A Lanarkshire dad battling motor neurone disease (MND) has thrown his support behind a £350,000 fundraising campaign aimed at accelerating the clinical trial of a potential 'miracle drug'. Mark Sommerville, from Uggingston, has partnered with Tony Lockett and Andy Whiting from Nevrargenics, the creators of Ellorarxine, a drug they believe can halt and reverse the progression of MND.
Ellorarxine has recently received approval from the UK MHRA to commence its first clinical trial targeting MND and Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients. However, to expedite the trial and begin essential manufacturing processes, an additional £350,000 is required to advance the early-phase work necessary to bring the drug to patients.
Mark, a 43-year-old father of four, received his MND diagnosis in October and was given a prognosis of 18 months to live. He has since established the Mark Sommerville Foundation to fund research into the disease. Mark emphasizes the urgency of finding effective treatments, stating, "MND is a battle against a cruel, life-limiting illness, with no effective treatment options available. This new drug represents a groundbreaking opportunity to change that."
Andy Whiting, CEO of Nevargenics, highlighted the critical nature of the funding, noting the current challenges in the UK investment market for innovative biomedical breakthroughs. He stressed that the campaign's success could save 4-5 months in the drug development process, a significant time saving given the average life expectancy of MND patients is just 24 months.
Mark's efforts have garnered attention from high-profile figures, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Labour MP Frank McNally, who have called for increased government funding into MND research. The campaign also draws inspiration from rugby league star Kevin Sinfield's fundraising efforts for MND sufferers, underscoring the widespread support for finding a cure for this devastating disease.
