responded to changing needs for better healthcare. Our medicines aim to bring longer lives and healthier living to people all over the world.

Our medicines are enabling people whose lives have been disrupted by an illness to return comfortably to their regular activities.

They are helping people to live more easily with their 21st century environment.

Our medicines are also tackling the effects of serious CNS diseases.

Our scientists are continuing to seek new solutions to the challenges that are facing today’s healthcare providers.

3rd column

Learn more about severe diseases

Understanding how diseases develop and the treatments that are available are important steps in staying healthy. Learn more about UCB therapy areas


http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/65.htm

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/conditions/more/index.asp

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/conditions/allergy/index.asp


CNS

1st column CNS

o Epilepsy o ADHD o Fibromyalgia o Memory problems o Narcolepsy o Neuropathic pain o Parkinson's disease o Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Immunology More conditions

2nd column

The Central Nervous System (CNS) refers to the brain, the spinal cord and the nerves related to them. It receives sensory impulses from the rest of our Peripheral Nervous System and controls our response to those impulses. It could be called the control network of the entire human body.

Functions affected by the CNS include muscle control, eyesight, breathing and memory. Not surprisingly, if such an important part of the human body is damaged or impaired by illness




http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/conditions/CNS/813.htm









the results may be severe. Epilepsy, caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain is one such example, or Parkinson’s disease caused by a lack of dopamine. Other examples may also be found by clicking on the links to the left

3rd column








Epilepsy

1st column CNS



2nd column

Epilepsy affects about 50 million people around the world and is the most common serious neurological condition.

Patients with epilepsy have recurrent seizures because there is too much electrical activity in part of their brain (partial or focal epilepsy) or all of their brain (generalised epilepsy). Seizures can take many forms including loss of feeling, muscle spasms, abnormal movements, brief or more prolonged change or loss of consciousness.

Epilepsy usually occurs in neonates or young children however it can start in adults too, affecting those aged over 65 years (usually after a head injury, brain tumour or a stroke). In six out of 10 new cases of epilepsy, the cause of the disease is not known.

Epilepsy itself can cause brain damage or even be fatal.

That’s why it’s so important to get effective treatment for epilepsy.

In many cases epilepsy is not well understood. Even today if you have epilepsy, it can happen that people avoid you and it can be difficult to make friends, get a job or find a place to live.

Treating Epilepsy

The ultimate goal of epilepsy treatment is to become free of seizures. With the appropriate antiepileptic treatment 7 out of 10 people with epilepsy could be seizure free.

Seizures result from an electrochemical disorder in the brain. All antiepileptic drugs aim to restore the imbalance of “neurotransmitters” (chemicals) in the brain cells that leads to excessive electrical activity and seizures. They do this in different ways. Many people with epilepsy need to take more than one drug to control their seizures.

Some of the old generation antiepileptic drugs can cause serious side effects. Some of the newer generation antiepileptic drugs have fewer side effects.












To find out if they are taking the right drug, people with epilepsy should see a specialist at least once a year. By doing this, they can stay in control of their seizures – and their lives.

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Epilepsy Links Live Beyond Epilepsy Epilepsy Advocate The UCB Institute of Epilepsy Freedom in Mind Stepped Care


http://www.stepped-care.nl/

http://www.freedominmind.com/

http://www.ucb-ioe.be/

http://www.epilepsyadvocate.com/


ADHD1st column

CNS o Epilepsy o ADHD o Fibromyalgia o Memory problems o Narcolepsy o Neuropathic pain o Parkinson's disease o Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)


2nd column

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) refers to a family of related disorders that interfere with a child's capacity to regulate activity level (hyperactivity), inhibit behaviour (impulsivity), and attend to tasks (inattention) at home and at school. It affects an estimated 3-5% of school aged children and can continue into adulthood.

Various genetic and environmental risk factors for ADHD have been identified, though its causes are not yet defined.

There are three main types of ADHD:

Predominantly inattentive type in which children are overly forgetful about what they have been asked to do, easily distracted, and unable to organise or finish simple tasks

Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type which makes it hard for children to sit still and listen to classmates, teachers or others

Combined type when children have all three symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

ADHD is three times more common in boys than girls, and most boys have predominantly hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.

Children with ADHD tend to have low self esteem, emotional and social problems, and are likely to have problems at school. For many individuals, the impact of ADHD continues into adulthood.

Treating ADHD

One goal of ADHD treatment is to relieve the symptoms of the condition so as to enable the affected child to achieve more at school.













A comprehensive treatment programme, with behavioural and drug therapies for children, and advice and support for parents, carers and teachers, is considered to be the most effective way to treat ADHD.

Children can take available medications in several different ways, starting with a dose before they go to school. With short acting treatments, a second dose is needed at lunchtime when they are at school. This may be inconvenient or make children feel different from other children.

Other treatments work for 8 or even up to 12 hours. Some parents would prefer that their child wasn’t medicated during the evening, as ADHD symptoms may not be such a problem at home. If they need to, they can give their child a short acting medication. This gives parents more flexibility.

3rd column

Links www.qids-adhs.de


http://www.qids-adhs.de/


Fibromyalgia Syndrome1st column

CNSo Epilepsy o ADHD o Fibromyalgia o Memory problems o Narcolepsy o Neuropathic pain o Parkinson's disease o Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)


2nd column

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is characterized by chronic widespread muscle pain, stiffness, and tenderness to palpation at specific tender points as well as associated sleep disorder, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. Diagnostic criteria include pain that is perceived for at least three months all over the body, but particularly at the tender points. FMS is a common disease which affects at least 2% of the population with a much higher prevalence in women than in men. The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown. However, evidence for central pain processing abnormalities in FMS patients continues to increase.

Treating Fibromyalgia Syndrome

There are currently no medications approved for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of FMS. However, various analgesics, antidepressants, muscle relaxants or anti-epileptic drugs are being used. These medications frequently are of limited efficacy and are associated with considerable side effects.












Memory Problems1st column



2nd column

People are living longer than ever before. In just over 200 years, life expectancy in most developed countries has risen from only 27 to over 70. By 2025, babies born in Europe and North America are likely to live until they are at least 80, those in China until they are 75, those in India until they are 71.

Growing old brings both physical and mental health problems. But medicines are helping more people to live a healthier old age.

Declining memory is common from middle-age onwards. Small lapses, such as misplacing things and difficulty remembering recent conversations, are common. They may be due to tiredness or stress, and improve without help.

But more serious lapses – using wrong words, getting lost in places that you know well, having difficulty following a story in a book or TV programme – may need medical help.

Treating Memory Problems

At least 1 in 10 people has a memory problem. It may be age-related, but it’s not always unavoidable. Nor is it the same as dementia.

Making lists, using wall charts and planners, and doing mental exercises are useful memory joggers. For example, go through the alphabet and think of 5 words that start with each letter. Try to remember all the people you’ve spoken to in the last 3 days, and the key points of each conversation.

If you or someone you know is getting distressed by memory problems, they should see their doctor. They may need to talk about their problems with a counsellor, or see a specialist. Medical treatment may help












Narcolepsy

1st column CNS



2nd column

Narcolepsy is a serious sleep disorder that affects about 1 in 2000 people – or approximately 200,000 people in European Union countries and 150,000 in the USA. It is characterised by a loss of clear boundaries between sleeping and waking states.

People with narcolepsy feel sleepy nearly all the time, and cannot resist going to sleep for a few minutes or up to an hour several times during the day. This abnormal propensity to sleep is referred to as Excessive Daytime Sleepiness by physicians. At night, their sleep is perturbed, with many awakenings and sometimes abnormally vivid dream-like hallucinations when falling asleep. Typically, they experience too little of the deep, restorative sleep that they need to feel fresh and alert in the morning. They are prone to sleep walking and sleep paralysis – an inability to move for a few minutes on waking.

About 9 out of 10 people with narcolepsy also have cataplexy – sudden muscle weakness that can range from drooping of the head and face to complete collapse. It is usually triggered by strong emotions, such as laughter, anger, surprise or fear, or by strenuous exercise.

Narcolepsy appears to result from an abnormal functioning of certain nerve transmitter chemicals in the brain that normally help to keep people awake. It often runs in families and tends to start when individuals are in their teens or 20s.

Treating Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is usually diagnosed from symptoms of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, cataplexy and night-time sleep disturbances, which can be confirmed by tests carried out in a sleep laboratory.

Establishing regular sleeping habits at night can help to reduce daytime tiredness, and taking ‘planned naps’ at convenient times during the day may reduce the number of sudden, uncontrollable urges to sleep that people with narcolepsy experience.












Some people take stimulant drugs during the day to keep them awake, but these may cause irritability and make it hard to sleep at night. Taking sleeping pills to improve sleep at night can leave people sleepy during the day.

Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat cataplexy, but with limited success. People become tolerant to treatment, so the doses have to be increased. Eventually, the effect may wear off altogether, forcing patients to switch to a different medication. Many antidepressants can have unpleasant side effects, including weight gain. Stopping antidepressant treatment suddenly can make the cataplexy worse. Therefore, the dose of antidepressants should always be reduced gradually rather than abruptly discontinuing

3rd column

Links www.narcolepsyweb.com www.hellwach-narkolepsie-erkennen.de


http://www.hellwach-narkolepsie-erkennen.de/

http://www.narcolepsyweb.com/


Neuropathic pain1st column



2nd column

Neuropathic pain is caused by a functional disorder of the Central or Peripheral Nervous System. In contrast to "normal" pain, neuropathic pain does not serve any warning function. Diabetic neuropathic pain is a very common chronic pain with approximately eleven million diabetics suffering from the consequences of this chronic pain associated with their disease. Currently, there is hardly any drug which relieves this pain and patients predominantly use anti-convulsants to fight it.

Treating neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain can be very difficult to treat. Strong opioid analgesics may provide partial relief and several classes of medications not normally thought of as analgesics are often effective, alone or in combination with opioids and other treatments. These include antidepressants and anti-convulsants













Parkinson's disease1st column



2nd column

Most people who suffer from Parkinson's disease are over the age of fifty. Although one in five cases occurs in people under the age of forty, the likelihood of being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease increases with age.

The underlying cause of Parkinson's disease is a decrease in a chemical substance known as dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical present in the brain that transmits signals between the nerve cells that regulate motor function movement, balance and walking.

Treating Parkinson's disease

At present, there is no cure for Parkinson's disease. Instead, treatment focuses on the relief of these key symptoms:

Tremor: an uncontrollable trembling or shaking Rigidity: an abnormal stiffness of the musclesBradykinesia: an extreme slowness of movement and reflexesPostural instability: an inability to stand in a balanced or stable position.

People with Parkinson's disease may also experience other problems, including tiredness, depression, difficulties with balance and handwriting. They can also find their speech and facial expression change. Some people have difficulties eating and swallowing.












Restless Legs Syndrome1st column



2nd column

Up to nine percent of the population suffer from Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). RLS is a neurological disorder which is characterized by creepy, crawly sensations in the legs and an unpleasant spontaneous leg movement. Symptoms often appear during rest primarily occuring in the evening and at night preventing restful sleep. This can lead to daytime tiredness. It is suspected that the cause is a disorder of neural metabolism. RLS is a chronic and slowly progressing disease that occurs approximately as frequently as migraines or diabetes. Dopamine agonists are thought to be an efficacious treatment option.

Treating Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) – also thought to be caused by abnormal dopamine activity – is also starting to be treated with dopamine-like drugs. These relieve the strong urge to move the legs that people with RLS experience when they have to sit or lie down for long periods, such as in bed or on long journeys













Immunology and Inflammation1st column

CNS Immunology

o Allergies o Anaphylaxis o Asthmao Crohn's disease o Osteoporosiso Respiratory disorders o Rheumatoid arthritis o Systemic lupus (SLE)

More conditions

2nd column

Immunology is the study of the body’s natural defence mechanisms against disease and the responses of the body when challenged by antigens. Antigens include toxins or poisonous substances, bacteria and foreign blood cells, and the presence of antigens in the body triggers an immune response, usually the production of antibodies.

Inflammation and inflammatory diseases can be classified in a number of different ways, for example as allergies or autoimmune disease, but in all cases the common factor is that inflammation results from the inappropriate activation of the cells of the immune system. More information can be found in allergies which may also cause respiratory disorders. The most severe allergic reaction is anaphylaxis.

Autoimmune diseases comprise a growing group of medical conditions in which the body’s own immune system fails to recognise the body as self, mounts an abnormal immune attack and typically destroys afflicted the tissue with severe results, for example, the joints in rheumatoid arthritis and the lining of the gastrointestinal tract in Crohn’s disease. Systemic lupus erythematosus, often referred to as SLE is an example of autoimmune disease.

Inflammation in the oesophagus, the part of the intestines that runs from the mouth to the stomach, may lead to digestive disorders and ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease.

3rd column





http://www.ucb-group.com/105.htm




http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/conditions/allergy/141.htm











Allergies1st column

CNS Immunology


More conditions

2nd column

Allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, atopic asthma, and food allergy affect approximately 20% of people and are a leading cause of chronic disease worldwide. Allergic rhinitis refers to an immune-mediated inflammatory response of the nasal passages caused by inhaled allergens. Allergies are on the rise as a result of environmental factors, pollution, and other conditions.

Allergic symptoms can cause a variety of bothersome symptoms such as sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, runny nose, postnasal drip. These symptoms can result in patient discomfort and may range from mild to severe. The length of time that an individual may experience symptoms also varies. The ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma) report published in collaboration with the World Health Organisation defines persistent allergic rhinitis as symptoms experienced for more than four days a week and for more than four weeks a year. Intermittent allergic rhinitis is defined as symptoms experienced for less than four days a week or for less than four weeks a year. Fortunately, allergy symptoms may be relieved, and like any condition, the sooner they are treated the better. Your doctor can advise on the best treatment for your symptoms.

Treating Allergies

Allergies are often under-diagnosed, misunderstood and under-treated.

Once you develop an allergy, avoiding the cause is almost impossible. You could also develop new ones throughout your lifetime.

You can buy, or you may have bought, various items for the home, designed to prevent or reduce your allergy symptoms. There is a variety of interventional products on the market such as allergy protective bedding to humidifiers that are designed to reduce allergy symptoms, however many allergy sufferers find that these products offer limited protection.

Medication is generally considered to be the most effective option in alleviating symptoms

and allowing the patients to live their life. Antihistamines, immunotherapy and intranasal corticosteroids are all indicated to treat many allergies, including persistent and intermittent










allergic rhinitis. To combat today's allergies there are effective antihistamines available. Allergy symptoms should be examined by your doctor, who can advise on the best treatment for your symptoms.

3rd column

“Over 80 million people in Europe have some form of allergic disease, and this is on the rise”

Living with allergies

Rita Hayward's family has learned to live with serious allergies.

Read Rita Hayward's testimonial

Allergy websites The UCB Institute of Allergy Todays Allergies Nationale Allergie Site Alergie.cz


http://www.alergie.cz/

http://www.nationale-allergiesite.nl/

http://www.todaysallergies.com/

http://www.theucbinstituteofallergy.com/



Anaphylaxis1st column

CNS Immunology


More conditions

2nd column

The most severe allergic reaction is anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, is a severe, sudden and systemic, usually multi-organ, allergic reaction that can be fatal within minutes, either through swelling that shuts off airways or through a dramatic drop in blood pressure. It requires immediate medical intervention.

Anaphylaxis occurs in allergic individuals when they are exposed to an allergen, almost always a protein that is treated by the immune system as a foreign substance. Some anaphylactic reactions may involve only one organ, such as the respiratory tract or skin. However, often several systems are affected simultaneously, including the upper and lower respiratory tracts, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal tract.

Swelling of the mouth, tongue, lips, skin and eyelids are characteristic for anaphylaxis. In serious cases, the reaction progresses to vomiting, wheezing, breathing difficulties and even cardiovascular collapse. If not treated promptly, anaphylactic reactions may be fatal.

Many anaphylactic reactions are triggered by foodstuffs, but wasp or bee stings, certain drugs, latex, exercise and unknown causes (idiopathic anaphylaxis) can also cause this acute and potentially life-threatening reaction.Fortunately, effective treatment is available, so death from anaphylaxis can be prevented in most cases. Still, deaths occur because initial symptoms of anaphylaxis go unrecognized or because treatment is not prompt enough or unavailable at the time of the reaction.

Treating Anaphylaxis

Avoidance of identified allergens is critical for people who suffer from severe allergies. However, total avoidance is not always possible, either because of the nature of some allergens (e.g. pollen) or accidental exposure to hidden allergens (e.g. food).

People susceptible to anaphylaxis should educate themselves about allergen avoidance. It is also important that the allergic person's family, friends—and, in the case of children—teachers and schools know about and understand the disease so that they can aid in preventing anaphylaxis.










Once anaphylaxis has begun, the treatment of choice is an immediate injection of epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, which has a fast onset of activity (within 5 to 10 minutes after injection), followed by emergency medical attention. Epinephrine autoinjectors are the recommended devices to use since they can be applied by the patients themselves and can be carried with them at all times. Transport to a medical facility is necessary even if, due to the epinephrine injection, the initial symptoms have subsided, since a second reaction may occur hours after allergen exposure.

