National Multiple Sclerosis Society Launches Drug Development Initiative

Fast Forward Program Will Bridge the Gap Between University
Research and Drug Development, Speeding New Treatments for People With
MS
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--The National Multiple Sclerosis Society today announced the
creation of Fast Forward LLC, a technology-transfer initiative aimed
at translating promising laboratory discoveries into effective new
treatments for multiple sclerosis.

Fast Forward, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society, will identify, evaluate and partner with start-up
and existing companies to develop new therapies or repurpose existing
drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Fast Forward is
currently evaluating business proposals and plans to make initial
investments in early 2008.

The National MS Society is one of only a handful of health-related
foundations and nonprofit organizations in recent years to create
technology-transfer programs, driven in part by the lack of progress
in drug development for certain diseases. Other examples include the
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Timothy Coetzee, executive director of Fast Forward, said some
private corporations are hesitant to invest the time and money needed
to develop MS-related treatments because the potential market is
considered relatively small. The worldwide market for MS-related
therapies is estimated at $4 billion annually, with just six drugs
currently available for people with multiple sclerosis.

"It is our responsibility to find innovative and effective ways to
fill the gap between university knowledge and commercial treatments
and to meet our commitment to people with MS," Coetzee said. "We won't
hit homeruns on every investment, but when we do, it will change the
future for people living with this disease."

Fast Forward has already secured $6 million of the $30 million it
plans to raise during the next six years to fund the investments. Fast
Forward expects revenue from the program, generated from royalty and
milestone payments achieved from the successful development and
commercialization of treatments.

"There is no easy answer to finding treatments for MS, but the
answers are there and Fast Forward can help us find them," said Howard
Weiner, a neurologist at Harvard Medical School. "This is an important
step in finding better treatments for this disease."

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

MS stops people from moving. The National Multiple Sclerosis
Society exists to make sure it doesn't. We help each person address
the challenges of living with MS, and through our 50 state network of
chapters, we devoted nearly $126 million to programs that enhanced
more than one million lives to move us closer to a world free of MS.
The society also invested more than $46 million to support 380
research projects around the world. We are people who want to do
something about MS now. Join the movement at nationalMSsociety.org.

Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make
a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your
options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the
National Multiple Sclerosis Society at nationalMSsociety.org or
1-800-344-4867.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Arney Rosenblat, 212-476-0436
arney.rosenblat@nmss.org
or
Linhart Public Relations
Will Shanley, 303-951-2563
wshanley@linhartpr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2007