Project HERCULES in the media We’re pleased to share the latest coverage of Hercules. The launch of the project, with our seven industry partners, has received coverage in 10 publications: PMLiVE – Duchenne UK and pharma partner pilot data-sharing HTA approach European Pharmaceutical Review – Project Hercules to lead way in Duchenne muscular dystrophy BioCentury – Duchenne UK launches data-sharing initiative PharmaLetter – Pfizer and Roche among sponsors of HTA data-sharing initiative Pharmaceutical Industry Today – Duchenne UK and pharma partner pilot data-sharing approach Pharmaphorum – Pharma collaborates to improve chances of NICE backing Duchenne drugs EPM Magazine – Pharma industry leaders join forces in support of DMD project, HERCULES 4-traders – Duchenne UK launches data-sharing initiative Global Banking & Finance Review – Pharmaceutical industry leaders join forces to pioneer novel approach to health technology assessment Muscular Dystrophy News Today – Pharma Giants Form UK-Based ‘Project Hercules’ to Generate Evidence for DMD Treatments Emily Crossley has also written an article for PMLive: Transforming access in rare diseases. About HERCULES HERCULES will help produce a comprehensive, standardised evidence base for new treatments that have the potential to change the lives of patients with DMD. Led by Duchenne UK with seven pharmaceutical industry sponsors and two academic partners, the project will enable a stronger evidence base for new therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) required by regulatory bodies, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). These evidence requirements are very different from the evidence required to grant regulatory approval for a medicine. Phase One of HERCULES will begin in early 2018, and focus on understanding the current evidence base, the cost of DMD and lives lost to it, as well as current measures of success in DMD clinical trials. This unique project with seven industry sponsors will enable development of the critical components required for a successful HTA submission including: A critique of current Quality of Life metrics and bespoke DMD metric Data analysis to map clinical trial endpoints and natural history data to clinical outcomes A burden of illness study A core economic model which companies can tailor to their own needs Phase Two will be announced in the second half of 2018.