Many physicians also recommend that antihistamines be administered to lessen the symptoms of an allergic reaction, but antihistamines should be taken only in addition to epinephrine and should not be considered a substitute for it. Only epinephrine can halt the potentially deadly effects of anaphylaxis.

The mainstays of treating anaphylaxis are avoidance of the allergen when possible and emergency administration of epinephrine when necessary.

3rd column

Links www.theucbinstituteofallergy.com




Asthma1st column

CNS Immunology


More conditions

2nd column

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects adults and children of all ages and represents a serious global health problem (1). During an asthma attack, airways within the lungs (bronchial tubes) become narrow, interfering with the normal movement of air in and out of the lungs. Inflammation, often in response to one or more triggers (such as viral illnesses, pollen and smoke) (2), is the most important factor to cause narrowing of the bronchial tubes as inflamed tissue produces excessive amounts of mucus that can clump together and clog the small airways.(3) The muscles around the bronchial tubes may also constrict during an asthma attack (bronchospasm), causing the airways to narrow further.

It is this narrowing of the airways that causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing, which may range in severity from mild to life-threatening.(4) Most individuals with asthma tend to feel well between asthma episodes but may remain short of breath after exercise for longer periods of time than people without asthma.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of asthma vary from person to person and from episode to episode. It is important to remember that many of these symptoms can be subtle and similar to those seen in other respiratory conditions and some heart disorders. This makes identifying the settings in which the symptoms occur and diagnostic testing very important in recognizing this disease.(3)

The four major recognized symptoms of asthma are:(3)

Shortness of breath: especially with exertion or at night Wheezing: a whistling or hissing sound when breathing out Coughing: may be chronic; usually worse at night and early morning; may occur after

exercise or when exposed to cold, dry air Chest tightness: may occur with or without the above symptoms

The symptoms of severe asthma are persistent coughing, the inability to speak full sentences or walk without shortness of breath, chest tightness and bluish tinted lips. In addition, patients may feel agitated, confused and unable to concentrate. Patients may also strain their











abdominal and neck muscles as they change their posture in an attempt to breathe more easily.(3)

Treating asthma

Identification and avoidance of triggers is clearly a fundamental aspect of asthma management. However since this is often difficult or impossible, most patients rely on medication for symptom control and prevention.(5) The specific medical treatment recommended to patients with asthma depends on the severity and frequency of symptoms. Treatments for asthma are broadly classified as relievers (rapid-acting agents for a quick reverse of bronchoconstriction and quick relief of symptoms), controllers (medications taken on a regular basis to keep asthma under clinical control, primarily through their anti-inflammatory effects) and emergency treatment for when attacks become particularly severe and fail to respond to usual measures. In recent years, relief and control medications have been combined in one inhaler device and use of these treatments is now widespread.

All current asthma guidelines recommend a stepwise approach to therapy based on how well controlled asthma symptoms are. For example, the Global INitiative for Asthma (GINA) Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention recommends a five-step therapeutic approach that starts with reliever treatment alone at step one and works its way up through combination therapy with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-two (β2) agonists, with a wide range of alternatives and additional combinations at steps three and four, ending with additional oral glucocorticosteroids at step five.(6)

References

1. Gillissen A. Managing asthma in the real world. International Journal of Clinical Practice 2004; 58: 592 – 6032. http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/asthma/DS00021/DSECTION= all&METHOD=print Last accessed 30.10.073. http://www.medicinenet.com/asthma/article.htm Last accessed 23.01.084. Pruitt B, Jacobs M. Caring for a patient with asthma. Nursing 2005; 35: 48 – 515. Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Global Strategy for Asthma and Prevention 2006; p556. Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Global Strategy for Asthma and Prevention 2006; p58 - 63 7. Sennhauser FH et al. The burden of asthma in children: a European perspective. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews 2005; 6:2-7

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Quote

In Western countries it is estimated that as many as one-in-ten children have asthma (7)

Links


http://www.medicinenet.com/asthma/article.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/asthma/DS00021/DSECTION=


Todaysallergies.com




Crohn's disease1st column

CNS Immunology

o Allergies o Anaphylaxis o Asthmao Crohn's disease o Osteoporosis o Respiratory disorders o Rheumatoid arthritis o Systemic lupus (SLE)

More conditions

2nd column

Crohn’s disease is a chronic disorder that causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, most commonly at the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and beginning of the large intestine (the colon).

People with Crohn’s disease may suffer all of their lives, experiencing an ongoing cycle of “flare-up” and remission.

Together with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease belongs to the group of illnesses called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Who is affected?

Crohn’s disease usually affects young people between the ages of 15 and 35, with approximately half a million people affected in Europe alone. The disease tends to run in families, with studies showing that 20 to 25 percent of patients with Crohn’s disease have a close relative with either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

There is also a geographical north-south divide with higher incidence reported in Northern Europe and North America compared to Southern Europe and Asia.

What causes Crohn’s Disease?

There is still some uncertainty about what causes Crohn’s disease. A number of genetic and environmental factors are associated with the disease but their role is not clear. However, the disease is thought to be an abnormal response by the body’s immune system to bacteria found in the intestines. Many scientists now believe that the interaction of an outside agent (bacterium or virus) with the immune system may actually trigger an attack on the lining of the intestines causing chronic inflammation and ultimately ulcerations and bowel injury.











Symptoms and Associated Conditions

The most common symptoms reported by Crohn’s patients include:

Diarrhoea Fever Nausea Abdominal pains Severe weight loss

These debilitating symptoms may be accompanied by depression as Crohn’s disease can have a significant impact on the quality of a patient’s life.

3rd column

Crohn's and Me

Crohn’s & Me is for people whose lives are affected by Crohn’s disease – patients, friends, and family. It has helpful educational info and tips for living with Crohn’s disease like information about diet, traveling ideas, videos from doctors and patients, and other resources. Members of the Crohn’s & Me Community gain exclusive access to videos and a Crohn’s Disease Tracker. www.crohnsandme.com

Crohn's Disease Links Crohns And Me (US) Crohn Radio (Germany) Zona Crohn (Spain) Crohns And Me (Greece) Noi e il Crohn (Italy) Eu e Crohn (Portugal)


http://www.noieilcrohn.it/

http://www.crohnsandme.gr/

http://www.zonacrohn.es/

http://www.crohnradio.de/

http://www.crohnsandme.com/


Osteoporosis1st column

CNS Immunology

o Allergies o Anaphylaxis o Asthmao Crohn's disease o Osteoporosis o Respiratory disorders o Rheumatoid arthritis o Systemic lupus (SLE) o

More conditions

2nd column

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones in which the bone mineral density is reduced and bone “micro-architecture” is disrupted. Osteoporosis on its own would not be a significant disease, but osteoporotic bones are fragile compared with those that are non-osteoporotic and at much greater risk of fracture.

Fragility fractures typically occur in the spine, hip and wrist. Collapse of the vertebrae, the bones in the spine, known as compression fracture can cause numbness in the right second toe or one or a combination of the following: acute onset of back pain, a hunched forward or bent stature, loss of height, limited mobility and possibly disability. Fractures of the long bones acutely impair mobility and may require surgery. Hip fracture, in particular, usually requires prompt surgery, as there are serious risks associated with a hip fracture, such as deep vein thrombosis and a pulmonary embolism (blood clots).

It is estimated that one in three women and one in twelve men over the age of fifty worldwide have osteoporosis. It is responsible for millions of fractures annually, mostly involving the lumbar vertebrae, hip, and wrist. Fragility fractures of ribs are also common in men.

Due to its hormonal component, more women, particularly after menopause, suffer from osteoporosis than men and in addition it may be caused by smoking and medications as well as many chronic diseases.

Treating Osteoporosis

Whilst treatments are available such as bisphosphonates to reduce the rate that bones breakdown and calcitonin, a hormone which also slows down bone loss, preventing fractures is still considered the most important way to combat the effects of osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercise to increase bone mass and calcium supplements may also help to maintain healthy bones.











Respiratory disorders1st column

CNS Immunology


More conditions

2nd column

There are many different types of breathing problem. They may affect the upper respiratory system (nose ears, sinuses and throat) or the lower respiratory system (bronchial tubes and lungs).

Symptoms of an upper respiratory problem may include coughing, fever, a runny or stuffy nose and irritability.

A cough is a sudden release of air from the lungs and may have many causes. It is a reflex mechanism activated by irritation or obstruction of the airways. Coughing is often accompanied by a cold and a runny nose.

A common cause of coughing is postnasal drip running down the back of the throat as a result of a cold, allergic rhinitis or sinusitis. Coughing may bring up mucus from the lungs or it may be dry.

Coughing may interfere with sleep, going to school or work.

Treating respiratory disorders

Coughing is relieved by antitussives or cough suppressants. They may contain a mild narcotic that is believed to act directly on the cough centre of the brain to control or suppress the cough reflex. They may be combined with an antihistamine to help relieve symptoms such as itching and swelling and dry up runny eyes, nose and throat.

Antitussives are mainly used to relieve cough due to colds, flu or allergy.











Rheumatoid arthritis1st column

CNS Immunology


More conditions

2nd column

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive disease which causes chronic inflammation of the joints. It generally affects the smaller joints in the body such as fingers, thumbs, wrists, feet and ankles; however the systemic nature of the condition means that it can also affect the body as a whole, including internal organs and the vascular system.

RA is one of a group of conditions classified as autoimmune diseases, where the body mistakenly attacks its own immune system. In RA, inflammatory processes target the tissue that surrounds each joint known as the synovium. This leads to swelling and damage of cartilage and bones of the synovial-lined joints.

Who is affected?

It is estimated that 5 million people suffer from RA globally, and 0.3% to 1% of the population in industrialised countries. Prevalence is not split evenly between genders, since women are three times more likely to be affected than men.

Although RA can affect people of all ages, the onset of the disease usually occurs between 35-55 years of age.

How is it caused?

Doctors are still unable to pinpoint the exact cause of RA. It is thought that genetic, environmental and hormonal factors all play a role. RA is not necessarily passed from generation to generation. People with specific genetic markers are at an increased risk of developing RA, but having a gene that predisposes to RA does not always lead to the development of the disease.

Many scientists believe that there are environmental factors that can trigger the development of RA in susceptible individuals. These triggers, which lead to the immune system attacking the healthy synovium, are thought to be bacterial and/or viral.











Symptoms and associated conditions

Symptoms of RA may come and go and vary in severity from patient to patient. The main symptoms are:

Joint stiffness Joint pain Swelling Redness and warmth around the area affected Reduction in mobility Appearance of nodules or lumps under the skin Deformity of joints

Patients often experience symmetrical symptoms, whereby any symptoms felt on one side of the body are reflected in the same joints on the other side.

These symptoms often lead to permanent damage of joints and bones. As this damage occurs, patients may find their movement becomes more restricted, and this can lead to difficulty in undertaking even the simplest everyday tasks such as combing hair, turning a doorknob or taking a walk. In more severe cases RA can eventually lead to disability, and given the age of the average RA patient, the cost of work- related disability is usually a larger societal burden than the cost of RA treatment.

RA patients are also at a higher risk of developing other conditions, in particular heart disease, stroke, infections, lung problems and osteoporosis. There is no clear reason why this should be the case, however lack of exercise and mobility are risk factors for developing many of these conditions.

3rd column

In focus

Read Alice Petersons story about living with rheumatoid arthritis





“Women are three times more likely to be affected by RA than men”



Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)1st column

CNS Immunology


More conditions

2nd column

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. It happens when cells in the immune system start to attack healthy organs and contribute to inflammation and damage.

Systemic lupus erythematosus, also just called Lupus, can affect almost any part of the body, especially the joints, the skin, the membranes around the lungs or heart and the kidneys.

SLE is rare, but it does seem to be getting more common. Most cases are in women.

The first symptoms of SLE can be vague – feeling very tired, severe aches and pains, and feeling generally unwell. So it’s easy to confuse it with other illnesses.

But in some cases SLE can be very serious, or even fatal. Some people with SLE get serious infections, others develop arterial damage, leading to heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. But, as doctors learn more about SLE, they are finding better ways to treat it.

Treating systemic lupus

There is no cure for systemic lupus erythematosus, but there are a lot of medicines that people can take to ease their symptoms.

They can take simple painkillers, such as Aspirin™ and paracetamol, to relieve aches and pains, and they can take steroid tablets to reduce inflammation and suppress their overactive immune system.

Other stronger drugs also suppress inflammation and the immune system. These include drugs that are used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, anti-cancer drugs, and drugs that are used to treat and prevent malaria.

However, none of these drugs was designed for SLE. New research is looking for better drugs that will be targeted at the specific cells in the immune system which seem to trigger SLE.











More conditions

1st column CNS Immunology More conditions

o Bladder disorders o Coronary heart disease o Digestive disorders o Erectile dysfunction o Hypertension o Iron deficiency o Lung cancero Non-Hodgkin's lymphomao Peripheral arterial occlusive disease

2nd column

It is an unfortunate truth that there are many people worldwide suffering from debilitating medical conditions including those mentioned on these pages.

These conditions are non-contagious, but the physical or social symptoms may have a severe impact on the sufferer’s ability to lead a normal everyday life. Although these conditions may not require hospitalisation, they may involve a level of dependency on families, friends and other carers, as well as regular treatment by specialist physicians.

The good news is that most of the conditions can be successfully treated, either with medication or life-style modification or both.

3rd column





http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/conditions/more/1914.htm









Bladder disorders1st column


o Bladder disorders o Coronary heart disease o Digestive disorders o Erectile dysfunction o Hypertension o Iron deficiency o Lung cancer o Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma o Peripheral arterial occlusive disease

2nd column

As many as 17% of people over 40 have an overactive bladder (OAB). That’s an estimated 22 million people in Europe and over 33 million Americans. If you have OAB, you get a frequent need to urinate. There is a sudden urgent need to urinate, that you can’t put off, which may be followed by urine leakage (urge incontinence). You probably need to go to the toilet a lot (eight or more times over a 24-hour period). You, may have to get up at night too.

OAB – also called unstable bladder – happens because the bladder muscle doesn’t work properly. It contracts too much and pushes urine out of the bladder even when it isn’t full.

Not surprisingly, people with OAB get very embarrassed about it. Some are afraid to go out in case they can’t get to a toilet in time. Many don’t tell their family or friends, or even their doctor.

Treating bladder disorders

Overactive bladder is usually treated with medicines that stop the bladder muscle from contracting so much. This reduces the need to pass urine, so people don’t have to keep going to the toilet, during the day and at night. And they are less likely to have embarrassing leaks.

The medicines for overactive bladder are called anticholinergic drugs. They work at places on the bladder muscle called muscarinic receptors.

These receptors are found in other parts of the body too, including the mouth, the intestines and the eyes. This means that anticholinergic drugs in tablet form used to treat OAB, though effective, may be associated with side effects like dry mouth, and constipation. Skin patch treatment for OAB delivers medication continuously into the blood stream. It avoids the transformation of the drug by the digestive system that occurs with pills. The anticholinergic side effects such as dry mouth and constipation, occurred no more frequently with the skin patch than with placebo in two studies. However, the most frequent side effects of the patch were pruritus and erythema limited to the application site.














Coronary heart disease1st column



2nd column

Coronary heart disease (CAD) is also known as coronary artery disease, ischaemic heart disease or atherosclerotic heart disease and is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques or fatty debris within the walls of the arteries that supply the muscles of the heart with oxygen and nutrients.

Most individuals with CAD have no signs of the disease until the first onset of symptoms, often angina or a sudden heart attack. After decades of progression, some of these fatty plaques may rupture and along with the activation of the blood clotting system, start limiting blood flow to the heart muscles.

CAD is the most common cause of sudden death and also the most common cause of death of men and women over twenty years of age. According to present trends in the United States, half of healthy forty -year-old males will develop CHD in the future, and one in three healthy forty-year-old women.

Confirmed risk factors for the development of CAD are as follows, in an order of decreasing importance: elevated blood fat or cholesterol levels, smoking, high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels due to diabetes mellitus or otherwise and “Type A” behavioural patterns, people who are impatient, very time-conscious, highly competitive, hostile, aggressive and incapable of relaxation

Significant, but indirect risk factors include a lack of exercise, obesity, stress and a diet rich in saturated fats and low in antioxidants.

Treatment and prevention of coronary heart disease

Prevention is based on modifying the risk factors, which include decreasing cholesterol levels, reducing stress, addressing obesity and high blood pressure, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle, making healthy dietary choices and not smoking, a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and aspirin in doses of less than 75 to 81 mg/d[12], can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events.


http://www.ucb-group.com/research_and_development/index_1545.htm













Digestive Disorders1st column


o Bladder disorders o Coronary heart disease o Digestive disorders o Erectile dysfunction o Hypertension o Iron deficiency o Lung cancer o Non-Hodkin's lymphoma o Peripheral arterial occlusive disease

2nd column

Most people have a problem with their digestion at some time in their lives. Heartburn (a burning feeling moving up from the stomach to the throat), stomach pain, and bloating (feeling full of gas and needing to belch or pass wind) are all very common. They may be worse after a meal or at night.

