Santhera Pharmaceuticals and the University of Basel’s Biozentrum research unit are joining a pan-European network of excellence known as TREAT-NMD (Translational Research in Europe—Assessment and Treatment of NeuroMuscular Diseases), which aims to coordinate research into rare neuromuscular diseases and accelerate the development of new therapeutics.
TREAT-NMD is being funded by a five-year, EUR10-million E.U. grant and involves academic and commercial organizations in 11 European countries. Santhera is leading part of the TREAT-NMD program focused on accelerating preclinical development of new therapeutics. The company’s role includes identifying the most disease-relevant efficacy parameters and developing standardized protocols and procedures for harmonizing and accelerating preclinical studies of drug candidates. In parallel, researchers at the Biozentrum will select appropriate preclinical disease models.