We need your input on a very important decision
Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:22 am
We need your input on a very important decision.
Do you feel the MS societies are supporting CCSVI in an appropriate manner?
Are they doing all they can do, and representing the interests' of those with Multiple Sclerosis?
Is CCSVI research and treatment at the appropriate stage today, or should more be happening?
We have discussed the possibility of a Multiple Stenoses walk taking place the same day as the official Multiple Sclerosis walk. We would raise awareness and funds to support being tested and treated as soon as possible as many feel that they don't have time to wait years for the clinical trials to take place.
Do we really need to prove how many patients with MS have CCSVI before moving to the next step? Hasn't the strong correlation already been proven?
Those with CCSVI have a medical problem that is causing micro-hemorrhaging in the brain. Should we wait years for clinical trials to be carried out before fixing this? I read yesterday on the MS societies website that they are fast-tracking medications such as Amplimmune so that development of new treatments can be available sooner.
Do you feel that CCSVI needs to be fast tracked?
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/fast-f ... index.aspx
Fast Forward acts as a catalyst, connecting people, ideas, and vital resources to accelerate the development of new treatments for people with MS. We bridge the gap between groundbreaking research knowledge, and the commercial resources necessary to move those discoveries into the drug development process. Bringing treatments to people with MS - Faster.
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/n ... x?nid=1975
“We are pleased to partner with Amplimmune to advance the development of new treatments for MS,” said Dr. Timothy Coetzee, President of Fast Forward.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society funds research in a range of scientific areas including immune mechanisms, genetics, nerve regeneration and symptom managements. The agreement with Amplimmune is a part of the Society’s Fast Forward initiative through which Fast Forward will partner with young innovative biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop treatments, diagnostics, medical devices, and related technologies to treat, reverse and ultimately cure MS. Under the terms of the agreement, Fast Forward will provide Amplimmune with funds to support preclinical development of AMP-110. In consideration, Fast Forward will receive warrants to purchase shares of the company.
Fast Forward’s partnership with Amplimmune continues to expand its role in spurring MS drug development in the emerging biotech market and follows on its successful alliances with Apitope International to fund a proof of principle clinical trial for a peptide therapeutic vaccine and with Provid Pharmaceuticals to develop a novel compound intended to redirect abnormal immune response. It also builds on Fast Forward’s $19 million collaborative partnership with EMD Serono to accelerate innovation and commercial development of MS therapies through a group of soon to be determined, mutually agreed upon seed-to-early stage projects.
Emerging biotechnology companies face many challenges in the current economy, and Fast Forward is determined to deploy its resources to spearhead the continued development of promising MS therapies.
<shortened url>
A funding agreement generally includes a royalty share, warrants, and/or the rights to continue a project if the companies abandon the work. If the investment produces a return, the nonprofit group generally will use the money to cut more deals.
A recent example is a $1 million grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to privately held Belgian biotech Apitope in exchange for warrants. The group believes that the decision to provide funding was validated when Apitope signed a development and commercialization agreement with Merck KGaA (MRK.XE) last week.
The funding came from the Fast Forward unit, which is run largely by people with venture-related experience. The organization plans to provide at least $30 million in funding over the next five years in similar deals to companies developing MS treatments.
Funding specific programs can be a more efficient use of money because they have results-oriented goals and timelines, as opposed to funding scientific findings that only end up in a published paper.
******************************************************
*It seems to me that this “venture” is very much related to profit for Fast Forward, and in turn to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He states that funding scientific findings are not “efficient use of money” because they only end up in a published paper.
*With attitudes like this, can we expect the NMSS to act on our best interest concerning CCSVI?
******************************************************
http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/ms-s ... 2009-03-18
MS Society teams with Merck KGaA on $19M R&D pact
Under the deal, EMD Serono will join hands with Fast Forward, a subsidiary of the MS Society that partners on new technologies aimed at treating the disease.
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/fast-f ... index.aspx
Warrant driven
Although technically a not-for-profit firm, Fast Forward operates like a traditional VC and will share in the upside from its investments, said CEO Timothy Coetzee. “Our preferred instrument is the warrant,
which allows us to buy equity in the future,” he said. According to Coetzee, Fast Forward’s warrants are less dilutive than the direct equity, royalty agreements or cash multiples favored by other venture philanthropy organizations and thus make the companies more attractive to other investors in subsequent funding rounds. Coetzee emphasized that as an affiliate of the MS Society, Fast Forward’s primary aim is to advance technology for patients. “The point is not to create a revenue stream, though if this happens, that’s great,” he said.
Also, please see:
http://ccsvivictory.club.officelive.com ... erest.aspx
We are very much looking forward to hearing from you on this. It is imperative that we work together as a team, therefore, we need your input. We are not interested in hampering CCSVI research, therefore need to know how you feel. Even if you disagree with a multiple stenoses walk.