Digestive problems are often caused by acid from the stomach. This can lead to ulcers in the stomach or intestine, or inflammation in the oesophagus – the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Acid isn’t the only cause of digestive problems.

Most digestive problems can be treated with medicines.

Treating Digestive Disorders

Digestive disorders are diverse in nature.

A number of pathologies with digestive symptoms are in fact inflammatory in origin, for example Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Some others are linked to changes in the gastrointestinal blood pressure. This is the case when the liver becomes fibrotic (for example in cirrhosis) and becomes an obstacle to the normal blood flow, causing high blood pressure locally. This may lead to bleeding from varices in the oesophagus. Vasoactive treatments control this type of bleeding and reduce the risk that it will start again.

The treatment of heartburn and stomach pain has come a long way in the last 30 years. Millions of people around the world now routinely take medicines to relieve their symptoms by suppressing the amount of acid they make in their stomach. Histamine blockers (also called H2 antagonists) provide a smooth reduction in acid that gives the inflamed lining of the stomach, intestine or oesophagus a chance to heal.















Until recently, the main drawback of histamine blockers was that, once treatment was stopped, the digestive problem was likely to come back. However, newer treatments have been designed to reduce the risk of recurrence. Proton pump inhibitors achieve rapid and sustained decrease in acidity in the stomach.

Ulcers destroy the surface tissue on the inside of the stomach and when they reach blood vessels, they start to bleed. At this stage, simply decreasing the acidity of the stomach will not solve the problem. As for bleeding esophageal varices, vasoactive treatments are available to control bleeding due to ulcers and to decrease the risk of recurrent bleeding. These drugs can also prevent complications after digestive surgery or after certain endoscopic procedures.



Erectile dysfunction1st column



2nd column

Erectile dysfunction or male impotence is a sexual dysfunction characterised by the inability to develop or maintain an erection. There are various underlying causes, such as cardiovascular leakage or psychological problems, many of which are medically treatable. Other factors leading to erectile dysfunction are diabetes mellitus causing neuropathy or hypogonadism, decreased testosterone levels due to disease affecting the testicles or the pituitary gland.

Around one in ten men will experience recurring impotence problems at some point in their lives.

Treating erectile dysfunction

There are a number of treatments available; pills, injections prior to intercourse, vacuum pumps, hormone treatment or, more rarely, surgery, all of which take a while to become effective or may be invasive or inconvenient.













Hypertension1st column


o Bladder disorders o Coronary heart disease o Digestive disorders o Erectile dysfunction o Hypertension o Iron deficiency o Lung cancer o Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma o Peripheral arterial occlusive disease

2nd column

Hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically raised.

Hypertension can be classified as either primary or secondary. Primary hypertension indicates that no specific medical cause can be found to explain a patient's condition. Secondary hypertension is the result of another condition, such as kidney disease or certain tumours.

Hypertension is considered to be present when a person's systolic blood pressure is consistently 140mmHg or greater, and/or their diastolic blood pressure is consistently 90mmHg or greater.

The exact cause of primary hypertension is not know, although high dietary sodium (salt) is believed to be implicated as are hereditary factors. The roles of the hormones renin and insulin and a lack of sleep may also be implicated.

Hypertension on its own is rarely severe enough to cause symptoms and elevated blood pressure is not an illness but it often requires treatment due to its short- and long-term effects on many organs. Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure. Even a moderate elevation of blood pressure leads to shortened life expectancy.

Treatment of hypertension

Mild hypertension can usually be treated by diet, exercise and improved physical fitness. Dietary sodium (salt) may worsen hypertension in some people and reducing salt intake decreases blood pressure in many people. Regular, mild exercise improves blood flow and also helps to lower blood pressure. A reduction of environmental stressors such as high sound levels and over-illumination can be an additional method of reducing hypertension. For more severe hypertension, anti-hypertensive drugs may be prescribed such as ace inhibitors, alpha and beta blockers.














Iron deficiency 1st column



2nd column

Iron deficiency is the most common type of nutritional deficiency. In the human body, iron is present in all cells and has several vital functions including carrying oxygen to the tissues from the lungs in the form of haemoglobin and as an integral part of enzyme reactions in various tissues. Too little iron can interfere with vital functions.

When the loss of iron is not sufficiently compensated for by adequate iron intake, a deficiency develops. The direct consequence of iron deficiency is anaemia and the people that are most prone to developing this disease are children, and pre-menopausal women. Anaemia is mostly caused by excessive external and internal bleeding or inadequate intake of dietary iron, especially in growing children. There are no known genetic causes.

Symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue, pallor, irritability, weakness, pica, which is an eating disorder in which non-foods like paper are consumed.

Treating iron deficiency

Iron deficiency can be readily treated with iron supplements, for example in the form of ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate or amino acid chelate tablets. Natural sources of dietary iron-rich include meat, legumes and dark-green leafy vegetables like spinach.













Non-small-cell lung cancer



2nd column

There are two major types of lung cancer: small-cell-lung cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer. 85% to 90% of lung cancers are non-small-cell (NSCLC).

There are three types of NSCLC. 25% - 30% are squamous cell carcinomas linked to a history of smoking and which tend to be found centrally, near a bronchus. 40% are adenocarcinomas usually found in the outer region of lung. People with a type of adenocarcinoma, known as bronchioloalveolar carcinoma tend, to have a better outlook or prognosis than those with other types of lung cancer. 10% to 15% are large-cell undifferentiated carcinomas which may appear in any part of the lung, and tend to grow and spread quickly resulting in a poor prognosis.

Smoking, particularly of cigarettes, is by far the main cause of lung cancer and almost 90% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. Symptoms that suggest lung cancer include a shortness of breath, coughing up blood, chronic coughing, wheezing, chest pain or pain in the abdomen, weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, hoarse voice and difficulty in swallowing.

Treatment for non-small cell lung cancer

Prevention; not smoking, stopping smoking or banning smoking, is the most effective means of fighting lung cancer. Treatment for lung cancer depends on the cancer's specific cell type, how far it has spread, and the patient's health. Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy














Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma



2nd column

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma describes a group of cancers arising from lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, with varying courses, treatments, and outcomes. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may develop in any organ associated with the lymphatic system, for example, the spleen, lymph nodes, or tonsils.

The most common symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm or groin. Other symptoms may include unexplained fever, unexplained weight loss and poor appetite, constant fatigue, itchy skin, reddened patches on the skin. However, such symptoms are non-specific and may be caused by other, less serious conditions.

Diagnosis and treatment of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma requires a biopsy of the involved tissue. The numerous types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are typically grouped into three distinct categories based on their aggressiveness: indolent or low-grade, aggressive or intermediate-grade, and highly aggressive or high-grade. The treatment of indolent or low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may initially involve a period of observation, while aggressive or highly aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is typically treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.



















Peripheral arterial occlusive disease 1st column

CNS & Epilepsy Immunology and inflammation, including allergy and respiration Oncology (cancer) More conditions

o Bladder disorders o Coronary heart disease o Digestive disorders o Erectile dysfunction o Hypertension o Iron deficiency o Osteoporosis o Peripheral arterial occlusive disease

2nd column

Peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) is also known as peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD) and includes all diseases that result from the obstruction of the large peripheral arteries, the arteries carrying blood to the head, internal organs and limbs. Obstruction may be caused by atherosclerosis, the clogging and hardening of the artery walls; stenosis, the narrowing of the artery walls; an embolism, a blockage caused by a blood clot, a piece of tissue, an air bubble, or a foreign object; or the formation of blood clots. It causes either acute or chronic ischaemia which is an inadequate blood flow and a lack of vital oxygen and nutrients to the organs and limbs concerned.

Symptoms include pain, weakness, or cramping in muscles due to decreased blood flow, sores, wounds, or ulcers that heal slowly or not at all and noticeable change in colour (blueness or paleness) or temperature (coolness) when compared to other limbs. Diminished hair and nail growth in the affected limb and digits may also be experienced.

PAOD is caused by smoking, diabetes mellitus which causes endothelial and smooth muscle cell dysfunction, high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The risk of PAOD also increases if the patient is over the age of fifty, African-American, male, obese, or has a personal history of vascular disease, heart attack, or stroke.

Treating peripheral arterial occlusive disease

Dependent on the severity of the disease, the following steps can be taken: smoking cessation, regular exercise to help open up alternative small vessels and so limitation in walking often improves. Medication with aspirin and the anti-platelet drug, clopidogrel which reduce clot formation and statins which reduce cholesterol levels, can help with disease progression and address the other cardiovascular risks that the patient may have.

Angioplasty, when a thin tube is inserted to open up the arteries, can be performed on solitary lesions in large arteries; plaque excision, in which the fatty debris is scraped off of the inside of the vessel wall; bypass grafting adding a new piece of artery to circumvent a narrowed artery. When gangrene of toes has set in, amputation is often a last resort to stop infected dying tissues from causing septicaemia. Arterial thrombosis or embolism has a dismal













http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/conditions/oncology/index.asp




prognosis, but it is occasionally treated successfully by dissolving and breaking up the blood clots using thrombolytic or clot-busting drugs.



5B

Testimonials1st column:

Allergy Crohn's disease Epilepsy Parkinson's disease Rheumatoid arthritis

2nd column

Patient storiesOn these pages, you find testimonials from patients and caregivers, reporting about their way of coping with a severe disease. By sharing experiences with others, people can make a positive change in the lives of others living with severe diseases. Connecting and sharing knowledge with other patients and with the medical community is the key to deeper insights.

Allergy

Rita Hayward copes well with her large family, despite all but one of her children suffering from allergies. The coping strategies she employs for the management of so many conditions may be effective, but have had a tremendously stressful impact on her daily life.

Read more about Rita and her family coping with allergies


http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/allergy/889.htm

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/arthritis/index.asp

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/parkinsons/index.asp

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/epilepsy/index.asp

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/crohns/index.asp

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/allergy/index.asp


Crohn's disease

They may not know her by name, but sixteen-year-old Ally Bain is a hero to many people with Crohn's. She's proven that one voice really can make a difference—that is, if you're brave enough to share a story that most people would choose to forget.

There ought to be a law: Ally Bain fights for people with Crohn's

Epilepsy

Sometimes, perspective changes everything. Consider the day Michele Walz and her husband proudly presented their daughter Rachel, then three and a half, with her first bike – a red tricycle. "Rachel thought it was so cool, but when she sat on it, she just couldn't make it move," says Walz, from New Jersey.

Read more about Michele's family, living a normal, joyful life


http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/epilepsy/2011.htm

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/crohns/2051.htm


Rheumatoid arthritis

Alice Peterson was a promising tennis player from a young age. Alice loved tennis. It was her passion. She played on the UK junior tennis circuit and won a tennis scholarship to study at a university in the US. Alice started to notice pain in her right hand and put the discomfort down to a sports injury. The pain seemed to come and go... until she was playing in the finals of a tournament and couldn't even hold the racquet properly. She was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) at 18 years of age and never played tennis again.

Read Alice's story

3rd column

Craig, a Crohn’s disease pioneer

VIDEO

Craig's nearly lifetime battle with Crohn's has led to him undergoing multiple treatments. But through it all, Craig has kept a positive attitude.


http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/arthritis/1994.htm


Allergy1st column:

Allergy o Rita Hayward's family

Crohn's disease Epilepsy Parkinson's disease Rheumatoid arthritis

2nd column

Allergy testimonials

Rita Hayward copes well with her large family, despite all but one of her children suffering from allergies. The coping strategies she employs for the management of so many conditions may be effective, but have had a tremendously stressful impact on her daily life.

Read more about Rita and her family coping with allergies

3rd column

Yola de VriesVIDEO

Yola’s personal experience of living, since birth, with allergic diseases. Yola deals with it in a positive way, trying to help other people who live with the burden of allergic diseases.

Related links Links to allergy websites Allergy disease description











Rita Hayward’s family1st column:

Allergy o Rita Hayward's family

Crohn's disease Epilepsy Parkinson's disease Rheumatoid arthritis

2nd column

Rita Hayward's familyRita Hayward copes well with her large family, despite all but one of her children suffering from allergies. The coping strategies she employs for the management of so many conditions may be effective, but have had a tremendously stressful impact on her daily life.

Being vigilant about the condition

Seven year-old Chloe Hayward suffers from asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis. Chloe has to have her medications accessible to her at all times, in case she has an attack, and has had to learn to be especially vigilant about her own condition. Asthma can be triggered by a variety of events and circumstances; anything that irritates the airways and brings on symptoms. A very important aspect of controlling symptoms is avoiding your triggers, but in everyday life this can be extremely difficult. As well as her nasal allergy, little Chloe suffers from hayfever, and has to cope with a runny, stuffy and itchy nose, sneezing, and irritated ears and throat. With allergic rhinitis triggers becoming ever more diverse and aggressive, Chloe and Rita have to monitor the environment constantly, recognising and acknowledging anything that provokes an attack of allergic rhinitis, or asthma. A large burden for a little girl, and a big worry for Rita.

Medication close at all times

As with many patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis, Chloe also has eczema and needs to take special baths, and moisturise frequently. Bath and bed times are not easy for Rita, who has to ensure that Chloe’s skin is correctly saturated to prevent it from becoming inflamed and painful. But Chloe’s routine is far from the whole story for the Hayward family. Five year-old Kyle has far more problems, as he suffers from asthma, hayfever and a variety of food allergies. He too suffers from eczema, to the extent that Rita and her husband have had to put a strict daily management plan into practice. As a baby, Kyle had to be moisturised all over at least eight times a day, and although this has now dropped to three or four times a day, the time it takes to apply the ointments can be significant. Kyle can suffer from distressing flare ups on his body and specifically on his face. When this happens those areas need extra care and attention. The management of Kyle’s asthma is also stressful for his parents. He must keep his medication close to him at all times, for his hives and in case he becomes short of breath or wheezy.








The allergies impact on every single aspect of the Hayward’s lives

Life is stressful for the Hayward family, as well as for little Kyle, who was diagnosed with allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, shellfish, sesame seeds, peas, lentils, chickpeas and butter beans as a very small child. A series of invasive tests, including skin prick, blood tests and Food Challenge tests diagnosed these allergies. Kyle’s allergies impact on every single aspect of the Haywards’ lives, and despite becoming a near expert on allergy management, Rita still finds coping with her children’s conditions very stressful and draining. The time it takes to prepare treatments, as well as pick up prescriptions, liaise with healthcare workers and inform her children, all take up valuable time. Flare-ups and incidents are also traumatic for Rita, as well as her children, and mean that she can never really relax and be at ease whilst her children are living with allergies.

Luckily the eldest Hayward child, sixteen year-old Ines, appears to be allergy free. But the family are not ruling out the possibility that Ines could yet develop a condition, as they are all atopic and certainly don’t take anything for granted.

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Crohn’s disease

1st column: Allergy Crohn's disease

o Barbara o Miranda o Craig o Ally

Epilepsy Parkinson's disease Rheumatoid arthritis

2nd column

Crohn's disease testimonialsAlly

They may not know her by name, but sixteen-year-old Ally Bain is a hero to many people with Crohn's. She's proven that one voice really can make a difference—that is, if you're brave enough to share a story that most people would choose to forget.


Miranda

Maybe it's because she's a New Yorker. Or, maybe it's because she's an experienced counselor and patient advocate for clients of the CCFA (Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America). Whatever the reason, Miranda takes her work with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis seriously.

Miranda Loves Laughing with her Crohnies













Barbara

Raising two children, going to school at night, and having a successful marriage can be quite a challenge for anyone. So, imagine doing all that when you have Crohn's disease.

Barbara, Crohn's Can't Keep Her Down

Craig

Craig, 36, from Manchester, Connecticut, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease 25 years ago, at a time when doctors knew very little about the disease and even less about curing it. And that has given Craig a unique perspective about his disease and it’s treatments.

Craig: A Crohn's Pioneer

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Ally's lawVIDEO

Related links Links to Crohn's disease websites Crohn's disease description







Barbara




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Barbara"I have children, I have a successful marriage, I try to stay positive – I don't let Crohn's disease hold me back."Raising two children, going to school at night, and having a successful marriage can be quite a challenge for anyone. So, imagine doing all that when you have Crohn's disease.

Crohn's Can't Keep Her Down

Barbara was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1992, the same year she was married. It could have been disastrous. Instead, with the support of her husband Luis and their family, Barbara is moving forward and not just surviving, but thriving.

"There was no magic pill, there was no way around it. And I would have to learn to live with it day-to-day."

A rollercoaster of treatments and surgery (including a total colectomy) has taught Barbara and Luis to be adaptable and creative to live their lives on their own terms.

A few years ago, she confessed to her husband that it was hard for her to leave home with her small children, because she never knew when she would need a bathroom. Rather than dwell on her limitations, Barbara and her husband Luis came up with an ingenious solution. Luis rebuilt their van, installing a port-a-potty in the back. It's not perfect, of course, but it's this kind of problem solving that helps make life a little easier.

Barbara's advice to others?

