Merck Serono and Fast Forward announce funding for multiple sclerosis research

Switzerland-based Merck Serono, a division of German drug major Merck KGaA, , and Fast Forward, a not-for-profit organization established by the US National Multiple Sclerosis Society to accelerate the development of discoveries into new or improved therapies, have announced the first four recipients of funding designed to speed research advances in mutually selected high potential areas of multiple sclerosis (MS) research.

The awards total nearly $1.5 million. Two are allocated to development programs which are available to for-profit entities and two to innovation projects, available to university-based investigators and seed-stage for-profit entities. Merck Serono and Fast Forward are currently soliciting proposals for the next round of funding available through this collaboration.

The focus of the first RFPs, issued in 2009, was central nervous system (CNS) neuroprotection and/or repair strategies; these priority areas were determined by a joint steering committee (JSC) comprising Fast Forward staff and representatives from Merck Serono. As part of the current collaboration agreement with Fast Forward, Merck Serono provided the majority of funding for the research awards, with Fast Forward contributing 10% of the financing to round out the awards disseminated from each of the two funds.