PTC Adds Cystic Fibrosis to Its STRIVE Awards Initiative

The Strategies to Realize Innovation, Vision and Empowerment (STRIVE) Awards, which are granted by PTC Therapeutics, Inc., will now include a focus on cystic fibrosis (CF) advocacy as well. The company recently announced the extension of the STRIVE program and that it will begin offering funding to nonprofit organizations focused on the CF community with unique programs to raise awareness, increase diagnosis of the disease, and further support the this community’s needs.

The STRIVE Awards were launched earlier this year with focus on Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)and now also embrace CF, a serious genetic disease. Any patient advocacy organization working to help support the CF community with proven capabilities to successfully implement its proposed project can submit an award entry between Nov. 1, 2015, and Jan. 31, 2016, to be eligible to receive financial support.

“We are pleased to launch the STRIVE Awards for cystic fibrosis and look forward to the opportunity to support the community in their efforts to serve patients,” said the CEO of PTC Therapeutics, Inc., Stuart W. Peltz, PhD, in a press release. “We respect and value the important services provided by patient advocacy groups to individuals and families affected by this rare disease. Through STRIVE we want to encourage groups across the world to pursue novel and creative programs that will make meaningful contributions and advancements for the community.”

After an evaluation of all proposals by an external committee, the awarded projects will be announced in May as part of celebrating CF Awareness Month. The five-member Review Committee was chosen for its expertise in the rare disease community and its valuable skills like patient advocacy, philanthropy, communications, and scientific knowledge. According to PTC Therapeutics, the committee will assess the projects according to criteria of feasibility, creativity, budget, impact, and sustainability.

“Cystic fibrosis is a disabling and life-threatening disorder. The organizations serving this community are deeply passionate about their commitment to make a positive difference in the lives of patients and their families. We feel privileged to support these groups and to help make their visions a reality,” said Mary Frances Harmon, PTC Therapeutics  Global Head of Patient Advocacy.

“The STRIVE Awards recognize the vital role patient advocacy groups play in giving a voice to individuals affected by cystic fibrosis. We encourage all organizations to participate and look forward to seeing some of the unique and inventive ideas, methods and programs that are proposed to support people within the cystic fibrosis community,” Harmon added regarding the anticipated proposals, whose submission can be completed here.

PTC Therapeutics develops and assembles an integrated set of proprietary technologies focused on understanding of RNA biology for the discovery of novel small molecule therapeutics and the company has recently received encouraging news from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The EMA validated the submission of a new indication for Translarna (ataluren) developed by PTC Therapeutics to treat nonsense mutation cystic fibrosis (nmCF), a subtype of the disease caused by the G542X mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene.