Help Improve and Prolong Julio Cesar's Life from MS

My name is Julio Cesar Reyes. I am a 55-year-old Peruvian. I have two children, a 20-year-old son studying at the university level and a 13-year-old daughter. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 3 years ago. Unfortunately, I had to retire early to obtain medical coverage through the Peruvian social security program, as I do not qualify for private medical insurance. Last year, I began taking an old medication called Azatioprina which was covered through my social security insurance. This medication has not been effective for treating my disease. I have recently been prescribed a different medication called Ocrelizumab (which has a brand name Ocrevus) from Roche Laboratories. This is the only FDA approved medication for my condition. Ocrelizumab is a disease modifying therapy (DMT) which is very expensive. The Peruvian cost for this medication is approximately $28,000 (dollars) per year. I'm required to pay out of pocket to receive this medication as my medical insurance will not cover it. I’ve succeeded in reducing the cost of Ocrelizumab to $16,000 through the Roche financial assistance program called “Para-Ti” and through contacts I have from my previous employment in the pharmaceutical industry. I am seeking financial support to help pay for my medical treatment which is chronic and degenerative. I would be grateful for any support given, as it will help prolong my life, help maintain my highest level of independence, and improve my quality of life so I can spend time with my family and find part-time work to help pay for medical expenses.

For those who are not familiar with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), here is some general information regarding the disease:

1. MS is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with hallmarks of demyelination and axonal degeneration.

2. With MS, the body’s immune system attacks the central nervous system – which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves – and creates an inflammatory response.

3. There are no definitive causes for MS, but scientists lean towards multi-factorial triggers:

4. Symptoms of MS are variable and unpredictable. No two people have exactly the same symptoms, and symptoms can change or fluctuate over time. Here are some common (but not all-inclusive) symptoms with MS:

There are 4 types of MS:

I have Active Primary Progressive MS (PPMS). With PPMS, neurologic functions get steadily worse in the beginning. There are no symptom flare-ups (also called relapses or attacks) and there is no recovery (remission). About 10% to 15% of people diagnosed with MS have PPMS. How fast the disease progresses may vary. There can be times when things are stable and other periods of short-term (temporary) minor improvement. However, the declining neurologic progression is constant.

Thank you in advance for considering supporting my cause. If you need any additional information, do not hesitate to let me know.

For information on disease modifying therapy (DMT) in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, click on the following link:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/neurological/depts/multiple-sclerosis/ms-approaches/dmt-use-in-progressive-ms

Ocrelizumab (also called Ocrevus) is currently the only disease-modifying therapy (DMT) approved by FDA (2017) and EMA (2018) for use in the active type of PPMS. For more information regarding PPMS and managing the progression, click on the following link:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11354232/

For information regarding Ocrevus Zonovo dosing, side effects, benefits, USA pricing, click on the following link:

https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/fda-approves-ocrevus-zunovo

Note:

I, Stella Maris Reyes, am Julio Cesar’s cousin and the organizer of this fundraiser. Julio Cesar lives in Peru which is a country not supported by GoFundMe. Peru does not have an electronic fundraiser like GoFundMe. This fundraiser was established per Julio Cesar’s request and I will be collecting the funds on his behalf. The funds will be kept in a personal USA bank account (specifically dedicated for Julio Cesar) and then transferred to his bank account in Peru. If you have any questions regarding Julio Cesar, his story, how the funds will be transferred or utilized please feel free to contact me.