UCB highlights benefits of PatientsLikeMe to epilepsy sufferers

UCB has published data from a survey that demonstrates the benefits offered by the website PatientsLikeMe in helping epilepsy sufferers cope with their condition.

The company revealed that in a survey of 221 users of the health data-sharing site, the majority of respondents said they have a better understanding of seizures since joining the online community.

It was also shown that almost a third did not previously know anyone else suffering from their condition before signing up to PatientsLikeMe, while over a quarter said it has helped them to improve their adherence to treatment.

Professor Iris Loew-Friedrich, chief medical officer at UCB, said: "The survey demonstrated that there's a clear unmet need and that people with epilepsy want to be able to share and learn from others just like them."

UCB partners with the site to collate anonymous patient data that it can use to better serve the epilepsy community.

Earlier this year, the company announced that more than 100,000 patients worldwide have been treated with its epilepsy therapy Vimpat since its launch in September 2008.