Do you feel the MS societies are supporting CCSVI in an appropriate manner?
Are they doing all they can do, and representing the interests' of those with Multiple Sclerosis?
Is CCSVI research and treatment at the appropriate stage today, or should more be happening?
We have discussed the possibility of a Multiple Stenoses walk taking place the same day as the official Multiple Sclerosis walk. We would raise awareness and funds to support being tested and treated as soon as possible as many feel that they don't have time to wait years for the clinical trials to take place.
Do we really need to prove how many patients with MS have CCSVI before moving to the next step? Hasn't the strong correlation already been proven?
Those with CCSVI have a medical problem that is causing micro-hemorrhaging in the brain. Should we wait years for clinical trials to be carried out before fixing this? I read yesterday on the MS societies website that they are fast-tracking medications such as Amplimmune so that development of new treatments can be available sooner.
Do you feel that CCSVI needs to be fast tracked?
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/fast-f ... index.aspx
Fast Forward acts as a catalyst, connecting people, ideas, and vital resources to accelerate the development of new treatments for people with MS. We bridge the gap between groundbreaking research knowledge, and the commercial resources necessary to move those discoveries into the drug development process. Bringing treatments to people with MS - Faster.
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/n ... x?nid=1975
“We are pleased to partner with Amplimmune to advance the development of new treatments for MS,” said Dr. Timothy Coetzee, President of Fast Forward.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society funds research in a range of scientific areas including immune mechanisms, genetics, nerve regeneration and symptom managements. The agreement with Amplimmune is a part of the Society’s Fast Forward initiative through which Fast Forward will partner with young innovative biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop treatments, diagnostics, medical devices, and related technologies to treat, reverse and ultimately cure MS. Under the terms of the agreement, Fast Forward will provide Amplimmune with funds to support preclinical development of AMP-110. In consideration, Fast Forward will receive warrants to purchase shares of the company.
Fast Forward’s partnership with Amplimmune continues to expand its role in spurring MS drug development in the emerging biotech market and follows on its successful alliances with Apitope International to fund a proof of principle clinical trial for a peptide therapeutic vaccine and with Provid Pharmaceuticals to develop a novel compound intended to redirect abnormal immune response. It also builds on Fast Forward’s $19 million collaborative partnership with EMD Serono to accelerate innovation and commercial development of MS therapies through a group of soon to be determined, mutually agreed upon seed-to-early stage projects.
Emerging biotechnology companies face many challenges in the current economy, and Fast Forward is determined to deploy its resources to spearhead the continued development of promising MS therapies.
<shortened url>
A funding agreement generally includes a royalty share, warrants, and/or the rights to continue a project if the companies abandon the work. If the investment produces a return, the nonprofit group generally will use the money to cut more deals.
A recent example is a $1 million grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to privately held Belgian biotech Apitope in exchange for warrants. The group believes that the decision to provide funding was validated when Apitope signed a development and commercialization agreement with Merck KGaA (MRK.XE) last week.
The funding came from the Fast Forward unit, which is run largely by people with venture-related experience. The organization plans to provide at least $30 million in funding over the next five years in similar deals to companies developing MS treatments.
Funding specific programs can be a more efficient use of money because they have results-oriented goals and timelines, as opposed to funding scientific findings that only end up in a published paper.
******************************************************
*It seems to me that this “venture” is very much related to profit for Fast Forward, and in turn to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He states that funding scientific findings are not “efficient use of money” because they only end up in a published paper.
*With attitudes like this, can we expect the NMSS to act on our best interest concerning CCSVI?
******************************************************
http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/ms-s ... 2009-03-18
MS Society teams with Merck KGaA on $19M R&D pact
Under the deal, EMD Serono will join hands with Fast Forward, a subsidiary of the MS Society that partners on new technologies aimed at treating the disease.
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/fast-f ... index.aspx
Warrant driven
Although technically a not-for-profit firm, Fast Forward operates like a traditional VC and will share in the upside from its investments, said CEO Timothy Coetzee. “Our preferred instrument is the warrant,
which allows us to buy equity in the future,” he said. According to Coetzee, Fast Forward’s warrants are less dilutive than the direct equity, royalty agreements or cash multiples favored by other venture philanthropy organizations and thus make the companies more attractive to other investors in subsequent funding rounds. Coetzee emphasized that as an affiliate of the MS Society, Fast Forward’s primary aim is to advance technology for patients. “The point is not to create a revenue stream, though if this happens, that’s great,” he said.
Also, please see:
http://ccsvivictory.club.officelive.com ... erest.aspx
We are very much looking forward to hearing from you on this. It is imperative that we work together as a team, therefore, we need your input. We are not interested in hampering CCSVI research, therefore need to know how you feel. Even if you disagree with a multiple stenoses walk.