There are currently no treatments or cures for the condition, which affects an estimated 2,500 people in the UK.
We’re really excited to be collaborating with Healx, which uses AI technology to identify existing drugs that may be repurposed and combined to treat rare conditions.
How will it work?
By combining our insights and experience and Healx’s drug discovery expertise, the partnership aims to develop new therapies for the condition – and possibly other muscle-wasting conditions in the future.
Healx uses data and artificial intelligence combined with expertise from an in-house expert pharmacology team to uncover new connections between existing drugs and conditions.
This reduces the time, cost and risk of traditional drug discovery methods – increasing the potential for accelerated access to more cost-effective treatments for patients.
What do we think?
We’re committed to making every day count for people with muscle-wasting conditions by supporting vital research, and are delighted to be working with Healx.
Dr Kate Adcock, Director of Research and Innovation at Muscular Dystrophy UK, says:
We’re really excited about this partnership, and look forward to working with Healx to identify potentially promising therapies for FHSD. It’s an exciting time for research into muscle-wasting conditions, and treatments are on the horizon. By working with world-leading partners like Healx, we can drive vital research forward and accelerate access to treatments.
And what do others say?
We hope this news will be welcomed by people with FSHD and other muscle-wasting conditions.
Alexandra Gardyne, 33, from Midlothian, was diagnosed with FSHD in her 20s. She said:
When I heard about Healx and Muscular Dystrophy UK joining forces, I was really excited. This could be a huge benefit and help to find drugs that match the ailments of this condition to bring a treatment for those living with FSHD. If you struggle daily it is so important to have safe relief to continue to live with all the other factors that come with such a condition, and one that continues to progress.
You can read more about Alexandra and her thoughts on the partnership here.
Dr Bruce Bloom, Chief Collaboration Officer at Healx, says:
Healx is proud to be working with Muscular Dystrophy UK, the UK’s leading charity for muscular dystrophies, to combat the lack of currently available treatments for FHSD. Having successfully carried out drug-matching projects for similar conditions, the team is looking forward to applying their expertise in neurological and neuromuscular diseases to find a treatment for this life-altering condition. We are looking forward to sharing more updates about this project in the coming months.