Full Press Release Details
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. , Sept. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTCT ) today announced the winners of its sixth annual STRIVE Awards grant program for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This year's winning initiatives, spanning across four continents, include an online platform to improve peer-to-peer connections; a series of events designed to connect Duchenne families with healthcare professionals; a support program to help families navigate the emotional journey of living with a rare disease diagnosis; and an ambassadors program to raise awareness of Duchenne in schools.
"The role of patient advocacy organizations is now more vital than ever before, with the unprecedented events of this year disproportionately impacting many rare disease patients and communities," said Mary Frances Harmon , Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations, PTC Therapeutics. "I am so proud of the continued support we are able to provide to these organizations all around the world through the STRIVE Awards, so that they can keep Duchenne communities supported and connected through this turbulent time."
Programs awarded funding as part of the 2020 STRIVE Awards are:
"In an era where lockdowns and social distancing measures are keeping us physically apart, I have been inspired by the innovative solutions and resilience demonstrated by patient organizations supporting Duchenne communities to stay connected," said Anna Kole , MPH, Public Health Professional and one of the judges. "Applications were strong in all categories, but this focus on connections was a key theme we noticed in this year's STRIVE Awards winning programs."
About the STRIVE Awards Program PTC began the Strategies to Realize Innovation, Vision, and Empowerment (STRIVE) Awards program in 2015 to support initiatives that benefit the Duchenne community by increasing awareness, diagnosis and education, and fostering the development of future patient advocates. Each year, an independent panel of external experts with knowledge in rare diseases, patient advocacy and funding initiatives, judge the entries for innovation, vision and empowerment.
For further information about the program and each award recipient, please visit the STRIVE section of the PTC website: www.ptcbio.com/en/about-ptc/ptc-strive-awards-program/ .
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Primarily affecting males, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) is a rare and fatal genetic disorder that results in progressive muscle weakness from early childhood and leads to premature death in the mid-twenties due to heart and respiratory failure. It is a progressive muscle disorder caused by the lack of functional dystrophin protein. Dystrophin is critical to the structural stability of all muscles, including skeletal, diaphragm, and heart muscles. Patients with Duchenne can lose the ability to walk as early as age ten, followed by loss of the use of their arms. Duchenne patients subsequently experience life-threatening lung complications, requiring the need for ventilation support, and heart complications in their late teens and twenties.
More information regarding Duchenne is available through the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. Additionally, information and resources are available at www.duchenneandyou.com
For More Information:
Investors & Media: Jane Baj +1 (908) 912-9167 [email protected]
Patient Organizations: Mary Frances Harmon +1 (908) 912-9205 or (866) 282-5873 [email protected]
SOURCE PTC Therapeutics, Inc.