"Don't give up. Have hope. Speak up, because people need to know that this isn't just about going to the bathroom. It's something people need to feel comfortable talking about and not feel ashamed of anymore."











More patient stories

Go to http://www.crohnsandme.com/ for more videos of Barbara and other Crohn's disease patient testimonials

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I have children, I have a successful marriage, I try to stay positive – I don't let Crohn's disease hold me back

Barbara

VIDEO


http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/crohns/2056.htm#%23




Miranda




2nd column

Miranda Maybe it's because she's a New Yorker. Or, maybe it's because she's an experienced counselor and patient advocate for clients of the CCFA (Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America). Whatever the reason, Miranda takes her work with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis seriously.

Miranda loves laughing with her crohnies

Miranda is a music lover, nature buff, and friendly New Yorker. Did we mention the quirky laugh? Her fire-red hair? Let's put it this way: Miranda is often life of the party—make that the life of the café or the sidewalk, too. She's a person who tells stories so well, that others gather around just to hear the punch line. Miranda has also been a CD patient for over two decades. So, she has a lot of experience she's gained living with the disease that she shares with her own clients.

And what about when Miranda's feeling down? Well, she calls one of her many Crohnies. "Crohnies" is the nickname that Miranda has given to her friends who have Crohn's disease. So, when Miranda's down, she gets together with some Crohnies to hang out and laugh.

And Miranda loves to laugh.


Go to www.crohnsandme.com for more videos of Miranda and other Crohn's disease patient testimonials

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MirandaVIDEO












Miranda has been a Crohn’s disease patient for over two decades. She has a lot of experience she's gained living with the disease.



Craig




2nd column

Craig"Everyday is a good day because I don’t see Crohn’s as a serious disease that will stop me from living my life the way I want to."

Craig, 36, from Manchester, Connecticut, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease 25 years ago, at a time when doctors knew very little about the disease and even less about curing it. And that has given Craig a unique perspective about his disease and it’s treatments.

Craig: A Crohn's Pioneer

Craig’s nearly lifetime battle with Crohn’s has led to him undergoing multiple treatments- including 12 surgeries and many different medications. But through it all, Craig has kept a positive attitude. For him, staying informed and having meaningful discussions with his doctor is his way of controlling his disease and continuing on with life.

Even with all the surgeries and medications, Craig has still pursued an active life — including attending a Red Sox game just a few months after surgery and hiking the Grand Canyon after another. And there is one thing you’ll always know about Craig — Crohn’s won’t keep him down.


Go to www.crohnsandme.com for more videos of Craig and other Crohn's disease patient testimonials

3rd columnVIDEO

Everyday is a good day because I don't see Crohn's as a serious disease that will stop me from living my life the way I want to

Craig














Ally




2nd column

AllyThey may not know her by name, but sixteen-year-old Ally Bain is a hero to many people with Crohn's. She's proven that one voice really can make a difference—that is, if you're brave enough to share a story that most people would choose to forget.


In 2004, Ally and her mother, Lisa, were out shopping at a retail store. Ally soon had a desperate need to use a restroom. Lisa asked the store manager if Ally could use the employee restroom, but Ally's mother's request was refused and Ally soiled herself in the store. Angered, Lisa promised her daughter that something would be done so that neither Ally nor anyone else with a medical condition would have to experience the humiliation and isolation Ally felt that day.

A few months later, Lisa and Ally met with Illinois State Rep. Kathleen Ryg. Lisa and Ally shared their story and asked Rep. Ryg for help. The wheels were immediately put in motion to form a law that required businesses to make employee-only restrooms available to people with inflammatory bowel disease and other medical conditions (such as pregnancy and incontinence). The Restroom Access Act – also known as Ally's Law - was signed by the Governor of Illinois and took effect in September, 2005. Way to go, Lisa and Ally!


Go to http://www.crohnsandme.com/ for more videos of Ally and other Crohn's disease patient testimonials

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VIDEO



Epilepsy

1st column: Allergy Crohn's disease Epilepsy

o Bryan Griffin o Michele Walz o Heather Overton

Parkinson's disease Rheumatoid arthritis

2nd column

Epilepsy testimonialsThe people featured in this section have learned to live with epliepsy and hope to help others by sharing their experiences.

Taylor Huey and Chelsea, his Canine Assistant

The dog in the photograph is Chelsea, owned by Taylor Huey. Taylor was 15 years old when he was diagnosed with epilepsy. Since then, he and his family have seen some difficult times including the arrival of Hurricane Katrina which wiped out the family business. But two months later Chelsea was given to Taylor, completely transforming his and his family’s life, and giving him the much-needed emotional support that saw him through two brain surgeries last year. During this time, staff at LSU Medical Center, Louisiana, allowed Chelsea onto the ward and the dog never left Taylor’s bedside.

Read more about the Canine Assistants in the patient programmes section




http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/programmes/canine/index.asp









Michele Walz


Read more about Michele's family, living a normal, joyful life

Heather Overton

Once a month, Heather Overton looks forward to immersing herself in the detail of epilepsy because it means she'll be up to date on the latest treatments and medications. "There is that old saying, "knowledge is power," and I firmly believe that the more you know, the less you are afraid," explains Overton. And the place she turns to for empowerment is the epilepsy support group she and her mother founded two years ago - the only one in her home state of Nebraska.

Read more about Heather's epilepsy support group

Bryan Griffin

Brian Griffin's life has undergone some pretty dramatic changes lately. This past summer, he logged 2,000 miles on his bicycle and lost 70 pounds. He returned to his former job at a tractor plant – and now even drives finished vehicles out of the factory. For the first time, Griffin's wife, Stacey, feels at ease when he's alone with their three children – Ashley, 6, Amber, 8, and Jessica, 10. And Griffin really enjoys spending time with his family. "Every day I hug them and tell them that I love them," says the Kansas native.

Read more about the way Bryan took control over his life

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Related links Patient support programmes Links to epilepsy websites Epilepsy disease description




http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/programmes/index.asp





Bryan Griffin




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Bryan GriffinYear diagnosed: 1992Type of epilepsy: Generalized tonic-clonic seizuresLives for: Biking

Bryan Griffin's life has undergone some pretty dramatic changes lately. This past summer, he logged 2,000 miles on his bicycle and lost 70 pounds. He returned to his former job at a tractor plant – and now even drives finished vehicles out of the factory. For the first time, Griffin's wife, Stacey, feels at ease when he's alone with their three children – Ashley, 6, Amber, 8, and Jessica, 10. And Griffin really enjoys spending time with his family. "Every day I hug them and tell them that I love them," says the Kansas native.

All of this has been possible because after almost a decade of living with epilepsy – and, often as not, refusing to deal with its implications – Griffin finally took control of his life. Although he began having seizures in his early twenties, as a result of a car accident when he was 16, he not only continued to drive but also spent every weekend drag racing a 1968 Firebird he had rebuilt. Upon leaving the track one night, Griffin blacked out during a major seizure and totaled his month-old truck. He was only two days shy of his 30th birthday. "I was in total denial about my seizures; I was convinced that if I didn't acknowledge them, they'd go away," says Griffin. "But that crash finally woke me up."

Griffin put away the keys to his Firebird, gave up drinking alcohol and told his boss the risk of having a seizure meant it wasn't safe for him to continue working on the assembly line making tractors. He also vowed to find a doctor who wouldn't merely increase the dose of his medications and tell him that this was as good as it was going to get. Says Griffin, "I decided my goal was zero seizures. I just believed more could be done."

Three neurologists later, Griffin found an epleptologist who recommended he undergo a left temporal lobectomy, a surgery that removes a portion of the brain. Although his family was extremely nervous, Griffin had no doubt it would succeed. "My epileptologist told me the outcome of surgery depends as much on the patient's outlook as on the skill of the neurosurgeon, so I opted for a positive attitude," he says. Almost two years after the 12th










surgery however, Griffin had a seizure – a major letdown – as his doctor tried to wean him off anti-epileptic drugs. Griffin ultimately made peace with his need for medication, and he recently celebrated three years of being seizure free. These days, he credits epilepsy with getting his priorities straight. "Epilepsy has actually made me a better person," he says.

More patient testimonials

Read more patient testimonials on www.epilepsyadvocate.com

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Epilepsy turned my life around. I vowed to take control, and it made me a better person

Bryan Griffin


http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/epilepsy/2013.htm#%23



Rachel Walz




2nd column

Rachel WalzMichele Walz, advocate for daughter Rachel, 10Year Rachel was diagnosed: 2000Type of epilepsy: Complex partial seizuresLives for: Family


Yet only a week later, out of sheer determination – and happily unaware that she had epilepsy and cerebral palsy, the results of a stroke when she was six weeks old – Rachel was riding her bike. That's typical, her mother says; whatever obstacles Rachel has encountered, she has always persevered, achieving exactly what she wants. Seeing this pattern repeat itself, time after time, Rachel's family has come to realize that temporary setbacks are, well, temporary.

That was a crucial lesson as Rachel, her parents and siblings struggled through four years of emergency-room visits and unsuccessful trials of several medications before doctors finally diagnosed Rachel's epilepsy. On days when Rachel had multiple seizures, Michele would cuddle with her on the couch for hours watching PBS Kids. When Rachel's brother and three sisters, several years older, came home from school, they would take turns holding her while Michele helped with homework or cooked dinner.

With everyone pitching in, the family pulled together and eventually found the right medication for Rachel, and she was finally approved for Social Security benefits. "We've got great kids we can count on for anything," says Walz. "And now we're a normal family, not living life bound by epilepsy. That is such a joyful thing."

Part of the joy, of course, involves watching Rachel rush fearlessly ahead. "She dribbles a basketball better than any other ten-year-old I know, and she's in perfect form when she shoots," says her proud mother. "The other day, I bought her cleats for soccer. There is nothing epilepsy has stopped her from doing."












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There is nothing epilepsy has stopped Rachel from doing. We're a normal family, living a joyful life

Michele Walz






Heather Overton




2nd column

Heather OvertonYear diagnosed: 1985 Type of epilepsy: juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Lives for: Helping others

Once a month, Heather Overton looks forward to immersing herself in the detail of epilepsy because it means she'll be up to date on the latest treatments and medications. "There is that old saying, "knowledge is power," and I firmly believe that the more you know, the less you are afraid," explains Overton. And the place she turns to for empowerment is the epilepsy support group she and her mother founded two years ago - the only one in her home state of Nebraska.

Although Overton was diagnosed with epilepsy at 18 months, she had never met another person with epilepsy until she walked into the first meeting of the support group. "So many people are afraid they'll be discriminated against if they talk about their disease, and until we can break that stigma, people with epilepsy will keep hiding," says Overton, a senior at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. "At the first meeting of our group, everyone said, 'I thought there was no one else like me.'"

The support group, now with 30 members, also helped Overton's mother, Mary, escape the isolation she had long felt. "My parents never let me see that they were frustrated or angry with my epilepsy, but I learned recently that my mother would cry at night when nothing was stopping my seizures, and she and my father had no one to talk to about what they were going through," says Overton.

Now, Overton and her mother are working to support even more Nebraskans with epilepsy. They're leading a group that hopes to raise $100,000 to establish the epilepsy foundation of Nebraska, which will provide legal assistance, help in finding jobs and housing, scholarships, physician referrals and epilepsy awareness training for teachers and health professionals. Currently, people with epilepsy in Nebraska can tap resources offered by an Illinois epilepsy foundation, but many activities and services are simply too far away, says Overton. "It will be great to have these services right here at home."










Also on Overton's agenda is raising public awareness about epilepsy, so whenever she participates in an epilepsy-related event, she contacts the media and gives interviews. "I want to show others that epilepsy is not a roadblock to achieving the goals you set for yourself," Overton says. That’s certainly her approach, and she is gratified to know her example is inspiring others. Recently, her epileptologist told her about a young patient who, after she has a seizure, turns to Overton's taped television interviews for encouragement, and proclaims, "I want to be like Heather."



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Epilepsy is not a roadblock to achieving your goals

Heather Overton





Parkinson’s disease

1st column: Allergy Crohn's disease Epilepsy Parkinson's disease

o Living with early Parkinson's Disease o Living with late Parkinson's Disease


2nd column:

Parkinson's disease patient storiesLiving with early stage Parkinson's disease

In the morning, Mrs A finds it increasingly difficult to get out of bed, as her muscles always seem to get stiff. Getting dressed takes longer than it used to, as she finds it difficult to do up buttons. She now prefers clothes with zippers, or her husband has to help her.

Read more about living with early stage Parkinson's disease

Living with late stage Parkinson's disease


http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/testimonials/parkinsons/1958.htm








Mr D spends much of his time sitting in a chair listening to the radio or watching television with the other guests in the home. He experiences unpredictable fluctuations between being able to move freely, having jerky movements and being 'frozen' as a result of his treatment.

Read more about living with late stage parkinson's disease

3rd column:

MaskingVIDEO

Patients explaining the consequences of not being able to show facial expressions

BradykinesiaVIDEO

Bradykinesia or the slowness of movement.




Living with early Parkinson’s disease




2nd column:

Living with early Parkinson’s diseaseThe following story describes the life of Mrs. A, who has the early stage of Parkinson's disease.

In the morning, Mrs A finds it increasingly difficult to get out of bed, as her muscles always seem to get stiff. Getting dressed takes longer than it used to, as she finds it difficult to do up buttons. She now prefers clothes with zippers, or her husband has to help her.

She has found that her handwriting has become much smaller than it used to be when she was marking books and writing reports. She often doesn’t bother with the crossword puzzle anymore, as she can’t seem to think of the right words. In the afternoons, she often falls asleep in front of the television, instead of doing things out in the garden as she used to do.

Lately, Mrs A has noticed that when she is just sitting in her armchair, her right hand seems to shake for no apparent reason. The shaking stops when she is using her hand. When she gets up from the chair, she is only able to move quite slowly.

Mrs A prefers going to bed early, as she feels increasingly tired. But when she is in bed, she finds it difficult to turn over. She accepts that all these changes are an inevitable consequence of getting older, but she feels depressed that she is unable to do some of the things that she previously enjoyed or took for granted. She is becoming more reliant on her husband.

Her story highlights The early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be vague and can go undiagnosed for

some time. Even early stage Parkinson’s disease can affect your quality of life. You may find that

everyday tasks become difficult. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve your quality of life.

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Living with late Parkinson’s disease




2nd column:

Living with late Parkinson's DiseaseThe following story describes the life of Mr. D, who has the latestage of Parkinson's disease.

Mr D spends much of his time sitting in a chair listening to the radio or watching television with the other guests in the home. He experiences unpredictable fluctuations between being able to move freely, having jerky movements and being ‘frozen’ as a result of his treatment.

He is very unsteady on his feet and has experienced a number of falls. However, sitting is also often uncomfortable; when his medication has worn off, he cannot control the shaking of his arms and legs and his muscles can become rigid. When he does manage to get up, he finds that he often "freezes", unable to move when he tries to walk. Or his steps become smaller and smaller, so that he shuffles.

Sometimes, he finds it hard to make himself understood when asking for things. His voice seems to have changed becoming softer and less clear. Mealtimes are difficult: he sometimes finds it difficult to chew and swallow, and he needs help from the nurse.

The days pass in a blur: he often can’t remember what day it is, or the names of the people sitting next to him. He usually falls asleep during the day. Mr D feels depressed as he knows his condition is getting worse. He feels he is losing his dignity and the fluctuations in movement due to his treatment are becoming more unpredictable.

Mr D dreads going to bed as this is when the tremors are at their worst: his legs feel like they are tingling, he has trouble sleeping and the nurses have to turn him over in the night.

His story highlights that advanced Parkinson’s disease can be severely debilitating and impacts on all aspects of a person’s life.

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1st column: Allergy Crohn's disease Epilepsy Parkinson's disease Rheumatoid arthritis

o Alice Peterson

2nd column:

Rheumatoid arthritisSpotlight on Alice Peterson

Alice Peterson was a promising tennis player from a young age. Alice loved tennis. It was her passion. She played on the UK junior tennis circuit and won a tennis scholarship to study at a university in the US. Alice started to notice pain in her right hand and put the discomfort down to a sports injury. The pain seemed to come and go... until she was playing in the finals of a tournament and couldn’t even hold the racquet properly. She was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) at 18 years of age and never played tennis again.

Read Alice's story

3rd column

Related links Links to rheumatoid arthritis websites Rheumatoid arthritis disease description











Alice Peterson

1st column: Allergy Crohn's disease Epilepsy Parkinson's disease Rheumatoid arthritis

o Alice Peterson

2nd column:

Alice PetersonAlice Peterson was a promising tennis player from a young age. Alice loved tennis. It was her passion. She played on the UK junior tennis circuit and won a tennis scholarship to study at a university in the US.

Alice started to notice pain in her right hand and put the discomfort down to a sports injury. The pain seemed to come and go... until she was playing in the finals of a tournament and couldn’t even hold the racquet properly. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at 18 years of age and never played tennis again.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic progressive and disabling autoimmune disorder affecting 0.8% of the adult UK population. It is a systemic disease which means that it can affect the whole body and internal organs such as lungs, heart and eyes. It can happen to anyone and is not a hereditary disease. Arthritis can develop at any age, it is most common to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis between the ages of 30-50 and is three times more common in women than in men.

