Invida Outcomes Network to Offer Registry For Migraine Sufferers

Leading Migraine Advocacy Group Becomes First Invida Alliance Partner

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Invida Outcomes Network ( http://www.invida.com ) announced today that its first online patient registry will focus on migraine, a neurological condition affecting approximately 28 million Americans, and that it has formed a strategic alliance with M.A.G.N.U.M, The National Migraine Association. Invida is the first consumer health web site to use outcomes research to help the chronically ill track their treatment progress over time.

Through the alliance, Invida and M.A.G.N.U.M will promote Invida's online services to migraine patients nationwide. Visitors to M.A.G.N.U.M's site ( http://www.migraines.org ) will be able to link to Invida, which is scheduled for launch in August and will offer personalized outcomes reports and migraine-specific content.

Today's announcement comes in the wake of new clinical guidelines presented by the U.S. Headache Consortium last week to help physicians diagnose and treat migraines and a recent statement by the National Institutes of Health affirming that migraine is a complex neurological disorder caused by abnormally excitable neurons or brain cells. These developments dispel previous theories linking the disorder to enlarged blood vessels or attributing it to underlying psychological problems.

"With all the exciting news about migraine, Invida comes at a very opportune time to help migraineurs better understand new scientific discoveries about their disease and seek treatments that can reduce its frequency and severity," said Michael John Coleman, executive director of M.A.G.N.U.M. (Migraine Awareness Group: A National Understanding for Migraineurs), based in Alexandria, Va. "Migraine outcomes studies, conducted through Invida Outcomes Network, will enable migraineurs to benchmark their experiences with others and provide motivation for many to seek medical treatment and stop trying to fight the disease alone," he said.

According to M.A.G.N.U.M, nearly half of those afflicted do not seek professional medical treatment and, therefore, are not utilizing prescription medications that have proven to be effective in treating even the severest migraine attacks.

"We are excited to be partnering with M.A.G.N.U.M in providing a migraine registry that will offer its members the opportunity to participate in outcomes research while helping them gain control over their condition by becoming more aware of the interrelationships of drug utilization, symptomatology and quality of life," said Stephen Reisler, president of Invida Outcomes Network.

Created by Ovation Research Group, a leading global health economics and medical outcomes firm, Invida Outcomes Network will draw on Ovation's outcomes research expertise to develop member surveys, interpret data and produce outcomes analyses. Ovation performs "real-world" research studies that present outcomes data most reflective of actual medical practice. Invida, therefore, will bring significant and unique medical and personal value to consumers seeking greater control and empowerment as they cope with migraine and other chronic conditions, such as arthritis, breast cancer, depression, heart disease and many more.

Invida's patient registries for migraine and other disorders will collect and interpret disease-specific outcomes data, based on quantifiable attitudes and experiences provided by Invida members through online surveys. The data will be used to generate reports to help members better understand their conditions and responses to treatments. Outcomes reports will feature tabular and graphic displays that can be downloaded or printed. Reisler said that Invida plans to announce several new disease-specific registries and strategic alliances in the weeks prior to the launch of its site.

There is no charge for Invida participation and information from individual surveys will remain strictly confidential. "Privacy and confidentiality are important to us and are assured to all Invida members," said Reisler. "The information they provide in outcomes surveys is anonymous. All stored data will reside only on our secure servers and will always be analyzed before reporting it exclusively in aggregate form." Invida Outcomes Network is headquartered in Highland Park, Ill., and can be reached at info@invida.com .

SOURCE Invida Outcomes Network Web Site: http://www.invida.com

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