Exonics Therapeutics receives $5m seed funding to advance Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy therapy

Exonics Therapeutics, a biotechnology firm based in Boston, Massachusetts, has secured $5 million in seed funding from CureDuchenne Ventures, a subsidiary of the nonprofit Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) advocacy group, CureDuchenne. This funding is aimed at further developing gene editing technologies, including CRISPR/Cas9, to potentially offer a curative therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a severe neuromuscular disorder.

Pioneering Gene Editing Research

The investment will propel the preclinical research spearheaded by Eric Olson, the scientific founder and chief science advisor at Exonics, to new heights. Dr. Olson’s laboratory has been instrumental in utilizing adeno-associated virus (AAV) and CRISPR/Cas9 technology to detect and correct exon mutations in the dystrophin gene, which are primarily responsible for inhibiting dystrophin production. Dystrophin is crucial for stabilizing and protecting muscle fibers, and its deficiency leads to the symptoms observed in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Jak Knowles, MD, President and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Exonics, expressed optimism about the collaboration: “We look forward to working closely with the Duchenne community as we aggressively advance gene editing technology to address the significant unmet need for a curative therapy that would dramatically improve the lives of patients with Duchenne and their families. We are honored to advance the groundbreaking work of Dr. Olson’s laboratory and are eager to translate this approach into an important therapy for the Duchenne community.”

Potential Impact and Future Prospects

The research by Dr. Olson’s team suggests that their novel gene editing approach could potentially cure up to 80% of children suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This represents a significant breakthrough in the treatment of a condition that affects approximately 15,000 boys in the US and over 300,000 boys globally.

Debra Miller, President of CureDuchenne Ventures and Founder and CEO of CureDuchenne, highlighted the collaborative effort: “We are delighted to support Dr. Olson and the Exonics team as they advance novel gene editing technology toward a potential cure for Duchenne. CureDuchenne Ventures’ unique model enables us to share our significant scientific resources, expertise, and deep connections with the Duchenne community to accelerate scientific breakthroughs, such as Exonics’ program.”

Currently, there are no effective treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, making this research particularly vital. The potential to dramatically improve life outcomes for thousands of boys is a powerful motivator for Exonics, CureDuchenne, and the broader medical and patient communities.