For Alice, her rheumatoid arthritis has been so severe that she has needed help getting up in the mornings, dressing, walking, her mother has even had to feed her. She says, “It was like being a child again. Also, I was at an age when I should have moved away from home. Instead I felt a terrible burden to my parents.’ Alice was taking a cocktail of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs but nothing touched the pain. From the age of 18-33 she has had to have nine major joint replacements.

Alice has written 'A Will To Win', an inspiring story about her tennis-mad childhood and the battle to live with this degenerative disease. She shares her memories of growing up in the eighties, the thrill of getting a tennis scholarship to the US followed by the shocking diagnosis, the all consuming pain and how she came to rebuild her life around it.

Alice is a full-time writer, public speaker, and Trustee of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, www.rheumatoid.org.uk. In these roles she continues to raise awareness of RA, particularly in relation to how it affects the lives of young sufferers.

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http://www.rheumatoid.org.uk/









5C Clinical Trials

1st columnAbout clinical trials UCB policy Trial information search Trial results search

2nd column

Clinical trials

In UCB's search to understand, prevent and treat disease and in the development of new drugs, clinical trials involving healthy volunteers and patients play an essential role.

Please use this section of the website to learn more about clinical trials, to search for clinical trials that may be relevant to you, to register for a trial and to learn more about UCB's clinical trial results.



5C1 About Clinical Trials

1st column About clinical trials

o Phase I o Phase II o Phase III o Phase IV o FAQ

UCB policy Trial information search Trial results search

About Clinical TrialsWhat is a clinical trial and how does it work?

For pharmaceutical companies to obtain marketing licenses and make new drugs available to the general public, the safety, quality and efficacy of all potential new drugs must be demonstrated through a series of rigorous clinical trials, also referred to as clinical studies, research studies or medical research.

Clinical trials are generally carried out in a hospital or a medical research centre and involve healthy volunteers or patients. Volunteers or patients are not generally required to stay at the hospital or centre throughout the trial, but the effects of the drug will be closely observed and monitored throughout by highly qualified personnel.

Different phases of a clinical trial

Clinical trials can be classified according to four different phases. The first three are conducted before a licence is granted and the last as a post-licensing phase. Each phase varies in size, character and focus.

Phase I Phase II Phase III Phase IV Drug development process

Study Protocol

A customised protocol is developed for each trial. This is a study plan which is designed to answer specific research questions and also has the safety of volunteers and patients in mind. Protocols determine, among other things, who is eligible to participate (inclusion and exclusion criteria), the drug tested and, if any, the comparator (another drug for the same indication or a placebo), the dosages, the kind of tests and their schedules, the trial duration.


http://www.ucb-group.com/research_and_development/info_centre/709.htm

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/clinical_trials/about/926.htm




http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/clinical_trials/results_search/index.asp

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/clinical_trials/information_search/index.asp

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/clinical_trials/ucb_policy/index.asp







Clinical investigators

Clinical investigators or medical researchers conduct clinical trials and follow the study protocol. They are usually doctors, nurses, pharmacists or other healthcare professionals. As per Good Clinical Practice the clinical investigator(s) will be qualified by education, training, and experience to assume responsibility for the proper conduct of the trial, will meet all the qualifications specified by the applicable regulatory requirement(s), and will provide evidence of such qualifications through up-to-date curriculum vitae and/or other relevant documentation requested by the sponsor, the institutional review board and independent ethics committee.

Informed Consent

Once the study protocol is approved, the hospital or medical research centre will start to recruit healthy volunteers or patients to participate in the trial. The informed consent process is in place to ensure that all recruits are fully briefed about the trial and the nature of their participation, in both oral and written form. The Informed Consent document in written form contains:

information about the trial (purpose, duration, placebo or other comparator); trial procedures; potential benefits and potential risks.

The recruit will be given time to read the Informed Consent document at home, to discuss their participation with family or close relatives and take time to make their decision.

If the decision is made to join the clinical trial, the recruit will be asked to sign the Informed Consent document.

Control Groups

Most trials will involve some sort of comparison with the new drug being tested. This means that in many clinical trials, while one group of volunteers or patients will be given the product under investigation, a control group is given either an existing standard treatment for the condition being treated or a placebo, a dose that looks like the medicine being tested but in fact contains no medical ingredients.

Regulation and Monitoring

All trials must be performed in line with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) or they will be rejected by the regulators.

Good Clinical Practice is the standard for the design, conduct, performance, monitoring, auditing, recording, analyses, and reporting of clinical trials that provides assurance that the data and reported results are credible and accurate, and that the rights, integrity, and confidentiality of trial subjects are protected.



Patient Safety

Every effort is made to ensure volunteer and patient safety throughout the course of any clinical trial. We do this through a series of tests which may include blood tests, physical examinations, procedures such as CT scans or ECGs and by listening to the patient. UCB's safety team meets once a month to examine trends and side-effects across all study volunteers and patients, however, it must be noted that all clinical trials run the risk of side-effects as mentioned in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

2nd column

What is a clinical trial and how does it work?

For pharmaceutical companies to obtain marketing licenses and make new drugs available to the general public, the safety, quality and efficacy of all potential new drugs must be demonstrated through a series of rigorous clinical trials, also referred to as clinical studies, research studies or medical research.

Clinical trials are generally carried out in a hospital or a medical research centre and involve healthy volunteers or patients. Volunteers or patients are not generally required to stay at the hospital or centre throughout the trial, but the effects of the drug will be closely observed and monitored throughout by highly qualified personnel.



Different phases of a clinical trial

Clinical trials can be classified according to four different phases. The first three are conducted before a licence is granted and the last as a post-licensing phase. Each phase varies in size, character and focus.

Phase I Phase II Phase III Phase IV Drug development process

Study Protocol

A customised protocol is developed for each trial. This is a study plan which is designed to answer specific research questions and also has the safety of volunteers and patients in mind. Protocols determine, among other things, who is eligible to participate (inclusion and exclusion criteria), the drug tested and, if any, the comparator (another drug for the same indication or a placebo), the dosages, the kind of tests and their schedules, the trial duration.

Clinical investigators

Clinical investigators or medical researchers conduct clinical trials and follow the study protocol. They are usually doctors, nurses, pharmacists or other healthcare professionals. As per Good Clinical Practice the clinical investigator(s) will be qualified by education, training, and experience to assume responsibility for the proper conduct of the trial, will meet all the qualifications specified by the applicable regulatory requirement(s), and will provide evidence of such qualifications through up-to-date curriculum vitae and/or other relevant documentation requested by the sponsor, the institutional review board and independent ethics committee.

Informed Consent

Once the study protocol is approved, the hospital or medical research centre will start to recruit healthy volunteers or patients to participate in the trial. The informed consent process is in place to ensure that all recruits are fully briefed about the trial and the nature of their participation, in both oral and written form. The Informed Consent document in written form contains:

information about the trial (purpose, duration, placebo or other comparator); trial procedures; potential benefits and potential risks.

The recruit will be given time to read the Informed Consent document at home, to discuss their participation with family or close relatives and take time to make their decision.

If the decision is made to join the clinical trial, the recruit will be asked to sign the Informed Consent document.


http://www.ucb-group.com/research_and_development/info_centre/709.htm






Control Groups

Most trials will involve some sort of comparison with the new drug being tested. This means that in many clinical trials, while one group of volunteers or patients will be given the product under investigation, a control group is given either an existing standard treatment for the condition being treated or a placebo, a dose that looks like the medicine being tested but in fact contains no medical ingredients.

Regulation and Monitoring

All trials must be performed in line with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) or they will be rejected by the regulators.

Good Clinical Practice is the standard for the design, conduct, performance, monitoring, auditing, recording, analyses, and reporting of clinical trials that provides assurance that the data and reported results are credible and accurate, and that the rights, integrity, and confidentiality of trial subjects are protected.

Patient Safety

Every effort is made to ensure volunteer and patient safety throughout the course of any clinical trial. We do this through a series of tests which may include blood tests, physical examinations, procedures such as CT scans or ECGs and by listening to the patient. UCB's safety team meets once a month to examine trends and side-effects across all study volunteers and patients, however, it must be noted that all clinical trials run the risk of side-effects as mentioned in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

3rd column



5C1A Phase I




2nd column

Phase I trials primarily determine how a new drug works in humans, help to predict the dosage range and involve between fifty and one hundred healthy volunteers. Phase I trials are short and volunteers are closely monitored at the research centre where the trial is being conducted.The principal objective of Phase I trials is to assess what effect the experimental drug has in the human body - what happens to the drug once released in the human body and how the human body reacts to the drug.

The goal of Phase I trials are:

to assess the safety of the drug, to determine the side effects of the drug, to evaluate how the drug should be administered.

3rd column













5C1B Phase II




2nd column

Phase II trials test for efficacy as well as safety in a group of between one hundred to three hundred patients with the condition for which the medicine has been developed. Healthy volunteers are not included. Several Phase II trials are generally performed to test the drug in different patient populations and in different indications. Patients are closely monitored in Phase II trials but do not need to stay at the research centres.

The goals of a Phase II trial are:

to assess short-term efficacy and safety of the drug, to determine the optimum dosage range for the drug (that is, find the dose at which the

drug has the greatest efficacy with the least side effects).

3rd column













5C1C Phase III




2nd column

Phase III trials involve a much larger group, between several hundred to several thousand patients, to help determine if the new drug can be considered both safe and effective under mid to long-term assessment.

The goals of a Phase III trial are:

to confirm the safety and efficacy of results obtained during Phase II trials, to compare the new drug to other compounds either with a placebo (an inactive

version of the new drug) or other standard therapies, to see if the new drug out-performs its competitors.

Phase III trials may also be used to assess the efficacy and safety of the new drug when given in combination with other approved therapies.

3rd column











5C1D Phase IV




2nd column

Phase IV trials are conducted after the new drug has been granted a licence. In these studies, the new drug is prescribed in an everyday healthcare environment which allows results to be developed using a much larger group of participants.

Phase IV trials enable new uses for the new drug to be developed, comparisons with other treatments for the same condition to be made and to determine the clinical effectiveness of the new drug in a wider variety of patient types. Safety is a major part of Phase IV trials which often involve several thousand patients so that more rare side effects, if any, may be detected.

3rd column











5C1E FAQ




2nd column

Q Why take part in a clinical trial?

A There are a number of benefits to participating in a clinical trial:

you will be assessed by highly qualified medical practitioners or doctors and receive high quality care;

you may be one the first people to benefit from a new drug that is not yet available; your participation will be beneficial to the community as it will allow scientists and

pharmaceutical companies to increase their knowledge of diseases and develop new drugs.

Q What are the disadvantages of participating in a clinical trial?

A In some cases, volunteers or patients may consider that there was no benefit to take part of a research study because:

the treatment was not effective; they experienced some side effects; they were given the placebo instead of the active new drug.

Q Who can take part in a clinical trial?

A There are precise guidelines set out for each clinical trial to determine who may or may not participate. These guidelines are called inclusion criteria (factors allowing someone to enter a clinical trial) and exclusion criteria (factors preventing someone from participating in a clinical trial).

Examples of criteria are age, gender, past and current treatment of condition, stage or type of disease and so on. Inclusion criteria aside, always remember that you are the only person who can decide whether or not to take part.











Q How are clinical trials volunteers or patients protected?

A Unfortunately, the public only hears about clinical trials when something goes wrong even though hundreds of clinical trials are taking place throughout the world at any one time without any adverse events occurring. This is because there are many measures in place to protect volunteers and patients as follows:

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) or Ethics Committees (ECs)

To protect volunteers and patients participating in clinical trials, the details of all trials must be approved by an independent ethics committee before any trial may start. Ethics committees review and advise on whether the proposed trial meets required ethical and scientific standards. The committee members are totally independent of the trial sponsor which means that they have no commercial or other interest in the trials.

Q Do you have to pay in order to participate in a clinical trial?

A The answer is definitely no. You should never be asked to pay to take part in a trial. If you are ever asked to pay, refuse.

The new drug or the comparator are provided free of charge and in most cases, trial visits and associated trial procedures will also be free of charge.

In addition you should be reimbursed for the costs associated with your participation in the clinical trial such as for travel costs, parking and so on.

Q What has to be considered before taking part in a clinical trial?

A Before taking part in a clinical trial, there are several aspects you may wish to consider in order to decide whether or not to proceed.

First of all, you may want to discuss it with your doctor, your family and friends: they may have an alternative point of view that influences your decision. In addition, you may not immediately realise that your decision to participate in a clinical trial may have an impact on their daily life too.

You may also want to discuss your participation with your patient support group or with other patients who have previously take part in clinical research.

You may wish to consider if the trial procedures will be acceptable to you. For example, some trials may require a blood sample. You should not hesitate ask the clinical trial team any question you can think of. It may be worth considering all aspects of your participation, not only those related to the drug itself but also how it might have an impact in your daily life. For example, you will need to find the time to visit the trial site regularly. In some case you may have to find someone to drive you there or to take care of your children during those visits.

3rd column



5C2 UCB Clinical trials Policy


2nd column

UCB clinical trials policyUCB is committed to providing the opportunity to patients to make informed decisions about participating in clinical trials.

UCB is committed to increasing transparency relating to the existence and results of sponsored clinical studies. In light of this, we commit to disclosing balanced and accurate information regarding our hypothesis-testing clinical studies, regardless of outcome, to ensure that physicians and patients have access to relevant information from clinical studies.

3rd column



5C3 Trial Information Search


2nd column

Trial information searchThe first stage in which humans may participate in the study of a new drug is Phase I.

Participants in Phase II and III are patients with the medical condition for which the new medicine is being tested.

Volunteers and patients take part in clinical trials on a voluntary basis only. You may only participate in a clinical trial if you have given us your informed consent and have confirmed that you have received and fully understand information about the trial. You are also free to withdraw from a trial at any time.

ClinicalTrials.gov

To find a clinical trial that you may wish to participate in, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/

ClinicalTrials.gov provides regularly updated information about publicly and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers. ClinicalTrials.gov gives you information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details. The information provided on ClinicalTrials.gov should be used in conjunction with advice from health care professionals.

If you specifically wish to take part in a UCB trial, please add UCB to the search function on the ClinicalTrials.gov home page.

Alternatively; please telephone UCB's dedicated Clinical Trial Call Centre:+1 877 822 9493

3rd column


http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/




5C4 Trial Results search


2nd column

Trial results searchTo find the results of a clinical trial, please visit ClinicalStudyresults.org

http://www.clinicalstudyresults.org/home/

The ClinicalStudyResults.org site is a central, widely accessible, web-based repository for clinical study results in a reader-friendly, standardised format. This database will serve the valuable function of making clinical trial results for many marketed pharmaceuticals more transparent.

3rd column


http://www.clinicalstudyresults.org/home/


5D. Patient programmes

1st column Canine Assistants Programme UK Patients & Charitable Organizations

2nd column

Patient Support Programmes

As part of our commitment to patients and to further the understanding of severe diseases, UCB supports a number of programmes for patients and their families. These varied schemes include mentoring projects, sponsorship programmes, informative websites and scholarships, all of which work towards improving the quality of life for those affected by severe diseases.

Crohn's and Me™

Crohn's & Me is for people whose lives are affected by Crohn's disease - patients, friends, and family. It has helpful educational info and tips for living with Crohn's disease like information about diet, traveling ideas, videos from doctors and patients, and other resources. Members of the Crohn's & Me Community gain exclusive access to videos and a Crohn's Disease TrackerWebsite Crohn's and Me

Live Beyond Epilepsy

This website has been created for people who want to find out more about epilepsy and hear from people who have learnt to live well with epilepsy.

It is full of useful, expert information about epilepsy along with hints and tips on how to better manage your epilepsy. Lots of the advice comes directly from people with epilepsy, people who want to share their stories with you and assure you you are not alone.Website Live Beyond Epilepsy

Epilepsy Advocate

Epilepsy Advocates are people living with epilepsy and caregivers who have refused to compromise and sought the best treatment for controlling their seizures with minimal side effects.

By sharing their personal success stories online and within local communities, Epilepsy Advocates strive to inspire people to interact with other people with epilepsy, learn from one another and make positive changes in each other’s lives. It’s their personal commitment to


http://www.livebeyondepilepsy.com/



make a difference in their community and themselves.Website Epilepsy Advocate

Canine Assistants

Seizure response dogs immediately change lives for their owners, but their extensive training can take up to 18 months.

That's why Canine Assistants work together with The Epilepsy Company™, UCB, Inc. in the training of every dog. Their partnership ensures that each dog gets the extensive training that it needs, and that more needs of the epilepsy community are met.Read more about the canine assistants programme.

UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program™

UCB, Inc. is committed to building the lives of US epilepsy patients and their family members/caregivers. This scholarship provides financial support for epilepsy patients or family members/caregivers who demonstrate academic and personal achievement. Since 2005 UCB, Inc. has awarded $375,000 in scholarships.

