Trending...
- City of Tacoma Secures Over $4 Million in Transportation Improvement Board Grants
- TBM Council Appoints Four Distinguished Leaders to Board of Directors
- Sandesh Sadalge Sworn in as District 4 Tacoma City Council Member for First Full Term
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: Male In Custody After Domestic Violence Court Order Service Results In Emergent Entry Into A Residence; Multiple Firearms Recovered
- Sergio C. Flores Appointed Tacoma Municipal Court Judge
- Tacoma: Statement from Mayor Anders Ibsen Regarding Recent ICE Activity
- Premium Bail Bonds Proudly Sponsors BOFAB BBQ Team at the 2026 Lakeland Pigfest
- UK Financial Ltd Receives Recognition In Platinum Crypto Academy's "Cryptonaire Weekly"
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
- P-Wave Press Announces Pushing the Wave 2024 by L.A. Davenport
- Preston Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center Wins Gold and Bronze in Prestigious Annual DIAMOND Awards
- David Boland, Inc. Awarded $54.3M Construction Contract by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District
- "Phinge Unveil™" Coming to Las Vegas to Showcase Netverse Patented Verified App-less Platform, AI & Modular Hardware Including Developer Conferences
- Tacoma: City Offers Virtual Workshop Series for Small Businesses on AI and Cybersecurity
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
- 30 Community Art Projects Funded by the Tacoma Arts Commission
- Dirty Heads, 311, Tropidelic, and The Movement to Headline Everwild Music Festival in 2026 with its largest lineup to date!
- The Stork Foundation Announces 2025 Year-End Impact and Grant Awards Amid Rising National Demand
- Stout Industrial Technology Appoints Paul Bonnett as Chief Executive Officer
- Revenue Optics Appoints Ljupco Icevski as Executive Advisor in Strategic Move to Accelerate Commercial Development
- Waarom brand mentions in ChatGPT steeds belangrijker worden
- Tacoma: City Council Approves 0.1% Criminal Justice Sales & Use Tax to Enhance Community Safety and Support Vital Services
- Tacoma: District 5 Council Member Joe Bushnell to Serve as Deputy Mayor in 2026
- City of Tacoma Secures Over $4 Million in Transportation Improvement Board Grants
- Sandesh Sadalge Sworn in as District 4 Tacoma City Council Member for First Full Term
- Tacoma: District 2 Council Member Sarah Rumbaugh Begins Second Term
- Latasha Palmer Begins Serving as Tacoma City Council Member, At-Large Position 6
- Mayor Anders Ibsen Sworn in During First Tacoma City Council Meeting of 2026
- Yunishigawa Onsen's Annual "Kamakura Festival" will be held January 30 – March 1, 2026
- At Your Service Plumbing Named a 2025 Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave
- TBM Council Appoints Four Distinguished Leaders to Board of Directors
- Spokane: 2026 Point-In-Time Count Set for Mid-January, Volunteers Needed
- Sound absorbing wall art: When acoustics meet interior design
- Custom Home Builder Connecticut Valley Homes Wins 2025 Home of the Year from the Modular Home Builders Association
- Scoop Social Co. Partners with Air Canada to Celebrate New Direct Flights to Milan with Custom Italian Piaggio Ape Gelato Carts