Trending...
- Most Utah Deaths Never Reach the Medical Examiner. Postmortem Pathology Offers Salt Lake City a Private Autopsy Option
- Tacoma: Officer Involved Shooting – 700 Block of South Stevens Street
- Names Are Not Important Asks What Remains When Identity Is Stripped of Labels
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Myosana Therapeutics, Inc., pioneer of a muscle-specific non-viral gene therapy platform for neuromuscular and cardiac diseases, today announced the completion of a seed funding round totaling over $5 million led by investor John Ballantyne, Ph.D. The capital will go toward developing Myosana's platform with the goal of identifying the first development candidate for Duchenne muscular dystrophy by 2025.
"Built on decades of expertise in neuromuscular diseases, Myosana's muscle-specific non-viral gene therapy platform is poised to change the way patients are treated for neuromuscular and cardiac diseases," said Ballantyne, Cofounder and former longtime CSO of Biologics CDMO-Aldevron, and a Founder of therapeutic delivery system developer Agathos. "Myosana's progress building on the platform's promising in vivo data is an essential next step. I'm excited to partner with the company as it pushes ahead toward a therapy that will reach patients and improve their lives."
New investments from the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) rounded out the seed round, building on capital from original Myosana investor CureDuchenne Ventures and early investor PPMD a year later.
More on Washingtoner
Completion of this major funding round comes just as Myosana has appointed its new CEO, Dr. Matthew Lumley. A board member since 2021, Lumley is a physician scientist who has spent nearly two decades in academic medicine and drug development, cultivating expertise in translational medicine and early clinical development in complex pediatric diseases. Lumley is also the father of a son with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In his role on Myosana's Board of Directors, Lumley has been intimately involved in raising seed funding and advancing the platform.
"Dr. Ballantyne's expertise in the nucleic acid production and delivery spaces builds credibility in our approach. His investment, alongside our nonprofit partners, will go directly to platform optimization and the identification of a development candidate for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the next 18-24 months," said Lumley. "As proof of principle for the platform, success in treating Duchenne would open up opportunities for Myosana to target a large range of neuromuscular and cardiac diseases."
Alongside his role as CEO of Myosana, Lumley is a Venture Partner at Medicxi, a life sciences-focused venture capital firm where he is involved in the formation and financing of biotechnology companies across the full drug development continuum. His recent roles include Senior Director of Rare Disease Clinical Development at Moderna and Medical Director of Rare Diseases at Pfizer.
About Myosana Therapeutics
Myosana Therapeutics, Inc., has pioneered a muscle-specific non-viral gene therapy platform for neuromuscular and cardiac diseases. Based on this platform, the company is developing new gene therapies that will potentially transform progressive neuromuscular and cardiac diseases, increasing longevity and improving quality of life. Myosana's first clinical candidate from the platform will be delivery of full-length dystrophin as a therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
More on Washingtoner
Myosana's esteemed leadership team includes cofounders Stan Froehner, Ph.D., and Nick Whitehead, Ph.D., both internationally known experts in neuromuscular disease from the University of Washington, whose decades-long careers are marked by significant milestones. Dr. Froehner discovered the syntrophin proteins in muscle's dystrophin complex and developed several pre-clinical treatments for muscular dystrophy. Dr. Whitehead has uncovered mechanisms of muscle weakness in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and developed Myosana's innovative non-viral platform. The platform overcomes the significant limitations of viral vector-delivered gene therapy for muscle disease by providing targeted muscle delivery, large gene capacity, repeat dosing, and immune neutrality.
To learn more and follow Myosana's progress toward its first clinical development candidate, visit us at www.myosanatherapeutics.com.
Contacts
Kara Stephens-Weaver
407-765-1185
kara.stephens-weaver@precisionvh.com
"Built on decades of expertise in neuromuscular diseases, Myosana's muscle-specific non-viral gene therapy platform is poised to change the way patients are treated for neuromuscular and cardiac diseases," said Ballantyne, Cofounder and former longtime CSO of Biologics CDMO-Aldevron, and a Founder of therapeutic delivery system developer Agathos. "Myosana's progress building on the platform's promising in vivo data is an essential next step. I'm excited to partner with the company as it pushes ahead toward a therapy that will reach patients and improve their lives."
New investments from the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) rounded out the seed round, building on capital from original Myosana investor CureDuchenne Ventures and early investor PPMD a year later.
More on Washingtoner
- Spokane: U.S. Conference of Mayors, American Beverage Foundation Visit Youth Wellness Zone
- Spokane: Disabled Smoke Alarm Contributes to Fatal Tiki Lodge Fire
- Spokane Police Investigate Fatal Fire With Fire Department
- Spokane: SPD and SFD Respond to Early Morning Fire in Downtown Apartments
- City To Simplify Services by Routing Non-Emergency Police, Fire Calls through Spokane 311
Completion of this major funding round comes just as Myosana has appointed its new CEO, Dr. Matthew Lumley. A board member since 2021, Lumley is a physician scientist who has spent nearly two decades in academic medicine and drug development, cultivating expertise in translational medicine and early clinical development in complex pediatric diseases. Lumley is also the father of a son with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In his role on Myosana's Board of Directors, Lumley has been intimately involved in raising seed funding and advancing the platform.
