Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation Funds Over $15 Million to Develop Treatments for the Leading Genetic Killer of Infants and Toddlers
The Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a treatment or cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) – the leading genetic killer of infants and toddlers – announced that is has funded more than $15 million in research in the last 18 months. Projects were selected from a large pool of industry and academic investigators on the basis of scientific promise and potential to advance therapeutics development. The Foundation continues to seek out innovative and high quality research opportunities particularly those in the neuroscience biotechnology sector.
New York, NY (PRWEB) November 29, 2004 -- The Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a treatment or cure
for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) – the leading genetic killer of infants and
toddlers – announced that is has funded more than $15 million in research in the
last 18 months. Projects were selected from a large pool of industry and
academic investigators on the basis of scientific promise and potential to
advance therapeutics development. The Foundation continues to seek out
innovative and high quality research opportunities particularly those in the
neuroscience biotechnology sector.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a genetic
motor neuron disease caused by the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in
the spinal cord and brainstem, leading to muscle weakness, respiratory
complications and premature death. Having been identified by researchers as the
neurological disease closest to a treatment, SMA has been selected by the
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to serve as the
prototype for a translational research project that is expected to yield drug
candidates for Investigational New Drug Application (IND) filings within three
to five years. The SMA Foundation estimates that there are currently 55,000
people suffering from SMA in the United States, Europe and Japan and that a
conservative annual market potential for an SMA treatment could exceed $500
million.
The SMA Foundation has been a major catalyst in the fight
against this disease and has demonstrated their commitment to finding a
treatment or cure by providing the necessary funding to advance cutting edge
research. Funded projects span the spectrum of basic, translational clinical
research.
In 2004, the SMA Foundation forged a number of biotech
partnerships – two of the larger transactions with Curis, Inc. and CombinatoRx
were each valued in the single-digit, million dollar range. For 2005, the
Foundation will place an increasing emphasis on drug development efforts with
the biotechnology industry. The Foundation continues to fund strong academic
research endeavors that have a high use value to translational
research.
The following organizations have received
funding:
Academia Sinica – Taiwan
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
American Academy of Neurology
Children’s Hospital Boston
The
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Columbia University Medical Center
CombinatoRx
Curis, Inc.
The
Jackson Laboratory
MIT / The Whitehead Institute
Northwestern
University
The Ohio State University
PsychoGenics, Inc.
Stanford
University
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
University of
Rochester
University of Utah
University of Würzberg –
Germany
Washington University
About SMA Foundation
The SMA
Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2003 dedicated to finding a
treatment and potential cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The Foundation
provides funding for the full range of research from basic to clinical work
conducted in academic laboratories as well as corporate therapeutics
development. In addition, the Foundation is committed to raising awareness,
education and increased federal funding and support. For more information on the
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation, visit www.smafoundation.org or
call (646) 253-7100.
Media Contact:
Bryan deCastro, (631)
495-9177
e-mail protected from spam bots
Cynthia Joyce, (646)
253-7100
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb183408.htm