Objective
Genetic skeletal diseases (GSDs) are an extremely diverse and complex group of rare genetic diseases that affect the development the skeleton. There are more than 450 unique and well-characterised phenotypes that range in severity from relatively mild to severe and lethal forms. Although individually rare, as a group of related genetic skeletal diseases, GSDs have an overall prevalence of at least 1 per 4,000 children, which extrapolates to a minimum of 225,000 people in the 27 member states and candidate countries of the EU. This burden in pain and disability leads to poor quality of life and high healthcare costs.
Metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, type Schmid (MCDS) results from mutations in collagen X and affects <1/100,000 of the population. Mutant collagen X molecules miss-fold during synthesis and are retained within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of hypertrophic chondrocytes, thereby causing ER stress. Our extensive pre-clinical studies have shown that carbamazepine (CBZ) can alleviate ER stress caused by the expression of mutant collagen X and restore bone growth in a validated mouse model of MCDS. CBZ is an FDA approved drug used for the treatment of epilepsy
and bipolar disorder and received orphan drug designation by the European Commission for the treatment of MCDS in September 2016.
MCDS-Therapy was originally proposed as a 5-year collaborative project comprising world-renown clinical centres and SMEs to advance the repurposing of CBZ for MCDS (up to the Marketing Authorization Application dossier) through a multicentre and multinational (EU & AUS) clinical trial (Phase1, Phase2/3). MCDS-Therapy also encompasses biomarker
development and health economics assessment studies to deliver, evidence to inform potential further studies of an innovative and affordable (CBZ already exists in a generic form) repurposed therapy for MCDS along with the diagnosis/prognosis tools to personalise the treatment strategy. The original proposal was for completion of this by 2022 however delays associated with the COVID pandemic have resulted in a need to extend the project with completion now forecast by May 2024.
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RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne
United Kingdom
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Participants (11)
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
NE7 7DN Newcastle-upon-tyne
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75012 Paris
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2650 Edegem
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79106 Freiburg
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3052 Parkville
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SE1 7EH London
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CB1 2BL Cambridge
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40136 Bologna
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
40126 Bologna
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69151 Neckargemund
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
69003 Lyon
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.