Camelia is sponsored by EMD Serono, Inc.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of nerve fibers, disrupting communication between the brain and the body. Over time, this can cause permanent nerve damage and lead to significant disability. As people with MS live longer, different challenges can arise that call for more personalized treatment approaches and ongoing collaboration with a broader healthcare team to provide comprehensive, holistic care.
Camelia, 63, understands this firsthand. After raising four children and immigrating to the United States, she was building a new life and career when she began experiencing troubling symptoms. “I started to notice that I was feeling very fatigued,” she says. “Later, I also began dealing with back pain, fever, and coughing fits.”
One morning, she woke up with total numbness running down the left side of her body and was unable to get out of bed. “That moment shook me to my very core,” she recalls. After a series of tests, her doctor confirmed that she had RMS.
Living with MS and Aging
Aging can bring new health concerns, including changes in mobility, and a higher risk of infection due to an aging immune system. These concerns make it important for patients to work closely with a trusted healthcare team when evaluating new or current treatment plans.
For Camelia, building a strong partnership with her neurologist became essential, though it took time for her to find the right fit. “It’s important to find a doctor who really listens,” she says. Over time, her needs shifted, including her focus on staying proactive about her care.
Those priorities became even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Camelia was taking a medication that continuously suppressed her immune system. “I knew that put me at higher risk for infection,” she explains. “So, I talked to my neurologist about my options.”
Finding a Treatment That Works for Her
Through open and ongoing conversations, Camelia and her neurologist worked together to find a treatment plan that fit her needs. That discussion led her to learn about MAVENCLAD® (cladribine) tablets, indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS in adults. MAVENCLAD is not recommended for people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
Before starting treatment, Camelia’s doctor discussed that MAVENCLAD can cause serious side effects, including the risk of cancer, birth defects, low white blood cell counts, serious infections, and liver problems. Her doctor also explained that she would be monitored before, during, and after treatment. Please see Important Safety Information, including serious side effects below.
Camelia appreciated her doctor’s openness, which helped her feel more confident about moving forward with treatment. “My doctor explained the dosing schedule of MAVENCLAD- no more than 10 treatment days a year for two years,” says Camelia. The number of pills depends on weight.
“My doctor also explained how the dosing schedule allows the impacted immune cells to recover between doses,” which she values as she ages. “I liked that it wouldn’t continuously suppress my immune system and that my white blood cell levels could recover between treatment cycles,” Camelia adds.
She began MAVENCLAD in 2022 and completed her second treatment course in 2023. According to Camelia, MAVENCLAD has been the right fit for her. “I’m thankful to report that my recent MRIs have shown no new lesions.” This is Camelia’s personal experience, and results may vary for others. Today, Camelia feels her RMS symptoms are under control, and she focuses on staying active to maintain her balance and strength. Every RMS journey is different, which is why patients and their healthcare providers must closely partner together on any treatment decisions.
A Message for Others Living with RMS
Camelia hopes her story encourages others to stay proactive in their RMS care and seek support when they need it. “Life is short, so I try to make the good moments last,” she says.
To learn more, talk to your doctor and visit takeonrms.com to hear more stories from people like Camelia and find support resources like MS LifeLines.
What is MAVENCLAD®?
MAVENCLAD tablets 10 mg is a prescription medicine used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include relapsing-remitting disease and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. Because of its safety profile, MAVENCLAD is generally used in people who have tried another MS medicine that they could not tolerate or that has not worked well enough.
MAVENCLAD is not recommended for use in people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
It is not known if MAVENCLAD is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age and is therefore not recommended.
Important Safety Information
MAVENCLAD may cause serious side effects, including:
- Risk of cancer (malignancies). You should follow healthcare provider instructions about screening for cancer.
- MAVENCLAD may cause birth defects if used during pregnancy. Women must not be pregnant when they start treatment with MAVENCLAD or become pregnant during MAVENCLAD dosing and within 6 months after the last dose of each yearly treatment course. You should stop treatment with MAVENCLAD and contact your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant during treatment with MAVENCLAD.
- For women who are able to become pregnant:
- Your healthcare provider should order a pregnancy test before you begin your first and second yearly treatment course of MAVENCLAD to make sure that you are not pregnant.