"Dr. Ballantyne's expertise in the nucleic acid production and delivery spaces builds credibility in our approach. His investment, alongside our nonprofit partners, will go directly to platform optimization and the identification of a development candidate for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the next 18-24 months," said Lumley. "As proof of principle for the platform, success in treating Duchenne would open up opportunities for Myosana to target a large range of neuromuscular and cardiac diseases."
Alongside his role as CEO of Myosana, Lumley is a Venture Partner at Medicxi, a life sciences-focused venture capital firm where he is involved in the formation and financing of biotechnology companies across the full drug development continuum. His recent roles include Senior Director of Rare Disease Clinical Development at Moderna and Medical Director of Rare Diseases at Pfizer.
About Myosana Therapeutics
Myosana Therapeutics, Inc., has pioneered a muscle-specific non-viral gene therapy platform for neuromuscular and cardiac diseases. Based on this platform, the company is developing new gene therapies that will potentially transform progressive neuromuscular and cardiac diseases, increasing longevity and improving quality of life. Myosana's first clinical candidate from the platform will be delivery of full-length dystrophin as a therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
More on Washingtoner
- ResC4EU Final Event at KOMPOZYT-EXPO 2026 – Building Resilient European Supply Chains
- Tacoma: Update Fourth Homicide Arrest – 2100 block of N 30th St
- City of Tacoma Invites Community Members to Share Their Experience Crossing I-5
- Statement from Tacoma Chief of Police Patti Jackson on Understanding the Office of Independent Investigations (OII)
- Tacoma: 2026 AMOCAT Arts Award Winners Announced
Myosana's esteemed leadership team includes cofounders Stan Froehner, Ph.D., and Nick Whitehead, Ph.D., both internationally known experts in neuromuscular disease from the University of Washington, whose decades-long careers are marked by significant milestones. Dr. Froehner discovered the syntrophin proteins in muscle's dystrophin complex and developed several pre-clinical treatments for muscular dystrophy. Dr. Whitehead has uncovered mechanisms of muscle weakness in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and developed Myosana's innovative non-viral platform. The platform overcomes the significant limitations of viral vector-delivered gene therapy for muscle disease by providing targeted muscle delivery, large gene capacity, repeat dosing, and immune neutrality.
To learn more and follow Myosana's progress toward its first clinical development candidate, visit us at www.myosanatherapeutics.com.
Contacts
Kara Stephens-Weaver
407-765-1185
kara.stephens-weaver@precisionvh.com
1 Comment
- unity asset store.:
Build real-time 3D projects for various industries across games, animation, automotive, architecture, and more with Unity Asset Store. Start creating with Unity today!
Latest on Washingtoner
- "JACKIE the STRIPPER," Starring Charlotte Kirk and The PUSSYCAT DOLLS' Kimberly Wyatt, Now Streaming on PRIME
- Migguel Anggelo Celebrates the Immigrant Experience, Latino Identity, and the Power of Iconic Latin Rhythms During Hispanic Heritage Month
- Indianapolis Criminal Defense Firm Rigney Law LLC Relaunches Criminal Law Podcast "Tales from the Brown Desk"
- 3ptechies Makes Its Articles Audio-Ready With Instaread Voice Technology
- Genuine Hospitality, LLC Selected to Operate Fairfield Inn & Suites Tampa Wesley Chapel
- Pregis to Highlight EPR Expertise, Sustainable Packaging Solutions and Live Automation Demonstrations at Pack Expo International 2026
- Infinity Infusion Solutions Launches "Women Leading Infusion Care" Campaign for National Women in Business Month
- HuskyTail Digital Puts AI to Work Behind the Scenes to Cut Client Turnaround Time
- AI, Real-World Data "RWD" and U.S. Expansion Put Predictive Healthcare in Focus for POMDOCTOR Ltd. (N A S D A Q: POM)
- $11.18 Million DARPA Award Ignites a Major New Catalyst as FDA, Robotic TMS and Commercialization Milestones Converge for NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc
- Kirk Shaw Veteran Producer Tells Intelligence Daily: "The Next Decade Will Belong to the Creator"
- P-Wave Classics to publish Thomas Holcroft's The Adventures of Hugh Trevor in three volumes, beginning 19 January
- Ad Leverage Sponsors ServiceTitan Pantheon 2026, Supporting Education and Growth in the Home Services Industry
- DBF Viewer 2000 v9.32 Adds New Control for Data Export
- Badanamu Partners With Moonbug Entertainment In Landmark Distribution Deal
- Nutriband (N A S D A Q: NTRB): Fighting Back Against the Fentanyl Crisis With a New Approach to Safer Transdermal Medicines
- Top 10 AI Trading Agents Beat Market at 91% Return for Hedge Funds (PANW, AAPL, IREN, JOBY, LUNR)
- Oral statement on the situation of Chairman Lee Man-hee in pretrial detention in the Republic of Korea
- A Sky Lites Drone Show welcomes new students University of Oregon
- CinderLabs AIRA Governs NVIDIA's Open Agent Safety Platform, Turning Enforcement Into Evidence