Attorney Anna Richo serves as executive vice president and general counsel for Brussels-based pharmaceutical firm UCB. In her role, Anna Richo protects the intellectual property of the firm as it develops products to help people with serious diseases, including restless legs syndrome (RLS). RLS, or Willis-Ekbom disease, is a neurological disorder that causes uncomfortable sensations down the legs described by patients as creeping or throbbing, along with an almost uncontrollable urge to move in order to make the sensations stop. Many people suffer more restlessness at night, which can interfere with healthy, uninterrupted sleep. No one knows the exact cause of the disorder, but it seems to be connected with the way the neurotransmitter dopamine moves through a patient’s system. Genes also may play a role, and for some people, iron deficiency may be a cause. RLS is chronic and probably a lifelong disorder. It affects about 10 percent of the American adult population, with women twice as likely as men to be impacted. For some people, lifestyle interventions such as increasing iron consumption and adding regular exercise can help. Patients with more severe RLS symptoms tend to improve with dopamine agonists, opioids, anticonvulsant drugs, or hypnotic drugs.
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AuthorAs of November 1, 2012, Anna Richo became Executive Vice President and General Counsel of UCB, a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Archives
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