H.O.P.E. Mentoring Program™

The H.O.P.E. Mentoring Program (Helping Other People with Epilepsy) was created to allow people who live with epilepsy to educate others and share their experiences. This educational program trains people with epilepsy to be "patient educators" throughout the epilepsy and neurology communities.

UCB, Inc. supports the H.O.P.E. Mentoring Program, which is available through the Epilepsy Foundation. For more information about the H.O.P.E. Program, please visit:Website Epilepsy foundation

3rd column


http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/programs/hope.cfm

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/programmes/canine-assistants.asp


Freedom in Mind



5E. Links1st column:

ADHD Allergies Crohn's disease Epilepsy Narcolepsy Rheumatoid arthritis

2nd column:

On these pages you can find useful links to UCB disease websites and other interesting external resources. A few highlights:

The UCB Institute of Allergy™

More links about allergy


Visit Live Beyond Epilepsy



http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/links/430.htm








Epilepsy Advocate

More links about epilepsy

Crohns & Me™

More links about Crohn's disease

3rd column:

todaysallergies.comAdd picture

Today's Allergies website, designed to give patients and doctors information on today's allergies including newer and more aggressive allergens contributing to the rise of allergic disease in the modern world. www.todaysallergies.com






ADHD links1st column:


2nd column:

qids-adhs

UCB GmbH's website providing information in German about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to patients and healthcare professionalswww.qids-adhs.de


http://www.qids-adhs.de/








Allergies links1st column:


2nd column:

The UCB Institute of Allergy

The UCB Institute of Allergy website presenting its activities, its publications and useful information on allergy for the public, the patients and for the Health Professionals www.theucbinstituteofallergy.com

Todaysallergies

Website designed to give patients and doctors information on today's allergies including newer and more aggressive allergens contributing to the rise of allergic disease in the modern worldwww.todaysallergies.com

Alergie (Czech)

Website providing information about allergy in Czech www.alergie.cz

Nationale allergiesite (Dutch)

Website providing information about allergy in Dutch www.nationale-allergiesite.nl

3rd column:

A match to win


http://www.nationale-allergiesite.nl/

http://www.alergie.cz/










This video on the website of the UCB Institute of Allergy discusses the problems of doing sports for allergic and asthmatic children as well as its benefits. It provides practical advice for athletic counselors and parents, and it helps directing a child to appropriate support. www.theucbinstituteofallergy.com




Crohn's disease links

1st column: ADHD Allergies Crohn's disease Epilepsy Narcolepsy Rheumatoid arthritis

2nd column:

CrohnsAndMe (US)

http://www.crohnsandme.com/UCB Inc.'s website for US Citizens providing information about Crohn's Disease to patients and familieswww.crohnsandme.com/

Crohnradio (Germany)

UCB's website for German Citizens providing information about Crohn's Disease to patients and familieswww.crohnradio.de/

Zonacrohn (Spain)

UCB's website for Spanish Citizens providing information about Crohn's Disease to patients and familieswww.zonacrohn.es/

Noi e il crohn (Italy)

UCB's website for Italian Citizens providing information about Crohn's Disease to patients and families www.noieilcrohn.it

Crohn's and me (Greece)

UCB's website for Greek Citizens providing information about Crohn's Disease to patients and familieswww.crohnsandme.gr/

Eu e Crohn (Portugal)

UCB's website for Portuguese Citizens providing information about Crohn's Disease to patients and familiesWebsite Eu e Crohn (Portugese)


http://www.euecrohn.pt/

http://www.crohnsandme.gr/

http://www.noieilcrohn.it/

http://www.zonacrohn.es/

http://www.crohnradio.de/


http://www.CrohnsAndMe.com/








Crohn's Disease Working Group

www.thecdwg.org/

European Federation of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Association

www.efcca.org/

3rd column

Crohn's and Me

Crohn’s & Me is for people whose lives are affected by Crohn’s disease – patients, friends, and family. It has helpful educational info and tips for living with Crohn’s disease like information about diet, traveling ideas, videos from doctors and patients, and other resources. Members of the Crohn’s & Me Community gain exclusive access to videos and a Crohn’s Disease Tracker. www.crohnsandme.com



http://www.efcca.org/

http://www.thecdwg.org/


Epilepsy links1st column:


2nd column:


This website has been created for people who want to find out more about epilepsy and hear from people who have learnt to live well with epilepsy.

It is full of useful, expert information about epilepsy along with hints and tips on how to better manage your epilepsy. Lots of the advice comes directly from people with epilepsy, people who want to share their stories with you and assure you you are not alone.Website Live Beyond Epilepsy

Epilepsy Advocate

Epilepsy Advocates are people living with epilepsy and caregivers who have refused to compromise and sought the best treatment for controlling their seizures with minimal side effects.

By sharing their personal success stories online and within local communities, Epilepsy Advocates strive to inspire people to interact with other people with epilepsy, learn from one another and make positive changes in each other's lives. It's their personal commitment to make a difference in their community and themselves.www.epilepsyadvocate.com/

The UCB Institute of Epilepsy™

This website provides useful information concerning all the aspects of epilepsy. The website will also provide the patients and the general public with frequently updated news on epilepsy related events and projects. This website is in French, Dutch and Englishwww.ucb-ioe.be/

Stepped care

The purpose of the stepped-care website is to optimise the treatment of people with epilepsy and to provide the patients and the Healthcare Professionals with a tool to come to a dialog during the consultation. In Dutch.www.stepped-care.nl/

3rd column


http://www.stepped-care.nl/

http://www.ucb-ioe.be/










Epilepsy Advocate

www.epilepsyadvocate.com

Related links UCB initiatives for epilepsy patients Testimonials of epilepsy patients



http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/programmes/index.asp

http://www.ucb-group.com/patients/links/www.epilepsyadvocate.com


Narcolepsy links1st column:


2nd column:

Narcolepsyweb

http://www.narcolepsyweb.com/European website providing information about narcolepsywww.narcolepsyweb.com/

Hellwach Narkolepsie

UCB GmbH's website for German citizens providing information about narcolepsywww.hellwach-narkolepsie-erkennen.de

3rd column

narcolepsyweb.com


http://www.hellwach-narkolepsie-erkennen.de/










Rheumatoid arthritis1st column:


2nd column:

The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)

www.eular.org

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS)

www.rheumatoid.org.uk


http://www.rheumatoid.org.uk/

http://www.eular.org/








7. JOBSEEKERS



7. Jobseekers subhome

(The jobseeker section on the global site is targeting highly educated jobseekers worldwide. It is not feasible to translate or adapt this international section or the jobs database system Taleo. We suggest that on the local site the information about the company is provided, with local job openings. Videos and profiles of local employees can be added in the 3rd column on the local site.

The local job openings can be included on the site on a new page (to be created) or as a part of page 7D Applying at UCB.

1st column

Explore UCB's international career options

Traineeship opportunities


http://www.ucb-group.com/careers/your_career/traineeships/index.asp


2ndt column

Our challenge. Your impact.

We're building the next generation biopharma leader and need exceptional individuals to achieve this goal. We're looking for enthusiastic and talented professionals who thrive on challenge and change, who want to make a difference and deliver results.

Link to local job openings page

3rdt column

Quick linksLink to FAQ



7A. Our company

1st column

2nd columnOur company

What really sets up apart is our size and vision. As a mid-cap company, with global resources, we're small enough for each member of our team to feel that their contribution counts and large enough to ensure that our combined efforts have an impact where it really matters.

Your contribution counts Help re-shape a company and an industry. UCB is building the next generation

biopharma leader and you can be part of this exciting challenge Broaden your global horizons. From Atlanta to Bangalore, from Monheim to

Shanghai, you could work with a multi-cultural team in over 40 countries worldwide Bring your ideas to life. Not only do we have an entrepreneurial culture that

encourages great ideas, but also a proven ability to turn them into commercial realities Stretch yourself. Can you get to grips with monoclonal antibodies, the essence of

marketing and the demands of the supply chain at the same time? Enjoy a positive work-life balance. Our concierge service in Belgium, including dry

cleaning, is just one way in which we’re trying to lighten the load for our staff See what jobs are available. Take a look at our Job openings.

Be part of the next generation. Join us.

3rd column:

I spend most of my time working on anything that really affects patients or caregivers.

Brad Chapman


http://www.ucb-group.com/careers/company/index.asp#%23



7B. Our culture and people

1st column

empty

2nd column

Patients at the heartSeven values drive the way we conduct business

Innovation Our patients rely on us to develop new medicines that will have a major positive impact on the quality of their lives. Innovative science is the foundation of everything we do.

Passion for performanceOur patients deserve our best. We are passionate about what we do and strive for continuous improvement in our performance.

EntrepreneurshipAs entrepreneurs, we constantly strive to innovate our products, improve services to our patients, and create sustainable value for our investors.

IntegrityWe act with integrity and ensure flawless quality in all we do.

CareWe care about patients, customers and people.

AccountabilityWe delegate appropriately and expect our people to make sound and timely decisions, report back to team members and be accountable.

Embracing difference

We recognise diversity is the cornerstone of our success. We encourage and respect difference as it strengthens our organisation.

3rd column:



You're encouraged and given responsibility regardless of your age

Katrin Loehr


http://www.ucb-group.com/careers/culture/index.asp#%23

http://www.ucb-group.com/careers/culture/index.asp#%23


7C. Your Career

1st column

Leadership and personal development Compensation and company benefits Striking the right work-life balance MBA Career Pathway Traineeships

2nd column

Your Career

Global career opportunities in a challenging environment with like-minded individuals

As a global company, with operations in more than 40 countries worldwide, we provide extensive opportunities to develop your career and work throughout the world. We're striving to provide our employees with a challenging working environment which still promotes a work-life balance. We constantly innovate and provide our employees with a competitive compensation and benefits package.

3rd columnQuote:We're working on continuous improvement, in processes but also in people development. Josef Landwehr



7C1. Leadership and personal development

1st column

Leadership and personal development Compensation and company benefits Striking the right work-life balanceMBA Career Pathway Traineeships

2nd column

Leadership and personal development

Leadership at UCB

A collective and consistent leadership is the key driver toward our continuing success. UCB has identified six core behaviours, that form our Leadership Profile, that guide us individually and collectively to achieve our objectives and build a high performance culture at UCB. Our global training initiatives support leadership development in line with the Leadership Profile.

Performance and Personal development

At UCB we expect you to drive your own performance, training and development, by setting 'smart' objectives, taking into account our goals and your aspirations. Continuous dialogue with your manager is the key to the way we manage performance throughout the year and develop our leaders. Your development may include opportunities to relocate around the world.

Leadership programmes

To train and develop our leaders, we have developed four core leadership programmes. These programmes are designed to

help our leaders understand their style and strengths, and the skills they need to develop

enable them to facilitate and implement change in the organisation, encourage them to take ownership of initiatives and develop their capacity to lead their teams successfully towards shared objectives.

These programmes, with other supporting leadership training initiatives, are delivered by reputable and highly qualified tutors.



3rd column



7C2. Compensation and company benefits

1st column


2nd column

Compensation and company benefits

Competitive salaries

We have developed a global approach to remuneration, and strive to make sure that it remains competitive in our market sector and is cionsistent throughout all our locations, while recognising the needs of the local business environment. We also link pay to performance, to acknowledge and reward outstanding performers.

Annual bonuses

UCB has designed a bonus scheme that is directly linked to your performance. The extent to which you have reached your objectives, and the way you have achieved them, will determine your yearly bonus.

Long-term incentives

Your individual contributions to UCB's success are recognised when you deliver exceptional performance. Through stock options, for example, you have the opportunity to own UCB common stock - and to share in UCB's long-term performance as a shareholder. We have also designed other long-term incentive plans to recognise and reward top performers.

Medical and other benefits

Employee benefits are an integral part of UCB's total remuneration package. We offer generous medical and retirement plans, as well as disability cover and other benefits.

3rd column





7C3. Striking the right work-life balance

1st column


2nd column

Striking the right work-life balance

UCB is a company that’s passionate about enabling people with severe diseases to enjoy normal, everyday lives, with their families. Equally, we’re keen that our staff enjoy a sensible balance between work and their home life.

At certain times this can be a tricky balance to strike. But we’re working hard to ease the daily and other pressures by introducing new services and opportunities, tailored to local markets. In the US and parts of Europe, for example, we have a ‘work from home’ scheme, plus variable work hours.

We also operate a novel range of 'concierge' services. In our Brussels headquarters, our Braine manufacturing site and our Slough R&D site, these services include on-site pick-up and delivery, e.g. laundry, dry-cleaning, shoe and clothes repair, and other similar services. These services may include online orders of cinema or theatre tickets, as well as flowers, gifts and even summer camps for kids - all accessible through a special website.

Our German site in Monheim offers daycare facilities to employees and currently looks after many young children.

Other UCB sites are also innovative in creating similar opportunities, as adapted to local needs and constraints.

3rd column





7C4.Traineeships

1st column


2nd column

TraineeshipsEvery year, UCB welcomes a number of traineeships, either in Belgium or in the United Kingdom, as a mandatory part of their degree course.

Belgium includes three entities:

Headquarters in Brussels - global and corporate activities, e.g. Finance, Legal, Global Operations and Medical Affairs, HR, Communication.

UCB Belgium manages the sales and marketing activities in Belgium Our production site in Braine l'Alleud (south of Brussels) includes both the R&D Unit

and Manufacturing operations, representing the main production facilities for UCB in Europe. The production plant has synthesis, galenic development and packaging capability for most of the company's compounds.

For its Research site at Slough in the United Kingdom, UCB welcomes applications for a limited number of traineeships (also known as industrial placements) from student who are part-way through their degree course.

3rd column:


http://www.ucb-group.com/careers/your_career/traineeships/1445.htm

http://www.ucb-group.com/careers/your_career/traineeships/1443.htm




7D.

Applying to UCB

When you apply online for a job, you will be notified by e-mail that your details have been received. These will be stored in our secure and confidential tracking system. If you are applying for a specific job opportunity, our Human Resources will initiatlly screen your application before forwarding it to the department concerned. Our Human Resources will contact you if you have been short-listed for an interview.

If you created your profile but did not apply for a particular job, your details will be stored into the tracking system and your profile will be assessed against new job openings. You will receive an e-mail alert for those openings which match your requirements.

We will treat your personal and professional data with the utmost confidentiality. If we need reference checks further in the selection and recruitment process, no contact with your current employer will be made without your expressed permission.

UCB is an equal opportunity employer - we value and encourage diversity in the workplace.

3rd column:

Tips

Search and apply for a job - visit our Job Opportunities section.

Please use our Jobseekers site exclusively to apply for a job. You may also want to submit your profile, if no job opening matches your requirements. You can also sign up for our e-mail service and be notified by e-mail when a new job opening matches your criteria. We will not be able to handle applications in any other way.



9. ABOUT UCB



9. About UCB subhomepage

Translation of quote in header

1st column

Passionate about enabling families with severe diseases to enjoy normal, everyday lives

Building the next generation biopharma leader



Discover how we are connecting patients, people and science in new ways to make breakthroughs in severe diseases

2nd column

The power to make a difference

A global biopharma focused on severe diseases with operations in more than 40 countries and global revenue of €3.6 billion in 2008.

We combine biology and chemistry to make major breakthroughs. By integrating our expertise in large, antibody-based molecules and small, chemically-derived molecules, we can offer families with severe diseases and their specialist physicians the advantages of both large and small molecules to produce extraordinary breakthroughs.

We partner with the leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. The complexities of severe diseases are beyond the expertise and resources of a single organisation. That is why we have teamed up with over 30 partners - we play to our strengths and tap into the organisations with greater or complementary strengths.

.

Quote

"Many companies claim to be patient-driven, but for UCB it is a living reality. In fact, we do not think of people with severe diseases as "patients" but as individuals with lives beyond their disease."

3rd column



9A.

Our vision

To build a global biopharmaceutical leader, based on unique blending of innovation, entrepreneurship and proven experience, bring new medicines to specialists to treat patients suffering from severe diseases.

Connecting science in new ways

By integrating biology (bio) and chemistry (pharma), we can gain much deeper insights into disease pathways, including the complexities of severe diseases, as well as producing more potent, cost-effective drugs.

The unique combination of expertise in large, antibody-based molecules and small, chemically-derived molecules places us in a strong position to realise this ambition.

Cimzia®, our New Biological Entity (NBE), targeted at Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis, is one of the first fruits of this synergy of biology and chemistry.

Connecting people

In a knowledge- and ideas-based industry like ours, human capital is the lifeblood of success. To unlock the creative potential of our global team of over 10,000 staff and our 30-plus partners, we are creating a networked, cross-functional organisation.

Multi-disciplinary teams are working on all development projects, including members of R&D, supply chain and sales, as well as partners and patients...

UCB People, an innovative intranet tool, links our knowledge and skills. Our virtual R&D collaboration platform, based on the principles of Wikipedia, is another example.

Connecting patients

Severe diseases, such as Epilepsy, Crohn's and Parkinson's, tend to be "silent diseases" – sufferers are often socially stigmatised and reluctant to share their experiences and insights. To overcome this problem, we're creating novel and personal ways for patients and their families to connect, virtually and live, with each other, us, our partners and opinion formers.

