ATLANTA (April 26, 2023) CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF), a patient-led, non-profit focused on delivering treatments and cures for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, today announced that rare disease sales specialist, Thomas F. Sander, has joined its Board of Directors.
“I’m pleased to welcome Thomas Sander to the CMTRF’s Board of Directors,” says Patrick Livney, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of CMTRF. “I’m excited to see Tom bring his passion and energy to the pursuit of a first treatment!”
Since its launch in 2018, CMTRF has funded 19 research projects with 4 therapeutic candidates in preclinical development.
Mr. Sander, whose daughter has CMT, has been a Clinical Account Manager, Hematology Rare Disease at Sobi Biotech since 2021 and before that was a Key Account Manager, Infectious Disease at Paratek Pharmaceuticals. Earlier in his career, Mr. Sander held executive positions of increasing scope and authority at Insmed Pharmaceuticals, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, CVS/Caremark Specialty Pharmacy, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Key Pharmaceuticals. In 2001, Mr. Sander founded Nexus Technology, which outsourced IT services for physician offices with 10-50 employees. He is a graduate of Miami University.
“Each morning I help my daughter get ready for high school. I help with jewelry clasps, washing her eyeglasses and with putting on her shoes and braces. Each day after she leaves, I pray for a cure,” says Mr. Sander. “She has inspired me to get involved, so each day moving forward I will work toward a cure by connecting biotech companies with CMTRF’s research. I’m thrilled to join a very talented and dedicated team of individuals and look forward to adding to their momentum!”
CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF) is a patient-led, non-profit focused on delivering treatments and cures for CMT. The foundation identifies significant obstacles or deficiencies impeding progress towards a cure and seeks out collaborators to address these issues. It’s their mission to raise funds to invest in promising science with high potential of leading to treatments and cures. Founded by two patients who are driven to expedite drug delivery to people who live with CMT, the 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organization is supported by personal and corporate financial gifts.
*Charcot-Marie-Tooth encompasses a group of inherited, chronic peripheral neuropathies that result in nerve degradation. CMT patients suffer from progressive muscle atrophy of legs and arms, causing walking, running and balance problems as well as abnormal functioning of hands and feet. CMT affects one in 2,500 people (about the same prevalence as cystic fibrosis), including 150,000 Americans and nearly 3 million people worldwide. At the moment, there is no treatment or cure for CMT.
