Shares of Avidity Biosciences Inc. hit a 52-week high on reports of promising data from the first efficacy cohort of its phase I/II Fortitude study testing delpacibart braxlosiran (del-brax) in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), including impressive biomarker results that could indicate a path for potential accelerated approval.
Kate Therapeutics Inc. recently presented data on a novel muscle- and heart-targeted, liver de-targeted development candidate for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) – KT-809.
Fulcrum Therapeutics Inc.’s deal with Sanofi SA to develop and commercialize oral losmapimod shone more light on facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a rare genetic disease where Avidity Biosciences Inc. also has an earlier-stage but high-profile program.
Satellos Bioscience Inc. recently presented preclinical data for the novel oral small-molecule AP2-associated protein kinase 1 (AAK1) inhibitor SAT-3247, being developed for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other muscle degenerative diseases, at the Muscular Dystrophy Association conference.
Solid Biosciences Inc. has announced a nonexclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Armatus Bio Inc. for the use of Solid’s proprietary capsid AAV-SLB101 for the development and commercialization of Armatus’ vectorized RNAi candidate to treat facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).
Epic Bio (Epicrispr Biotechnologies Inc.) has announced that EPI-321 has been awarded U.S. orphan drug designation for the treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. has filed an application in New Zealand for clearance to initiate a phase I/II trial of ARO-DUX4, the company’s investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic being developed as a potential treatment for patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).
Gene therapy developer Kate Therapeutics Inc. (KateTx), which is developing next-generation adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors that target skeletal and cardiac muscle, has unveiled $51 million series A round and a licensing deal with Astellas Pharma Inc.
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a skeletal muscular dystrophy characterized by DNA hypomethylation of D4Z4 repeat units of a macrosatellite array found at the distal end of chromosome region 4q35, which causes a myotoxic expression of DUX4. Researchers from Epic-Bio presented the discovery of EPI-321, a novel gene therapy candidate for the treatment of FSHD.
