It’s terribly frustrating to suffer with MS, knowing that there are promising drugs being developed that could help you but they are years away from being ready for FDA approval.  That’s why the National Multiple Sclerosis Society stepped in with funding for an innovative program called Fast Forward.

Faster MS Treatment
The Society’s Fast Forward plan was developed to inject funding into small pharmaceutical and biotech companies to enable them to bring promising treatments through the early stages of development, ultimately providing a cure for MS.  Often, these companies bridge the gap between university-based research and getting a drug on the market.

“Our science and business advisors will help us identify the most promising opportunities in research and industry,” says Timothy Coetzee, PhD and executive director of Fast Forward. “To move these opportunities forward, we plan to raise $30 million over the next five years.”

New MS Drug Development Guidelines
Fast Focus has four core goals:

1.    Increase the number of MS drugs in the development pipeline by connecting basic research to drug development.

2.    Increase the MS focus and speed with which these drugs are brought to clinical trial.

3.    Fund clinical trials of potential MS drugs.

4.    Expedite the repurposing of existing drugs used for other disorders to treat MS.

“Of course there are no guarantees,” remarks Dr. John Richert, executive vice president of Research and Clinical Programs for the Society, “but progress can only occur through action, and I’m very excited that the Society has made this bold move.”

Fast Forward Sponsors First Research Agreement
Fledgling biotechnology firm Apitope received $1 million from Fast Forward to perform a proof of principle trial (a short trial to verify  validity) on a promising new MS treatment, ATX-MS-1467, which it hopes will target and redirect immune response in MS patients.

Shortly thereafter, Apitope entered into a contract with Merck Serono to work together on the development and release of ATX-MS-1467 treatment.

MS Research Goal: World Free of MS
Consequently, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society was able to collaborate with Merck Serono to evaluate and fund promising MS research projects to the tune of up to $19 million. The money will be used to by biotech companies, individual researchers and/or academic institutions to fund early stage clinical development projects.

“Thanks to the National MS Society’s history of supporting MS research and program services for people with MS, we have tremendous knowledge about multiple sclerosis and the needs of people with MS,” remarks Dr. Coetzee. “Yet the ability of research institutions and business to bring new projects forward is lagging, particularly in this uncertain economic climate. Partnerships with industry leaders like Merck KGaA and EMD Serono equip us to move even more aggressively toward our shared goal of a world free of MS.”

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