A campaigning dad with motor neurone disease has met UK Government officials to demand new drugs for people battling the condition.
Mark Sommerville was given his diagnosis in October 2023 and told he had 18 months to live.
The dad-of-four, from Uddingston, Lanarkshire, has since set up the Mark Sommerville Foundation to fight for research funding.
View 4 Images(Image: Handout)
He has met officials from the Department of Health and Social Care, and Glasgow MP Dr Zubir Ahmed to call for new drugs to be brought to the market.
Mark, 45, said: “MND is a battle against a cruel, life-limiting illness.
“I was 43 when I got MND. It can happen to anyone. It could happen to you or your family tomorrow.
“There is no cure for MND, so everything must be done and everything must be done to give people a chance.
“My purpose is to raise awareness, as for 50 years there has been little progress in new treatments. You get sent home to die.
“That is no way to treat a human being.
“My main focus in life now is to stay alive. Following our recent meetings in Holyrood and Westminster we were granted this meeting to discuss the approval process for bringing innovative motor neurone disease drugs to market.
“There are people as passionate about finding a potential cure as we all are.”
View 4 ImagesMark Sommerville was given his diagnosis in October 2023 and told he had 18 months to live.(Image: DAILY RECORD)
Mark has teamed up with Tony Lockett and Andy Whiting, from biotech firm Nevrargenics, who are behind a drug they believe not only stops the impact of MND but reverses damage already done.
View 4 Images(Image: Handout)
Their lead drug, Ellorarxine, has been approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency(MHRA) to begin its first clinical trial in MND and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients.
Mark added: “The MHRA are keen to engage with biotech companies to establish what they have to offer.
“As a new small charity we are proud of the impact we’re having in the MND space with the ultimate aim of finding a cure.”
Since his meeting, the MHRA has invited Mark to take part in its ongoing patient engagement work.
View 4 ImagesHouse of Commons Video Grab of MP Frank McNally asking Kerr Starmer a question about the work of his constituent and MND sufferer Mark Sommerville.
He has been singled out for praise by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recognised Mark’s work and that of rugby league star Kevin Sinfield, who lost best pal Rob Burrow at the age of 41.
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The MHRA’s Julian Beach said: “We will soon publish the Rare Disease Framework to make it quicker and easier to get rare disease therapies tested, manufactured and approved in the UK.”
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