The "CrohnsandMe.com" community is one such example The sponsorship of a Pearl Jam concert demonstrates our commitment to raise

awareness of severe diseases Patients and their families are regularly invited to discuss the daily realities of their

diseases with our staff, partners and key opinion informers - providing invaluable insights.

3rd column:video of Roch Doliveux






SECTION 9B: UCB IN <local country>: to be written



9C. Strategy

2rd column

Vision

To build a global biopharmaceutical leader, based on unique blending of innovation, entrepreneurship and proven experience, bring new medicines to specialists to treat patients suffering from severe diseases.

Therapeutic areas

This strategy involves focusing on severe diseases in two therapeutic areas:

Central Nervous System Immunology

UCB also has a selective presence in primary care.

As severe diseases are treated by a relatively small number of specialists, we can have a close relationship and regular dialogue with physicians and their patients – an essential ingredient for understanding and addressing the daily physical and social symptoms of these diseases.

Severe diseases also require a smaller sales force, so more resources can be devoted to R&D and other functions.

We also maintain a strong yet selective presence in primary care (e.g. allergy and cardiovascular) to support specialist products that are administered by primary care physicians (and that are likely to be prescribed by these physicians in future as governments attempt to reduce healthcare costs).

Combining biology and chemistry to make major breakthroughs

By integrating our expertise in large, antibody-based molecules and small, chemically-derived molecules, we can offer families with severe diseases and their specialist physicians:

The efficacy of large-molecule ‘new biological entities’ (NBEs), such as Cimzia® The convenience and cost-effectiveness of small, ‘new chemical entities’ (NCEs),

such as Keppra®, Neupro® or VIMPAT® The advantages of both to produce extraordinary breakthroughs…

Our pioneering A2HiT™ project, which is using our leading antibody research to design more effective novel chemical entities, is one of the most exciting examples of how we’re capitalising on the synergies between biology and chemistry.


http://www.ucb.com/rd/info-centre/severe-diseases


Partnering with the leaders in the pharmaceutical industry

The complexities of severe diseases are beyond the expertise and resources of a single organisation. That’s why we’ve teamed up with partners – we play to our strengths and tap into the organisations with greater or complementary strengths.

From research and development to marketing and supply chain, we’ve joined forces with organisations such as Amgen (R&D – anti-sclerostin for boneloss disorders), sanofi-aventis (Marketing – Xyzal®, antihistamine) and Lonza (Manufacturing – Cimzia® for Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis).

Leveraging our global scale and intellectual capital

Networking our global resources and expertise not only results in cost reductions but also to cross-fertilises the knowledge and skills of our staff across the world, as well exploit opportunities to develop therapies around the clock, across time zones. This is supported by an entrepreneurial, empowered and results-driven culture and a relentless commitment to the highest standards of quality.

3rd column

Combining biology and chemistry

Roch DoliveuxUCB Chief Executive Officer



9E.

Management

2rd column

Dr Roch Doliveux

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee

Appointed in January 2005. Previously Director-General of UCB's Pharma Sector; CEO of Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals; President of Schering-Plough International, plus other posts with this company in the US, France and Belgium. Started at Ciba-Geigy (now Novartis), working in Switzerland, Peru and France. He is a member of the Board of Directors of UCB, and also a member of the Board of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Association (EFPIA).

Detlef Thielgen

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer



Appointed in January 2007. Previously CFO of Schwarz Pharma AG, Managing Director of Schwarz Pharma Operations covering the worldwide manufacturing and supply chain functions and Vice-President Finance & Administration/CFO at Schwarz Pharma Inc/USA.

Dr Melanie Lee

Executive Vice President, Research & Development

Appointed in July 2004. Previously Executive R&D Director at Celltech and Research Unit Head at Glaxo Welcome (now GSK). Also chairs Cancer Research Technology, the technology transfer subsidiary of Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and is a CRUK Trustee. Elected fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (U.K. - 2003) and awarded honorary doctorate by University of York (U.K. - 2004).

Iris Löw-Friedrich

Executive Vice President, Development and Chief Medical Officer

Appointed in March 2008. Previously Head of R&D and member of the Executive Board of Schwarz Pharma AG, after having held the position of VP Global Projects at BASF Pharma. Since June 2007, she is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Wilex AG.



Fabrice Enderlin

Executive Vice President, corporate Human Ressources

Appointed in March 2008. Previously Vice President Human Resources at GSK Biologicals, and at GSK France, Novartis, and Arcelor/Mittal. Graduated from the “Political Sciences Institut” and has a master degree in HR.

Bill Robinson

Executive Vice President, Global Operations

Appointed in April 2005. Previously 30+ years with Eli Lilly as Vice President, Operational Excellence; Vice President, Sales & Marketing U.S.A. and a number of other marketing and general management roles in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and U.S.A. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Sciele Pharma, Inc.



Bob Trainor

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Appointed in October 2004. Previously Vice President, Associate General Counsel of Schering-Plough; Assistant General Counsel of Johnson & Johnson; Attorney with the New York law firm Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine and started as Counsel of the Committee on the Judiciary at the United States House of Representatives.

Judiciary at the United States House of Representatives.

Mark McDade

Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development

Mark McDade joined UCB SA as Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development in April 2008. From 2002 until late 2007 he was Chief Executive Officer and a Director of PDL BioPharma, Inc. Prior to PDL, he served as CEO of Signature BioScience, Inc. and was previously a co-founder and director of Corixa Corporation, where he served as Chief Operating Officer from September 1994 through December 1998 and as President and Chief Operating Officer from January 1999 until his departure in late 2000. Before Corixa, Mark McDade was Chief Operating Officer of Boehringer Mannheim – Therapeutics, and prior to that held several positions at Sandoz Ltd. including business development, product



management and general management. Mark McDade received a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Michele Antonelli

Executive Vice President Technical Operations & Quality Assurance

Appointed in September 2007. Michele has a degree in Plant Biology from the University of Bari, Italy, and qualified the ENI's post graduate program in Biotechnology and in Advanced Genetics (molecular and somatic cell) at the Catholic University of Piacenza and the Iowa State University of Ames, USA.From 1985 to 1992, he worked at Enichem, in Italy, as Research Fellow and then Head of the Molecular and Cell Biology Unit. In 1992 he joined Serono where he held several senior managerial positions until the present day, gathering about 15 years experience in the QA and Manufacturing fields. His last position there was as Senior Vice President Biotech Manufacturing & Process Development, based in Geneva.

Ismail Kola

Executive Vice President, UCB & President, New Medicines™

Appointed in November 2009.Ismail holds a Ph.D. in Medicine from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.He joined UCB from Schering Plough Corporation where he was Senior Vice President, Discovery Research and Early Clinical Research & Experimental Medicine, Schering-Plough



Research Institute, the pharmaceutical research arm of Schering-Plough Corporation, and Chief Scientific Officer, Schering Plough Corporation. He was also responsible for Early Clinical Research and Experimental Medicine.Ismail came to Schering-Plough from Merck, where he was Senior Vice President and Site Head, Basic Research, and responsible for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, infectious diseases, immunology and rheumatology, animal pharmacology and basic and medicinal chemistry. He also chaired Merck's Antibacterial and Antifungal Worldwide Business Strategy Team. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Research, and Global Head, Genomics Science and Biotechnology, with Pharmacia Corporation, and served as a consultant to SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, where he was also a member of the Genomics Advisory Board.He holds Adjunct Professorships of Medicine at Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, USA, and Monash University Medical School, Melbourne, Australia; a Foreign Adjunct Professorship at The Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; and is a William Pitt Fellow at Pembroke College, Cambridge University, UK.

3rd Column

Related links Board of Directors Board Committees


http://www.ucb-group.com/about_ucb/193.htm

http://www.ucb-group.com/about_ucb/1108.htm


9F.

Facts and figures

1st Column Company Key strengths Financials Sales Pipeline Research & Development Partners Management History

2st Column

Virtually everything you need to know about us.

Company Operations in more than 40 countries worldwide.... Key strengths A leader in epilepsy, as well as antibody research... Financials Revenue of €3.6 billion in 2008... Sales With net sales of more than €3 billion... Pipeline A broad range of molecules in late research and pre-clinical development. A global R&D, marketing and sales platform Operations in more than 40 countries

worldwide. Ten R&D sites across Europe, Japan and the United State. Partners Over 30 R&D and commercial partners, from Amgen to Pfizer...


http://www.ucb.com/about-ucb/facts/partners

http://www.ucb.com/about-ucb/facts/rd

http://www.ucb.com/about-ucb/facts/rd

http://www.ucb.com/about-ucb/facts/pipeline

http://www.ucb.com/about-ucb/facts/sales

http://www.ucb.com/about-ucb/facts/financials

http://www.ucb.com/about-ucb/facts/key-strengths

http://www.ucb.com/about-ucb/facts/company

http://www.ucb-group.com/about_ucb/management/key_facts/330.htm










History Established in 1928, transformed into a pure biopharma in 2004

9F1.

Company

Column 2

A global biopharma focused on severe diseases in two therapeutic areas:

o Central nervous system o Immunology

UCB also has a selective presence in primary care

Global revenues of €3.6 billion (2008) Operations in over 40 countries, supported by more than 10,000 staff Established in 1928, successful transformation from a hybrid specialty chemical

company into a next generation biopharma leader Listed on the Euronext Brussels Stock Exchange Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.



Column 3Office locator (Select an office)



9F2

Key strengths Close relationships with patients and the people who care for them Cutting-edge research that combines biology and chemistry Empowered, multidisciplinary and multinational teams World-class partners across the value chain A global player with a strong pipeline

Our concept of ‘the next generation biopharma leader' means more than expertise across small, chemically-derived molecules and large, antibody-based molecules. It is about connecting people, science and therapies in new ways so that we gain fresh insights into the complex interconnections involved in severe diseases.

Close relationships with patients and the people who care for them

Everything we do starts with a simple question: ‘How will this make a difference to the lives of people with severe diseases ?' Regular, personal contact with patients, as well as their carers and physicians, plays a vital role in helping us answer this question.

Cutting-edge research that combines biology and chemistry

Our expertise across large and small molecules enables us toapproach severe diseases from different angles. We are combining our leadership in antibody research and long-established expertise in chemistry to better understand and address the complex biological pathways and interconnections of these types of diseases. This is underpinned by unique technologies, such as UCB SLAM and A2HitTM.

Empowered, multidisciplinary and multinational teams

With more than 70 nationalities and numerous educationaland professional backgrounds, the diversity of our staff is oneof our greatest assets. To capitalise on the creative potentialof this diversity, we have created an open, globallynetworked environment so that our staff can share and crossfertilise ideas.

World-class partners across the value chain

We recognise that the complexity of severe diseases is beyondthe expertise and resources of a single company. This is why we partner for strength across the value chain, from drug discovery and drug development to manufacturing and marketing.

A global player with a strong pipeline

With operations in more than 40 countries, UCB has globalreach. This includes an established presence in the world's major pharmaceutical markets:



Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S., as well as other significant international markets. In addition, our pipeline is strong especially in its late stage projects, and is focused on severe diseases of the central nervous system and immunology

Column 3

"Everything we do starts with a simple question: ‘How will this make a difference to the lives of people with severe diseases ?' "



9F3

FinancialsColumn 2

FinancialsIncome statement 2008

Million € Actual2008

Actual2007

Revenue 3 601 3 626Net Sales 3 027 3 188Royalty income & fees 396 294Other revenue 178 144

Gross profit 2 455 2 579Marketing & Selling expenses (928) (1 054)Research & Development expenses (767) (788) General & Administrative expenses (227) (267) Other operating income (expenses) (1) 10Recurring EBIT (REBIT) 531 480Non recurring income (expenses) (417) (136)EBIT (operating profit) 113 344Net financial expenses (156) (125)Profit/(loss) before income taxes (43) 219Income tax (expenses) credit 30 (60)

Net Profit(after minority interest) 42 160

Recurring EBITDA 733 741

Consolidated Balance Sheet 2008

Million € 2008Dec. 31

2007Dec. 31

RestatedNon-current assets 7 687 7 900Intangible assets 2 169 2 293Goodwill 4 579 4 403Other non-current assets 939 1 204Current Assets 1 837 1 782Total Assets 9 524 9 682Shareholders' Equity 4 017 4 264Capital and reserves 3 973 4 103



Profit for the Period 42 160Minority interests 2 1Non-current liabilities 2 953 3 404Current liabilities 2 554 2 014

Total Liabilities andShareholders' Equity 9 524 9 682

Column 3

Related links

Download our 2008 Annual ReportVisit our investor site



9F4

SalesColumn 2

SalesNet Sales by therapeutic area

Net Sales 2008 by therapeutic area €3027 million

Net Sales by geography

Net Sales 2008 by geography €3027 million

Net Sales - Top Selling Products:

Net Sales 2008 by geography €3027 million

Million € Actual2008

Actual2007

Variance %Actual rate

Top SellersKeppra® 1 266 1 026 23%Zyrtec® (includ. Zyrtec-D® / Cirrus®) 249 487 -49%Xyzal® (1) 173 168 3%Tussionex™ 147 114 29%



Nootropil® 93 101 -8%Metadate™ CD / Equasym® XL 77 81 -4%Omeprazole 75 147 -49%Neupro® 58 52 12%Cimzia® 10 1 Vimpat® 2 0 Other products 878 1 012 -13%Total Net Sales

3 0273 188-5%

(1) excluding Xyzal US revenue of € 39 m from profit sharing with sanofi-aventis

Column 3



9F6

Pipeline See latest version on ucb.comColumn 2

11 large and small molecules in clinical developmentspanning 13 different types of diseases, from osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis to early-stage Parkinson’s, restless legs syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

4 large, antibody-based molecules 7 small, chemically-derived molecules

A broad range of molecules in late research and pre-clinical development.

IndicationsPhase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Filed

Vimpat® diabetic neuropathic pain (EU)

Vimpat® diabetic neuropathic pain (US)

Vimpat® epilepsy adjunctive therapy (US)

Neupro® restless legs syndrome (EU)

Neupro® restless legs syndrome (US)

Neupro® advanced Parkinson’s disease (US)

Keppra® XR

Epilepsy adjunctive therapy -infants and children (EU & US)

Keppra® XR Epilepsy Monotherapy (US)

Vimpat® epilepsy monotherapy (US)

brivaracetam Epilepsy adjunctive therapy

Xyrem® fibromyalgialacosamide fibromyalgialacosamide migraine prophylaxisrotigotine fibromyalgia

rotigotine nasal spray restless legs syndrome

CDP323 multiple sclerosis

InflammationIndications Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase

3 Filed

Cimzia® Crohn’s disease (EU)



Cimzia® rheumatoid arthritis (US)Cimzia® rheumatoid arthritis (EU)

epratuzumab systemic lupus erythematosus

OtherIndications Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Filed

Fesoterodine overactive bladderCMC544 non-Hodgkin’s lymphomaCDP791 non-small-cell lung cancerAnti-sclerostin bone loss disorders

Column 3

Related linksR&D PipelineUCB Drug development process



9F7

Research & DevelopmentColumn 2

Investment in R&D (2008: €767 million)

A world leader in antibody research SLAM technology to rapidly isolate functionally active antibodies Biological scaffolds to create more tolerable antibody-based therapies Pegylation to enhance the specificity and cost-efficiency of biologics

Unique and patented expertise in targeting the SV2A protein A large library of proprietary chemicals to unravel the role of SV2A in epilepsy and

other diseases

Two Research Centres of Excellence Braine-l'Alleud (Belgium) covering CNS disorders Slough (UK) covering oncology/immunology, where UCB's R&D headquarters are

located

The main development sites are in Atlanta (US), Braine-l'Alleud (Belgium), Monheim (Germany), Research Triangle Park (US), Slough (UK) and Tokyo (Japan)

Over thirty major R&D partnerships Includes Amgen (anti-sclerostin for bone loss disorders) and Biogen IDEC (CDP323

for multiple sclerosis)

An intellectual property estate of a large number of patent families

Column 3

Related linksFind out about the SV2A protein Learn about SLAM, biological scaffolds and other technologies Glossary



9F8

Partners Latest version to see on ucb.com

Column 2

UCB's strategic partnerships include research and development, commercialisation and manufacturing relationships with a large variety of partners, big and small.

Strategic Partners NCE NBER&D discovery and product development AstraZeneca

ChemBridgeBiogen IdecJazz Pharmaceuticals

AmgenBiogen IdecBioWa Immunomedics

MillenniumWyeth

Marketed products Abbott LaboratoriesChiesiDaiichi-SankyoGlaxoSmithKlineJazz PharmaceuticalsKisseiMaruishiPfizerSanofi-AventisTaihoVerus PharmaceuticalsWatson

Wyeth

Strategic manufacturing

BioRelianceLonzaNektarNovartis

NCE : New Chemical EntitiesNBE : New Biological Entities

Column 3Related linksRead more about UCB's partnering strategy in the business development section of the website



9F10

History

Column 2

1920s – Creation of UCB and early innovations

1930s – Expansion into industrial films and the US

1940s – Pharmaceutical support for the War effort

1950s – First therapeutic breakthroughs

1960s – Visionary research into biotechnology

1970s – Expansion of R&D and European network

1980s – The birth of a blockbuster (Zyrtec®)

1990s – Globalisation and birth of second blockbuster (Keppra®)

2002 – Building resources for next leap forward

2004 – Transformation into a pure biopharma

2006 – First filing of biologic and a major acquisition

2008 – UCB shapes the organisation for the future

1920s – Creation of UCB and early innovations Emmanuel Janssen established Union Chimique Belge (UCB) in Brussels, Belgium, in

1928, primarily focusing on industrial chemicals. It was one of the first companies in the world to distil ammonia from coal.

