CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and OXFORD, England, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ALS Therapy Development Institute and Oxford BioMedica announced today the extension of their collaboration following successful completion of the first phase. The extended collaboration, which is funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, aims to advance the development of Oxford BioMedica’s preclinical gene therapy candidate, MoNuDin(R), and to evaluate other gene-based strategies for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease).
The collaboration combines Oxford BioMedica’s advanced LentiVector(R) gene delivery technology with the ALS TDI’s extensive gene expression database and drug screening capabilities. The first phase of the collaboration included the development of new techniques to evaluate and identify gene therapy candidates at the ALS TDI’s research facility in Cambridge.
Oxford BioMedica’s Chief Executive Officer, John Dawson, commented: “The successful completion of the first phase of the collaboration is testament to the quality of the scientific teams at the ALS TDI and Oxford BioMedica. Our LentiVector technology has unique capabilities to deliver genes safely and efficiently to neuronal cells and our product candidate, MoNuDin, has shown promising results in preclinical models of ALS. The extension of our collaboration with the ALS TDI enables us to accelerate MoNuDin’s development and to explore new disease pathways as potential targets for genetic intervention. We are delighted to have ongoing support from the Muscular Dystrophy Association for our collaboration with the ALS TDI, which underscores our shared goal to develop new treatment options for patients suffering from ALS.”
About ALS TDI
The mission of the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) is to develop effective therapeutics that slow or stop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease), as soon as possible. Focused on meeting this urgent unmet medical need, ALS TDI executes a robust discovery program, while running the world’s largest efforts to pre-clinically validate potential therapeutics; including small molecules, protein biologics, gene therapies and cell-based constructs. The world’s first non-profit biotech, ALS TDI has developed an industrial-scale platform that allows for the development and testing of dozens of potential therapeutics each year. Built by and for patients, the Institute is the world’s only non-profit biotechnology company with more than 30 professional scientists. In addition, the Cambridge, Massachusetts based research Institute collaborates with leaders in both academia and industry. For more information, please visit us online at www.als.net.
About MDA
MDA (www.mda.org) is the world’s largest nonprofit provider of ALS services and funder of ALS research. Over the years, MDA has invested $250 million specifically fighting ALS. MDA operates more than 200 clinics at hospitals across the country, 36 of which are ALS-specific research and care centers. The Association’s unparalleled health care services, research, advocacy and education programs provide help and hope to more than one million Americans affected by ALS and 42 other neuromuscular diseases.
ALS Therapy Development Foundation
