Fast Forward, JDRF announce collaborative partnership with Axxam SpA

Jan 20 2010

Patient Advocacy Partners Forge Collaboration to Fund Discovery of New Drugs that Target the Immune System

Fast Forward, LLC, the commercial drug development arm of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the leader in research leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes in the world today announced a collaborative partnership with Axxam SpA -- a leading company in conducting early-stage discovery research programs for the life science industry -- to develop new treatments for two autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes (T1D).  

Under the terms of the agreement, Axxam will screen its extensive chemical library to identify compounds that can target specific ion channels in the immune system. Ion channels are tiny pores on the surface of immune cells that control the influx of charged particles and allow the cells to become activated to perform their natural surveillance and protection functions.  Recent studies have found that immune cells in MS and T1D contain high levels of a specific ion channel, Kv1.3, and that the hyperactivity of this channel contributes to the dysfunction of the immune system in MS and T1D.  If the initial research is successful, Axxam will have identified compounds that modulate Kv1.3 ion channel activities, and these will be further developed by the company as potential therapies for MS and T1D.

The agreement with Axxam is the first of its kind between cross-disciplinary patient advocacy organizations and represents a new frontier in which groups such as JDRF and Fast Forward ally to lessen the risk of drug discovery and accelerate the development of new therapies that can impact multi-disorders.  "We are pleased to partner with Axxam and JDRF to advance the development of new treatments for T1D and MS," said Dr. Timothy Coetzee, President of Fast Forward.  Adds Dr. Coetzee, "People with MS and T1D need more treatment options and the approach taken by Axxam holds great promise for both diseases."

"Our partnership with Fast Forward and Axxam opens exciting new avenues for JDRF to speed the translation of basic research into drugs and treatments for type 1 diabetes," said Alan J. Lewis, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of JDRF.  "Research into the Kv1.3 ion channel has the potential to negate the autoimmune process causing type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, which must be addressed to cure these diseases."

"It's rewarding for Axxam to be working with two world class non-profits dedicated to speeding new therapies to their constituencies," said  Dr. Stefan Lohmer, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Axxam. "This collaboration recognizes the quality of our research in the challenging ion channels field and we hope to be on the cusp for developing potential new therapies for both type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis."