Dr. Guy Miller of Edison Pharmaceuticals in Mountain View honored by MitoAction for making a difference

BOSTON -- Guy Miller, MD, PhD, CEO and founder of Edison Pharmaceuticals in Mountain View, CA has changed the lives of many children and families with mitochondrial disease. For his efforts, MitoAction recognized him with its “Making a Difference For Mito” award.

Dr. Miller was chosen based on his historical contribution to the mitochondrial disease community. He has led the charge in clinical trials for children with mitochondrial disease, taking Edison Pharma's drug EPI-743 into the future. He has also galvanized partnerships with clinicians around the world to treat children with mitochondrial disease. Edison recently secured a $4.3 billion strategic partnership with Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. of Japan to further develop the drug pipeline for mitochondrial disorders.

“For the first time in the history of the mitochondrial disease patient community, we can say that there are children alive today who otherwise would not be were it not for the visionary and strategic efforts of Dr. Miller and his entire team at Edison Pharma. Truly, we are grateful and hopeful,” says Cristy Balcells, RN MSN and Executive Director of MitoAction. Balcells also has a daughter who suffers from mitochondrial disease.

MitoAction bestows this award each year to someone who has shown exemplary service to the mitochondrial disease patient community and who has been a leader in helping to raise awareness about the disease. Dr. Miller has served as Edison’s chairman and CEO since 2005, when patient families, physicians, scientists, and foundations joined around a single mission: to build a company that would translate promising laboratory findings into clinically meaningful drugs. Mitochondrial disease is most often diagnosed in childhood, is highly debilitating, and often results in early death. When mitochondrial disease progresses to adulthood, it is significantly disabling and life-shortening.

Since the beginning of operations in late 2006, Edison has placed three new drugs into clinical development. Prior to founding Edison, Miller founded Galileo Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, and was its chairman and CEO from 1995-2005. He holds an MD from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and a PhD in chemistry from the University of Virginia. He is an attending physician in medical-surgical critical care medicine at Stanford University-PAVAMC.

Balcells presented Dr. Miller with his award at the Sandra K. Russell Derby Day Benefit for Mito on May 3, 2014, at Mandarin Oriental, Boston, MA. The Kentucky Derby-themed gala raises money to support patients and families living with mitochondrial disease. Earlier in the day, MitoAction’s second annual Mitochondrial Disease Clinical Conference in Boston offered community physicians and nurses an opportunity to understand more about identifying mitochondrial diseases, managing adults and children with mitochondrial disorders, and assisting patients with treatment options and coordinated care. Dr. Miller presented the keynote address to the doctors entitled, “Advancing the Frontier of Mitochondrial Medicine -- Development of Drugs Targeting Nature’s Powerhouse.”

MitoAction was founded by a patient and her nurse practitioner in 2003. This patient, who is also a parent of two children with Mito, was passionate about advocacy. She was sure that other families affected by mitochondrial disease would be empowered if they could connect, contribute, and make a difference now in the world of mitochondrial disease. The mission of the Mitochondrial Disease Action Committee was established: Support. Educate. Advocate.

From the beginning, MitoAction and Edison Pharma have worked diligently to mutually serve the patients, parents, children and families suffering from mitochondrial disorders.

MitoAction, a 501(c)(3) charity, helps families navigate the difficult Mito journey through its comprehensive website, free teleconferences and support groups, advocacy and research initiatives, camp programs, education programs, awareness events, and more. For more information, please visit www.mitoaction.org or email info@mitoaction.org.