SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J.,
Sept. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/
-- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTCT) is pleased to
announce the recipients of the Company's 2017 global STRIVE Awards
(Strategies to Realize Innovation, Vision and Empowerment) program,
designed to support nonprofit organizations serving the Duchenne
muscular dystrophy (DMD) community. The announcement is made as the
international DMD community marks World Duchenne Awareness Day.
"This year's STRIVE for DMD winners all submitted innovative,
creative and passionate project proposals that aspire to enhancing
the experiences of the Duchenne community. We are pleased to be
able to provide these organizations with support to bring these
brilliant projects to life," said Stuart W.
Peltz, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, PTC Therapeutics,
Inc.
The impact of the STRIVE Awards will be felt across three
different continents, with awards granted to patient organizations
in Brazil, the Netherlands and the United States.
Brazil: Associação Baiana de
Distrofia Muscular (ABDM) will launch CPK para Alertar!, a
media campaign to encourage parents and pediatricians to support
early diagnosis of DMD via CPK tests
Brazil:
Association of Family Members, Friends and Patients with Severe
Diseases (AFAG) will run a 'National DMD Seminar Circuit' to share
the latest information on the treatment of DMD to empower patients,
families and healthcare professionals
Netherlands: UPPMD Data
Foundation will launch a digital platform to promote patient
identification, as well as interconnectivity and communication
between patients and DMD healthcare professionals, researchers and
patient organizations in Europe
United States: Beauhawks
Foundation will run Dancing for Duchenne, a school outreach
program and community event to promote understanding, acceptance
and inclusion of those affected by DMD
United
States: Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation will create
a DMD patient and community cookbook featuring recipes and personal
stories of patients and families affected by DMD to promote healthy
eating amongst the DMD community and raise awareness
Award entries were submitted by 32 organizations from around the
world. Each of the winning organizations will receive a grant to
make their proposed project a reality. An independent panel of
external experts with knowledge in rare diseases, patient advocacy
and funding initiatives judged entries for innovation, vision and
empowerment.
The judges were impressed by the high standard of submissions.
"There were some very inventive and collaborative proposals this
year. These awards have provided a meaningful way for organizations
throughout the world to implement innovative programs," said
Kari Luther Rosbeck. "The STRIVE
grants are aiding the grass roots efforts that are essential for
the community," added Joline
Dalton.
"The enthusiasm and commitment of the non-profit organizations
who entered the STRIVE for DMD 2017 awards was astounding," said
Mary Frances Harmon, Vice President,
Corporate Relations, PTC Therapeutics, Inc. "PTC is committed to
supporting people affected by DMD and look forward to witnessing
the positive impact that this years' projects will have on the
Duchenne community."
DMD is a rare genetic disorder that results in progressive
muscle weakness from early childhood, with subsequent loss of lower
and then upper body function. Most children with DMD are
wheelchair-bound by their early teens. PTC established the STRIVE
awards program to support initiatives that will benefit the DMD
community by increasing awareness, diagnosis and education, and
fostering the development of future patient advocates.
About STRIVE Awards Program
PTC began the STRIVE Awards program for DMD in 2015. For further
information about the program and each award recipient, please
visit the STRIVE website:
www.ptcbio.com/en/about-ptc/ptc-strive-awards-program/.
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Primarily affecting males, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is
a rare and fatal genetic disorder that results in progressive
muscle weakness from early childhood and leads to premature death
in the mid-twenties due to heart and respiratory failure. It is a
progressive muscle disorder caused by the lack of functional
dystrophin protein. Dystrophin is critical to the structural
stability of skeletal, diaphragm, and heart muscles. Patients with
DMD can lose the ability to walk as early as age ten, followed by
loss of the use of their arms. DMD patients subsequently experience
life-threatening lung complications, requiring the need for
ventilation support, and heart complications in their late teens
and twenties. It is estimated that a nonsense mutation is the cause
of DMD in approximately 13 percent of patients.
About PTC Therapeutics
PTC is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the
discovery, development, and commercialization of novel medicines
using our expertise in RNA biology. PTC's internally discovered
pipeline addresses multiple therapeutic areas, including rare
disorders and oncology. PTC has discovered all of its compounds
currently under development using its proprietary technologies.
Since its founding nearly 20 years ago, PTC's mission has focused
on developing treatments to fundamentally change the lives of
patients living with rare genetic disorders. The company was
founded in 1998 and is headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey. For more information
on the company, please visit our website www.ptcbio.com.
In addition, PTC has launched its global disease awareness
website, DuchenneAndYou.com to engage the broader DMD community and
provide valuable information regarding the disease
state.
For More Information:
Investors:
Emily
Hill
+ 1 (908) 912-9327
ehill@ptcbio.com
Media:
Jane Baj
+1 (908) 912-9167
jbaj@ptcbio.com
Patient Organizations:
Mary
Frances Harmon
+1 (908) 912-9205 or (866) 282-5873
mharmon@ptcbio.com
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SOURCE PTC Therapeutics, Inc.