The co-founder of JETS.com, Edgar Alacan handles strategic management and implements cost-effective operational plans to drive long-term growth. Outside of work, Edgar Alacan serves as a board member for Pietro’s Fight, a non-profit organization committed to raising awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
A fatal genetic disorder that affects 300,000 boys worldwide, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy involves a progressive loss of muscle function and strength. The disease is caused by a loss of dystrophin, a protein without which the body’s skeletal muscles deteriorate. Symptom onset usually begins between ages three and five, and by the teenage years, the disease usually affects the heart and respiratory muscles.
While there is no cure for Duchenne, new treatment protocols are extending the average life expectancy into adulthood. In addition to pharmacological strategies, gene therapies, such as antisense-mediated exon skipping, have been somewhat effective in treating dystrophic muscle.
For more information about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy or to support Pietro’s Fight, visit www.pietrosfight.org.
