PTC Therapeutics Reveals 5 International Recipients of First-Ever STRIVE Awards for DMD

PTC Therapeutics recently revealed the 5 winners of its inaugural global awards program, the STRIVE Awards (Strategies to Realize Innovation, Vision and Empowerment). These awards seek to help not-for-profit organizations that cater to the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) community. PTC made the announcement during the international World Duchenne Awareness Day held on Monday, September 7, 2015.

“We are thrilled to present our STRIVE Awards to these organizations who are deeply passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of boys and young men affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy,” said Stuart W. Peltz, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, PTC Therapeutics, Inc. “Our support through STRIVE helps these patient groups make their visions a reality, which will undoubtedly benefit the entire Duchenne community.”

PTC Therapeutics’ awards program is expected to make waves on an international level, as its first year has already given due recognition to patient organizations based in India, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States.

• India – Muscular Dystrophy Foundation will establish a resource center in Tamil Nadu to help the local patient community
• Israel – Little Steps Association for Children with Becker/Duchenne will create an assistant dog program to support and provide companionship to patients
• The Netherlands – Dutch Duchenne Parent Project will update current standard of care guidelines to include emergency and adult care information
• Spain – ASEM Federation will provide a week-long summer camp for children with neuromuscular diseases, including Duchenne
• The United States – Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy will create a campaign for healthcare professionals and at-risk women to raise awareness about carrier issues in the DMD community

For detailed information on each STRIVE Awardee, visit the official STRIVE website at: https://www.ptcbio.com/en/about-ptc/ptc-strive-awards-program/

DMD is an inherited disorder caused by a defective gene called dystrophin. It is characterized by a rapid progressive skeletal muscle weakness that results from chronic inflammation along with the degeneration of muscle cells and tissue, compromising locomotion and also the respiratory and cardiac function. DMD has a rapid progression and affects mainly boys, with estimates that up to 1 in every 3,500 – 5,000 live male births develops the disease. Most DMD patients require a wheelchair by age 12 and patients often succumb to the disease in their 20s due to respiratory and cardiac failure.

PTC Therapeutics created the STRIVE Awards program primarily to give much-needed support to ongoing and future initiatives for DMD communities all over the globe. This year, after stringent review by an independent panel of experts and patient advocates, the company was able to award five one-year awards worth $30,000 each, to be used in raising awareness, funding research programs, and providing the DMD community with patient support services.

“We have a tremendous amount of respect for the important services and programs provided by these organizations for the Duchenne muscular dystrophy community,” said Mary Frances Harmon, Global Head of Patient Advocacy, PTC Therapeutics, Inc. “PTC Therapeutics shares the same commitment as each of these organizations with patients at the center of everything we do. We are delighted to have received such a positive response and really look forward to seeing these initiatives make a real impact on the lives of people living with this devastating condition.”