UCB also had a small pharmaceutical division based around the Meurice Laboratories. During the First World War, the scientists at Meurice pioneered a method to isolate and purify insulin.

1930s – Expansion into industrial films and the US UCB expanded into industrial films, notably cellophane, with the acquisition of Sidac

(Société Industrielle de la Cellulose). Entered the United States in 1936 with the purchase of the packaging business,

Sylvannia.

1940s – Pharmaceutical support for the War effort Manufactured pharmaceutical products during World War II, including calcium,

phosphorus, vitamins, insulin and sulphamides.



Reinforced its film business and international presence with the creation of Cellophane Española in 1943.

1950s – First therapeutic breakthroughs Established a pharmaceutical research center in 1952 and soon made a string of

breakthroughs, including the discovery of one of the world’s first tranquilizers, Atarax® (hydroxysine), a non-benzodiapenic tranqulizer. Atarax® lent its name to a new class of therapeutic products – ataraxics – and provided the resources for the company to expand its R&D.

Awarded the US distribution licence for Atarax® to a, at this time, small, young company, Pfizer – helping the US company evolve into a major pharma. UCB’s partnership with Pfizer continues to this day.

1960s – Visionary research into biotechnology Started to research the potential of biotechnology in 1965 Consolidated its position in chemical and films, moving into new ‘value-added’ fields.

1970s – Expansion of R&D and European network Launched Nootropil® (piracetam) in 1972 for the treatment of memory and balance

disorders providing the resources to create a new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical R&D centre in Braine-l Alleud, Belgium.

Still focused on three core areas - chemicals, films, and pharmaceuticals, the company expanded its network of European subsidiaries.

1980s – The birth of a blockbuster UCB registered its novel antihistamine Zyrtec® (cetirizine) – a brand that soon

became a blockbuster with sales of more than $1 billion

1990s – Second blockbuster and globalisation Started development of Keppra® (levetiracetam), a novel anti-epileptic and another

brand that became a blockbuster. Keppra® was approved in the United States in 1999 and launched in 2000. Zyrtec® reached blockbuster status. UCB established a presence in Japan with the acquisition of the pharma division of

Fujirebio (Tokyo) including a factory in Saitama. Acquired two pharmaceutical firms in the United States: Whitby Pharmaceuticals and

Northampton Medical, to create UCB Inc. Broadened the presence in Asia (Korea and Thailand).

2002 – Builds resources for next leap forward Acquired Resins, Additives, and Adhesives division from Solutia, Inc. which merged

with UCB’s Chemicals and Films divisions to form one division called Surface Specialties. The sale of these businesses three years later provided the resources for UCB to transform itself into a pure biopharma.

Keppra® became market leader in the US.



2004 – Transformation into a pure biopharma started UCB to focus solely on "biopharmaceuticals" – a combination of large, antibody-

based molecules and small, chemically-derived molecules. Acquired the leading British biotechnology company, Celltech, and sold its Films and

Chemicals Divisions. A year later (2005) it sold its Surface Specialties Division. R&D focus expanded from two therapeutic areas (CNS and Allergy/Respiratory)

to four therapeutic areas (CNS, Inflammation, Oncology, and Allergy/Respiratory). Allergy and Respiratory were later included in Inflammation.

2006 – First filing of a biologic and a major acquisition Cimzia®, our most advanced biologic was filed for regulatory approval in the United

States and Europe for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. Acquisition of Schwarz Pharma, the largest in UCB’s history, enriching our pipeline

and product range, taking us into new fields, notably Parkinson’s disease.

2008 – UCB with strong focus Several launches in core areas:

- Cimzia® - Crohn's Disease (U.S.)- Keppra®XR - adjunctive therapy in epilepsy (U.S.)- Vimpat® - adjunctive therapy in epilepsy (Europe)- Xyzal® - oral solution antihistamine (U.S.)

With strong focus on specialists in CNS and Immunology in Europe and in the U.S. as well as in Japan (partner: Otsuka) UCB is ready for the future – Becoming a next generation Biopharma

Column 3





9F.

CSR

1st Column Citizenship Health, Safety & Environment

2st Colum

Corporate Social Responsibility

As a biopharma company, we are striving to adapt to the evolving needs of society and contribute to the overall health and wellness. We are continually improving our efforts to lessen our impact on the environment, foster a workplace of diversity and inclusion, conduct responsible business practices, and maintain the highest ethical standards in everything from research and development to sales and marketing.




9F1.

Citizenship

Column 2

Citizenship

Our greatest responsibility is to enable people with severe diseases to enjoy normal everyday lives by delivering safe and effective solutions. As well as providing innovative therapies,we are involved in a variety of community programmes aimed at people that suffer from severe diseases.

Creating communities

Severe diseases tend to be socially stigmatised, making many people with these conditions reluctant to share their experiences. We are creating communities where they can exchange personal insights and coping strategies. For example our non-branded crohnsandme website, which includes tips on diets and travelling, as well as videos from patients and physicians, is a case in point. Our HOPE (Helping Other People with Epilepsy) mentoring programme, which helps to educate people with epilepsy and their care givers about the disease, is another example. Co-developed with the Epilepsy Foundation in the USA, the programme has so far reached over 100 000 people in the USA.

Unlocking patients' academic potential

The everyday demands of severe diseases can often interrupt and prolong the education of people with conditions such as epilepsy and Crohn’s disease. To ease this burden,we provide college scholarships of up to US$10 000 for people with Crohn’s disease, epilepsy or rheumatoid arthritis in the USA and Canada. In the USA, we also fund scholarships of care givers of people with epilepsy. In 2007,over 40 people received scholarships.

Providing practical help with the aid of animals

We support a unique programme, called Canine Assistance,that provides people with epilepsy with dogs that are trained to retrieve a phone prior to a seizure and summon help, among other skills. During 2007, we also funded children with epilepsy to swim with dolphins in the open sea and enjoy a week of aquatic bodyworks.

Enabling patients to decide the types of support we offer

Our support programme for people with Parkinson’s disease typifies our ‘patient-driven’ approach. In Germany, for example, an online panel of 250 patients advises us on the types of information and support that they and their care givers need. This has led to the creation of quarterly journal, offering advice on nutrition, sport and other issues,as well as an emailed newsletter that provides tips for families on how to deal with the disease.



Educating the public about severe diseases and biomedicine

UCB is also co-sponsoring a unique new science centre that will connect school children and other members of the public more closely with biomedicine and scientific research. ‘The Centre of the Cell’ in London will be the world’s first science education centre situated in the working research laboratories of a major medical school, the ‘Institute of Cell and Molecular Science at Barts and The London.’We also sponsor a range of academic initiatives, including an academic chair in the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Leuven University. UCB also signed an academic grant in chronic arthritis with the Rheumatology Department of the University of Ghent.

Going that Extra Mile

We are sponsoring basic yet vital equipment for a remote village clinic in Uganda, including examination beds and solar panels, enabling the clinic to become self-sufficient



9F2.

Health, Safety and Environment

1st column Policy Strategy Management system Performance score card Programmes for 2008

Column 2

Health, Safety and Environment

UCB aims to provide products that improve the quality of life for current and future generations, while creating value for the company, its stakeholders and society in general. At the same time, we give high priority to the health and safety of our employees, neighbours, customers and all others affected by our business activities. It is our intent to provide and maintain a safe and healthy working environment and to enlist the support of employees towards achieving these ends. We are committed to the efficient use of natural resources and to the minimisation of adverse environmental impacts of our activities and our products throughout their life cycles


http://www.ucb-group.com/about_ucb/3370.asp

http://www.ucb-group.com/about_ucb/2869.asp


9F2a.

Policy

Column 2

Policy

UCB provides products that improve the quality of life for current and future generations, while creating value for the company, its stakeholders and society in general. We consider the effective management of health, safety and the environment (HS&E) to be a high priority and an integral part of our business.

Commitments

This policy statement applies to all UCB companies and business units and we are committed specifically to the following:

• Prevention of harm to people, the environment, property and other factors potentially affected by our business operations.• Optimisation of our use of natural resources (energy, water and other raw materials) and minimisation of our wastes.• Integration of HS&E considerations into our business activities, planning and decision-making processes.• A comprehensive approach to occupational and environmental product stewardship that includes our key suppliers and contract manufacturers.• Compliance with applicable HS&E regulatory and other requirements. Where an operation is subject to both UCB and local regulatory obligations, the stricter standard must be applied.• Provision of sufficient resources and the internal competencies required to implement this policy and our HS&E programmes.• Proactive communication and cooperation with our stakeholders to help ensure we operate our business in a socially responsible manner.• Use of risk management methodologies as the means to prioritise our HS&E programmes.• Preparation, testing and maintenance of plans to enable an effective response to foreseeable emergency situations and limit their impact.• Communication of our commitment to UCB's HS&E performance to our stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Each company or business unit is required to implement its own policy and arrangements which should be consistent with the key principles set out above. Implementation is achieved through line management. All employees have a responsibility for their own safety as well as that of their colleagues and the protection of the environment, working in partnership with management to ensure compliance and support continuous improvement. Company HS&E specialists provide advice and support to assist management and other employees to fulfil the policy objectives.



Review

The UCB Executive Committee reviews this policy annually to ensure ongoing adherence and commitment to its objectives.

Roch DoliveuxChief Executive Officer



9F2b.

Strategy

Column 2

The HS&E strategy adopted by UCB is based on the building of an integrated and devolved system of management that addresses the key health, safety and environmental risks to the business and aims to drives the health and safety of people and environmental protection into the culture of UCB. It enables UCB to deal with current issues, while having the flexibility to allow anticipation and adjustment to new trends and challenges, changes in legislation, world issues and developments in the company.

UCB has a commitment to continuous improvement in meeting responsibilities to people and the environment. To this end, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Committee have approved an HS&E Policy.

Each site is required to develop and publish its own HS&E policy, which will be in accord with the terms of the UCB Policy and Strategy



9F2c.

Management system

Column 2

Continuous improvement in HS&E performance is achieved through the implementation of the company's HS&E management system.

This integrated management system combines the elements of the internationally recognised environmental management systems standard, ISO 14001, and the occupational health and safety management systems specification, OHSAS 18001.

A hierarchy of supporting documentation has been established which consists of broad HS&E principles for managers to use as reference points as well as specific tools for use by our facility HS&E coordinators and other staff



9F2d.

Performance score card See latest version on ucb.com

Column 2

UCB provides products that improve the quality of life for current and future generations, while creating value for the company, its stakeholders and society in general. Naturally therefore, we consider the effective management ofEnvironment, Health and Safety (EHS) to be a priority.

UCB regularly tracks its EHS performance using the measures such as lost time injury rate, energy and water consumption, effluent discharge, waste recovery, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxide emissions.

UCB's key EHS performance indicators are highlighted in the following 2008 EHS scorecard.

UCB is convinced that beyond the benefits for the environment, these efforts could lead naturally to innovation, help toreduce costs and reinforce relationships with all of our stakeholders, including the patients who are at the heart of all we do.

performanceHealth and safety 2007 2008Lost time injury rateNumber of injuries sustained at work where the person is unable to attend work for one or more days beyond the day on which the injury occurred as a consequence of the injury (per million hours worked)

There were no fatalities at UCB facilities in 2007 and 2008.

4.52 4.20

performanceResource consumption 2007 2008

Energy consumption (million gigajoules, GJ)(*)

By source:

Purchased electricity

Natural gas

Fuel oil

1.40

0.57

0.71

0.12

1.43

0.59

0.70

0.14

Water consumption (thousand cubic metres, m3) 1 148 994 performance

Waste water discharges 2007 2008



Strength of effluent discharged from UCB facilities (tonnes):

Chemical oxygen demand (COD)

Total suspended solids (TSS)

219

73

247

96

performanceWaste Management 2007 2008

Total waste generated from UCB activities, excluding construction activities (tonnes)

Of which:

Hazardous

Non-hazardous

Waste recovery or valorisation techniques used were:

Sent for incineration at facilities where flue gases are used to recover energy

Use by third parties as a secondary liquid fuel

Sent for recovery of solvents

Packaging materials sent for recycling

Other materials recycling

This equates to a waste recovery rate (%)

16 730

11 000

5 730

1 430

3 850

3 000

2 460

990

70

15 640

11 170

4 470

1 050

5 440

3 090

1 820

970

79

performanceReleases to atmosphere 2007 2008

Emissions of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) to air, estimated by UCB manufacturing sites (tonnes):

Non-chlorinated

Chlorinated

130

<10

140

13

Estimated contributions to climate change from carbon dioxide emissions (tonnes CO2 equivalent)(*):

114 900

117 940



By source

Electricity purchased from our suppliers

Use of fossil fuels (gas and oil) at UCB facilities

Refrigeration systems

68 000

45 700

1 200

70 000

47 090

850

Estimated emissions of sulphur dioxide from fossil fuel use (tonnes)

54 67

Estimated emissions of nitrogen oxides from fossil fuel use (tonnes)

51 54

performanceOther information 2007 2008

Number of manufacturing facilities with accredited certification to the ISO 14001 environmental management system standard specification

4 4

Number of R&D, manufacturing, commercial affiliate and UCB corporate facilities worldwide contributing to health and safety data

52 58

Number of R&D, manufacturing, larger commercial affiliate and corporate facilities worldwide contributing to environmental data

21 18

(*) In 2008, new effluent treatment units on UCB site in Shannon (Ireland)



9F2e.

Health, Safety & Environment Programme 2009 The 2009 priorities aim at continuously enhancing the Health and Safety of our stakeholders, while ensuring sustainable performance respecting the environment:

Improve Safety in reducing the frequency and severity of incidents Build a solid internal global network by sharing expertise and develop a user-friendly

operating dashboard to increase awareness and visibility of HS&E performance Product Stewardship

- Ensure risk management of UCB compounds and timely communication of current Safety Data Sheets- Continue implementation of REACH compliance programme- Be GHS-ready by end 2010

Develop and roll-out new standards and related documentation to enable awareness and effective management of HS&E risks and business continuity

Develop a global environmental footprint reduction strategy- Launch the "Carbon footprint" initiative, first in Belgium

Corporate Social Responsibility at UCB: develop mission, strategy & roadmap



10. PRODUCTS



10. Products TEXTS FOR INFORMATION ONLY, TO BE ADAPTED LOCALLYThis section contaisn information about the products of UCB. In some countries, product information cannot be disclosed to the general public, but only to Health Care Professionals. If this is the case in your country, we can place the product information in a special section for Health Care Professionals that is ony accessible by Health care professionals.

Translation for quotes

1st column

UCB Group's medicines are making a real difference to the lives of people all over the world. Some of our products are among the leaders in their field

2nd column

Our main products

Keppra® ›

Keppra® (levetiracetam) is indicated for the treatment of several types of epilepsy including add-on treatment for adults and children from 4 years of age with partial onset seizures.

Vimpat® ›

In Europe, Vimpat® is indicated for the adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalization in patients with epilepsy, age 16 and over.


http://www.ucb.com/products/product-list/cns/vimpat.asp

http://www.ucb-group.com/products/866.htm


Nootropil® ›

Nootropil® (piracetam) is a cerebral function regulator, used to treat adults and the elderly.

Xyzal® ›

Xyzal® (levocetirizine) is an antihistamine for the symptomatic treatment of allergic rhinitis, including persistent allergic rhinitis, and chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Zyrtec® ›

Zyrtec® (cetirizine) is an antihistamine treatment for the symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Tussionex™ ›

Tussionex™ (hydrocodone polistirex and chlorpheniramine polistirex) (CIII) is used for relief of cough and upper respiratory symptoms associated with allergy or cold in adults and children 6 years of age and older.

Metadate-CD™ ›

Metadate-CD™ / Equasym™ (methylphenidate HCl) (CII) is used in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children over 6 years of age.

Neupro® ›

Neupro® (rotigotine) is a transdermal patch used in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease in adults and elderly.

Univasc™/Femipres™/Perdix™ ›

Univasc™/Femipres™/Perdix™ is indicated for the treatment of essential hypertension in adults and elderly.

Edex®/Viridal® ›

Edex®/Viridal® is indicated in erectile dysfunction in adults and elderly.

Deponit® ›

Deponit® (glyceryl trinitrate) is indicated in the treatment of coronary heart disease in adults and elderly.

Isoket® ›

Isoket® (isosorbide dinitrate) is used for the treatment of angina and heart failure in adults and elderly.













13. HOMEPAGE



13. Homepage

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