MDA, Seek a Miracle, FARA Join
Forces to Fight Friedreich's Ataxia

TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 20, 2005 - The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), through its ongoing collaboration with Seek a Miracle (SAM) and the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), is working to move promising compounds for the treatment of the neuromuscular disease from the lab to the clinic.

The new effort will carry out its mission via funding to Guy Miller of Edison Pharmaceuticals of San Jose, Calif., MDA announced today.

Friedreich’s ataxia, one of the 40-plus neuromuscular disorders in MDA’s program of research and services, is a genetic disease in which nerves and muscles deteriorate. FA causes progressive weakness and ataxia (lack of coordination), with a high risk of early death from cardiac muscle damage.

“MDA is pleased to join forces with SAM and FARA to support key areas of FA research and, in particular, this project, which shows great promise as a potential therapy,” said Ronald J. Schenkenberger, MDA’s director of Research Administration.

In 1996, MDA-supported researchers identified mutations in the gene for a protein called frataxin, on chromosome 9, as the underlying cause of the disorder. Frataxin’s role in cells appears to be the maintenance of normal iron levels.

Seek a Miracle (www.seekamiracle.org) is dedicated to raising funds for MDA’s research in Friedreich’s ataxia. The collaboration has raised more than $1.3 million since 1994. Initially, MDA will earmark $100,000 from Seek a Miracle specifically for the collaborative effort to develop drugs for human trials, Schenkenberger said.

MDA (www.mda.org) is a voluntary health agency working to defeat more than 40 neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education.

FARA (www.CureFA.org) was founded by FA-affected families and research scientists in 1998. Since then, it has provided more than $2 million to scientists around the world.