Epicrispr Biotechnologies has secured $68 million in the first close of its Series B financing, proceeds that it will use to support the clinical development of EPI-321, a first-in-class, disease-modifying therapy for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a genetic neuromuscular disease.

The Series B financing was led by Ally Bridge Group, with participation from SOLVE FSHD (the venture philanthropy organization founded Chip Wilson, founder of Lululemon), along with other new and existing investors.

FSHD, one of the most common forms of adult muscular dystrophy, is characterized by weakness and atrophy of the muscles around the eyes and mouth, shoulders, abdominal muscles, upper arms and lower legs. There is currently no disease-modifying therapy for the progressive disease. Epicrispr’s lead therapy is designed to target the genetic root cause of FSHD.

EPI-321 is an investigational one-time gene-modulating therapy designed to silence aberrant expression of DUX4, a gene that is incorrectly activated in FSHD and leads to progressive muscle degeneration. Delivered systemically via a clinically validated AAV vector, EPI-321 has demonstrated robust suppression of DUX4 expression and protection of muscle tissue in preclinical models. The therapy has received FDA fast track, rare pediatric disease and orphan drug designations.

In 2023, Epicrispr inked a research collaboration with Kite Pharma to develop next-generation CAR T-cell therapies in cancer using Epicrispr’s proprietary gene regulation platform.