May 07, 2009
Fast Forward, LLC, Seeking Proposals in Early Stage Drug Development for MS
Proposals sought from academic institutions and seed-to-early stage companies developing novel therapeutic approaches to prevent, treat or reverse nervous system damage in multiple sclerosis
Fast Forward, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National MS Society, and EMD Serono, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced a commitment of $3 million in 2009 to support innovative early-stage projects directed towards the development of therapies to prevent treat, or reverse nervous system damage in MS. This is the first "Request for Proposals" (RFP) issued under the auspices of a multi-year collaboration between Fast Forward and EMD Serono to accelerate innovation and commercial development of MS therapies. Merck KGaA, the parent corporation of EMD Serono, Inc., will provide up to $19 million in total funding for the collaboration.
“Our goal is to accelerate the discovery and commercial development of innovative MS therapies and bring these new and improved treatments to the people with MS who need them,” reported Dr. Timothy Coetzee, President of Fast Forward. “A unique feature of this RFP is that EMD Serono will be poised to work with award recipients to aggressively move their research programs forward.”
This RFP will complement Fast Forward’s ongoing research funding programs wherein it has established a strong presence in early-stage drug discovery for MS. Fast Forward will continue to provide critical resources for underfunded academic institutions and seed-to-early-stage companies engaged in innovative research in support of its commitment to end multiple sclerosis.
“EMD Serono is pleased to join forces with Fast Forward to drive the development of a new generation of MS therapies,” said Steve Arkinstall, Vice President, US Research, EMD Serono, Inc. “By providing university researchers and early-stage companies with an opportunity for follow-on funding and continued collaboration, we can close the gap between the laboratory discoveries and life changing therapies for people with MS.”
Fast Forward is seeking proposals for funding through the Accelerating Innovation and the Accelerating Commercial Development programs. The Accelerating Innovation program is open to academic institutions, non-profit research organizations, and seed- stage for-profit commercial organizations. The Accelerating Commercial Development program is open to early-stage for-profit commercial organizations that have achieved Series A or comparable investment funding.
Priority research areas for this RFP include:
• modulation of innate and/or adaptive immunity to promote central nervous system (CNS) neuroprotection and/or repair;
• molecular strategies for direct CNS neuroprotection;
• molecular approaches for CNS repair and remyelination;
• regenerative cell therapies and related platform technologies.
View details of the RFP and application procedure.
The commitment of $3 million in 2009 is comprised of up to $250,000 in funding and is available for one year to each awardee selected through the Accelerating Innovation program and up to $500,000 in funding is available for one year to each awardee selected through the Accelerating Commercial Development program.
The overall selection of program awardees will be made exclusively by Fast Forward, with participation by EMD Serono Inc. under Fast Forward’s standard assessment process. The full RFPs are available on Fast Forward’s web site, www.fast.forward.org along with eligibility criteria for both programs and instructions for submission of a preliminary proposal.
Preliminary proposals are required of all applicants and must be submitted online by July 28, 2009. Preliminary proposals will be reviewed by the Fast Forward’s staff and a panel of experts drawn from Fast Forward’s Scientific and Business Advisory Committee. Applicants whose preliminary proposals are determined to meet the review criteria will be invited to submit full proposals which will be due in late October, 2009 Funding is anticipated by December 2009. All funding disbursements will be managed and approved by the Fast Forward Board of Directors.