Myelin Repair--not just for MS sufferers

As a sufferer of Central Pontine Myelinolysis (CPM), I have always beleived there will be a cure for this devastating condition. It is also ironic that my sister has Multiple Sclerosis. Or is it?
Either way, these are both demyelinating disorders, though MS is progresssive and more public than CPM.
Below is an email I received from the Myelin Repair Foundation and thought I'd share this with everybody who is familiar demyelinating disorders.


From: "Myelin Repair Foundation"

As many of you know, when the MRF launched its research program in 2004, we set a very ambitious goal: to license our first myelin repair target for commercial drug development within five years. Realizing that goal meant that we would have to shorten the standard time for reaching such a milestone by as much as 10-15 years. That was two to three times faster than most believed to be possible.

I am pleased to report that, as of this letter, we are in negotiations with a biotech company which we believe will lead to a licensing agreement for the commercial development of one of our discoveries. This is the first of many milestones that will be necessary for bringing new treatments to those living with MS.

What we have accomplished in the past five years with respect to our goal is nothing short of extraordinary.

In 2004, little was known about the basic scientific processes involved in myelination and remyelination. Because of our work, we have a much clearer understanding of how to drive neural stem cells to the site of myelin damage in the central nervous system and instruct the myelin-producing cells to remyelinate. The work of our scientists has demonstrated that myelin can be repaired in animal models of MS. To date our scientific collaboration has uncovered 19 such targets 12 of which we believe could lead to patient treatments. Two of these targets are currently undergoing validation and early-stage drug discovery studies.


Since 2004 we have been awarded one patent on our discoveries and eight more are pending. Without patent protection, few discoveries are moved forward toward patient treatments.


In 2004, only one of hundreds of biotech and pharmaceutical companies had myelin repair on their radar screens as a potential treatment option for MS. Today, because of our work, commercial interest in myelin repair has increased dramatically. In fact, in the last several months we have had conversations with as many as 30 biotech and pharmaceutical companies about advancing our targets into the commercial drug pipeline.


Since 2004, we have developed 24 new research tools including animal models and assays that are used to measure the rate of myelination in healthy animals and remyelination in diseased animals. These tools have potential application for all neurological disease research.


Since 2004, with your generous support, we have invested $20 million to achieve these measurable outcomes, a fraction of the dollars spent on MS research in the preceding five-year time period. This tells us that scientific medical research can be accelerated in a cost-effective way.
While I wish I could offer a myelin repair treatment today, as someone who has been waiting for a cure to MS since 1976, I am encouraged that we will be successful in driving a treatment to market faster than anyone believed to be possible five years ago. I am grateful to all of those who are making this possible through their generous and ongoing support. We remain dedicated to the 2.5 million people worldwide living with MS, as well as to their family and friends.

Sincerely,



Scott Johnson
President
Myelin Repair Foundation
18809 Cox Avenue, Suite 190
Saratoga, CA 95070
www.myelinrepair.org