An Alternative Path to Finding Treatments
Cures Within Reach, the leading global nonprofit focused on repurposing research as a fast track to saving patient lives, has awarded FRAXA Research Foundation the 2017 Golan Christie Taglia Patient Impact Philanthropy Award for efforts to find treatments for the rare disease Fragile X syndrome.
Dr. Michael Tranfaglia, FRAXA’s co-founder, accepted the award at the 5th Annual Global Health Repurposing Awards in Chicago. He also spoke at the companion 6th Annual Drug Repositioning, Repurposing and Rescue Conference.
“This award will continue to raise awareness of the key role repurposing treatments can play in treating disorders like Fragile X and other rare diseases,” noted Dr. Tranfaglia.
Drug Repurposing is Faster, Cheaper, Less Risky than Developing New Medicines
There are over 7,000 rare diseases worldwide that do not have effective treatments. But each year only 10-15 new drug treatments are developed.
Advancements in technology mean that interactions between known drugs and unsolved diseases can be rapidly modeled, tested and shared around the world. This presents a huge opportunity to help patients. FRAXA invests millions of dollars in pursuing drug repurposing and is exploring the potential of available medicines for Fragile X, including metformin, minocycline, lithium, and others. Read more about our initiative Repurposing Available Drugs to Treat Fragile X Syndrome.
