image: Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts, Inc. (RSAM) is a non-profit organization that was founded by parents at a time when little was known about the disorder. Its mission, from its inception, has been to provide support and information to families; raise funds to accelerate biomedical research; and to raise public awareness among medical and educational communities. view more
Credit: Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts
Cincinnati, OH (August 12, 2015) - The Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts (RSAM) and Rettsyndrome.org announce today their renewed commitment to work together to defeat Rett syndrome. A generous $85,000 donation from RSAM will support an ongoing clinical trial for Rettsyndrome.org at Boston Children's Hospital (BCH). The trial is funded by a Rettsyndrome.org ANGEL (Advanced Neurotherapeutic Grant of Excellence) grant to Dr. Walter Kaufmann for a Phase 2b clinical study of IGF-1 (mescaserim) for treatment of Rett syndrome and development of Rett-specific novel biomarkers of cortical and autonomic function.
Rajat Shah, Rettsyndrome.org's Chairman of the Board, commented, "The partnership between Rettsyndrome.org and the Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts has been strong for many years. We are grateful for their continued support and especially for their commitment to the Phase 2b clinical study of IGF-1. Working together will allow us to be more effective in reaching our common goal, developing treatments for our children faster."
This year Rettsyndrome.org approved extension of the ANGEL award to BCH and Dr. Kaufmann with additional funding of $439,000 approved for FY2015. The extended study was recommended by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA's suggestion is that additional subjects as well as an additional trial site are needed to make this a pivotal trial that will demonstrate efficacy. If IGF-1 is shown efficacious in a pivotal trial, we have a better case to gain a drug approval for a new indication, in this case IGF-1 for the treatment of Rett syndrome. The recommendation from the FDA was well received, and BCH and Dr. Kaufmann are working towards opening the second site at Greenwood Genetic Center, where Dr. Kaufmann will move to later this year. BCH and Dr. Scott Pomeroy, Chairman of the Department of Neurology, will continue the clinical trial and accept additional subjects to the study. Rettsyndrome.org and RSAM are supportive of BCH and its leadership throughout the upcoming transition and hopeful the trial will be pivotal for Rett syndrome.
Jane Joyce, on behalf of the Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts, said, "We are beyond grateful to the RSAM 2015 Boston Marathon Team Rett runners. Although our team was much smaller this year with only eight runners, our athletes went above and beyond in their fundraising efforts! Not only did the runners endure months of training in some of the snowiest weather ever seen in Boston, they left no stone unturned in their quest to fundraise and raise awareness for Rett syndrome research. We are so thankful for their dedication and support. RSAM is pleased to be able to continue to fund the promising IGF-1 trial at Boston Children's Hospital and to continue our relationship with Rettsyndrome.org. "
Anyone wishing to join the 2016 Boston Marathon Team Rett runners should contact Jane Joyce at jane.joyce@comcast.net.
###
ABOUT RETTSYNDROME.ORG
Rettsyndrome.org, a 501(c)3 organization, is the most comprehensive nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating research of treatments and a cure for Rett syndrome and related disorders while providing information and family empowerment. As the world's leading private funder of Rett syndrome research, Rettsyndrome.org has funded over $34M in high-quality, peer-reviewed research grants and programs to date. The organization hosts the largest global gathering of Rett researchers and clinicians to establish research direction for the future. To learn more about our work and Rett syndrome, visit http://www.rettsyndrome.org or call (800) 818-7388 (RETT).
ABOUT RETT SYNDROME (RTT)
Rett syndrome is a rare non-inherited genetic postnatal neurological disorder that occurs almost exclusively in girls and leads to severe impairments, affecting nearly every aspect of a child's life: their ability to speak, walk, eat, and even breathe. The hallmark of Rett syndrome is near constant repetitive hand movements. Cognitive assessment in children with Rett syndrome is complicated, but we know that they understand far more than they can communicate to us, evidenced by their bright and attentive eyes, and their ability to express a wide spectrum of moods and emotions.
Contact: Shannon Starkey-Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Rettsyndrome.org
sstarkeytaylor@rettsyndrome.org
Jane Joyce, on behalf of Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts
617-909-0322; jane.joyce@comcast.net