SOLVE FSHD, a venture philanthropy organization dedicated to catalyzing innovation and overcoming barriers to accelerate new therapies for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), is calling on innovators worldwide to compete for the USD$10 million FSHD Bonus Prize, part of the XPRIZE Healthspan Competition launched on November 29, 2023.

As part of this groundbreaking initiative, eight interim prizes of $250,000 each will be awarded to teams that achieve key competition milestones by June 2025. The $8 million grand prize will be awarded to the team that successfully completes a clinical trial demonstrating significant advancements in FSHD treatment, marking a major step toward finding a cure.

Teams interested in competing for the FSHD Bonus Prize are invited to register here and submit their qualifying entries by December 20, 2024. This challenge seeks solutions that deliver measurable improvements in muscle function and fat reduction in individuals affected by FSHD, a progressive and debilitating form of muscular dystrophy.

“We are excited to partner with XPRIZE in this ambitious effort to accelerate scientific breakthroughs for FSHD. This competition will bring together the brightest minds in medicine, technology, and science, all working toward a cure for this devastating disease,” said Eva Chin, Executive Director, SOLVE FSHD.

Register your team, learn more, and get involved at www.xprize.org/healthspan.

About Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is the third most common form of muscular dystrophy, affecting around 1 million people worldwide. FSHD is a genetic disorder in which the muscles of the face, shoulder blades, and upper arms are typically among the most affected. FSHD can be inherited through either the father or the mother, or it may occur without a family history. Onset is typically in the teenage and early adult years, but it can present in infancy, which tends to be a more aggressive course. The disease is slowly progressive and approximately 20% of patients are wheelchair bound by age 50. There are currently no FSHD-specific or disease-modifying treatments available.

About SOLVE FSHD

SOLVE FSHD is a venture philanthropic organization established to catalyze innovation and accelerate key research towards finding a cure for FSHD. Established by renowned Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Chip Wilson, widely known as the founder of lululemon and part owner of Amer Sports which holds renowned brands such as Arc’teryx, Salomon and Wilson Sports, Chip has committed $100 million to kick-start funding into projects that support the organization’s mission to find a cure for FSHD by 2027. The goal of SOLVE FSHD is to find a solution that can stop muscle degeneration, increase muscle regeneration and strength, and improve the quality of life for those living with FSHD. To find out more, please see SOLVE FSHD’s website - https://solvefshd.com/

About XPRIZE

XPRIZE is an established global leader in designing, launching, and executing large-scale competitions to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. Our unique model democratizes innovation by incentivizing crowd-sourced, scientifically viable solutions to create a more equitable and abundant future for all. Donate, learn more, or join a team at xprize.org.

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