- Ask your healthcare provider which contraceptive method is right for you. Women and men being treated with MAVENCLAD should use effective birth control (contraception) on the days on which they take MAVENCLAD and for at least 6 months after the last dose of each yearly treatment course.
Do not take MAVENCLAD if you:
- have cancer (malignancy).
- are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are a woman of childbearing age or a man able to father a child and you are not using birth control.
- are breastfeeding.
- are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive.
- have active infections, including tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis B or C.
- are allergic to cladribine.
Before you take MAVENCLAD, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- think you have an infection.
- have taken, take, or plan to take medicines that affect your immune system or blood cells, or other treatments for MS. Certain medicines can increase your risk of getting an infection.
- have had a recent vaccination or are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive live or live-attenuated vaccines within the 4 to 6 weeks preceding treatment with MAVENCLAD or receive these types of vaccines during your treatment with MAVENCLAD and unless directed by your healthcare provider.
- have heart failure.
- have or have had cancer.
- have liver or kidney problems.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if MAVENCLAD passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed on the days on which you take MAVENCLAD, and for 10 days after the last dose.
How should I take MAVENCLAD?
- MAVENCLAD is given as two yearly treatment courses, consisting of 2 treatment weeks (cycles) about a month apart.
- Handle MAVENCLAD with dry hands and take immediately after opening the blister pack. Take with water and do not chew the tablet. MAVENCLAD can be taken with or without food and should be taken at least 3 hours apart from other medicines.
- Wash your hands after handling MAVENCLAD. Limit contact with your skin (especially on your face). Wash skin and surfaces with water if contact occurs.
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. If the whole day passes before you remember, take your missed dose the next day. Do not take 2 doses at the same time. Instead, you will extend the number of days in that treatment week.
Your healthcare provider will continue to monitor your health during the 2 yearly treatment courses, and for at least another 2 years during which you do not need to take MAVENCLAD. It is not known if MAVENCLAD is safe and effective in people who restart MAVENCLAD treatment more than 2 years after completing 2 yearly treatment courses.
MAVENCLAD can cause serious side effects. If you have any of these symptoms listed below, call your healthcare provider right away:
- low blood cell counts have happened and can increase your risk of infections during treatment with MAVENCLAD. Blood tests are needed before you start treatment with MAVENCLAD, during your treatment with MAVENCLAD, and afterward, as needed.
- serious infections such as:
- life-threatening or fatal infections caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi.
- TB, hepatitis B or C, and shingles (herpes zoster). Fatal cases of TB and hepatitis have happened with cladribine during clinical studies. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any symptoms of the following infection related problems or if any of the symptoms get worse, including fever, aching painful muscles, headache, feeling of being generally unwell, loss of appetite, burning, tingling, numbness or itchiness of the skin in the affected area, skin blotches, blistered rash, or severe pain.
- progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML is a rare brain infection that usually leads to death or severe disability. Although PML has not been seen in MS patients taking MAVENCLAD, it may happen in people with weakened immune systems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening neurologic signs or symptoms. These may include: weakness on 1 side of your body, loss of coordination in your arms and legs, decreased strength, problems with balance, changes in your vision, changes in your thinking or memory, confusion, or changes in your personality.
- liver problems. Symptoms of liver problems may include: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow. Your doctor will perform blood tests to check your liver during treatment.
- allergic reactions (hypersensitivities). You should stop treatment and seek immediate medical attention if any signs or symptoms of allergic reactions occur. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, swelling or itching of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing.
- heart failure. MAVENCLAD may cause heart failure, which means your heart may not pump as well as it should. Call your healthcare provider or go to the closest emergency room for medical help right away if you have any signs or symptoms such as shortness of breath, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or unusual swelling in your body.
The most common side effects of MAVENCLAD include: upper respiratory infection, headache, and low white blood cell counts.
These are not all the possible side effects of MAVENCLAD. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact EMD Serono at: 1-800-283-8088 ext. 5563 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide, including serious side effects.
EMD Serono does not recommend or endorse any specific clinician or provider.
EMD Serono is the Healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the U.S. and Canada.
MAVENCLAD is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany or its affiliates.
US-MAV-03008 November 2025 Intended for US only
