Five Prime Therapeutics, Fast Forward partner to develop Multiple Sclerosis therapeutic candidate

May 25 2010

Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc., a leader in the discovery and development of innovative biologics, and Fast Forward, LLC, a subsidiary of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, today announced an alliance to fund the development of a FivePrime pre-clinical stage therapeutic candidate for treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Fast Forward will commit up to $1 million to fund the advancement of the therapeutic candidate.

“Five Prime's approach fits well with our strategy of supporting innovative and promising new treatments for MS.”

Under the terms of the agreement Fast Forward will provide funds to enable pre-clinical testing of a proprietary and innovative biological molecule discovered at FivePrime. This biologic targets specific cells of the innate immune system, a mechanism that differentiates this potential therapy from the approved treatments for MS. The innate immune system is a component of the body's immune system and recent research has suggested that it contributes to disease activity in both relapsing remitting and progressive forms of MS.

"We are delighted to be able to work with Fast Forward in order to bring new treatments to people with MS. MS is an important area of innovation and focus at FivePrime," said Brian Wong, MD, PhD, vice president, immunology and discovery research at FivePrime. "Fast Forward's support provides important validation of FivePrime's powerful discovery engine and the company's growing pipeline of first-in-class therapeutic biologics."

"We are pleased to partner with FivePrime to accelerate the development of new treatments for people with MS. Their high-caliber scientists have identified a new treatment strategy which should be explored further," adds Dr. Timothy Coetzee, president of Fast Forward. "Five Prime's approach fits well with our strategy of supporting innovative and promising new treatments for MS."