SOLVE FSHD and Modalis Announce Strategic Collaboration to Develop an Innovative CRISPR-Based Epigenome Editing Treatment for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
Article content
VANCOUVER, British Columbia & TOKYO & WALTHAM, Mass. — SOLVE FSHD, a venture philanthropy organization dedicated to accelerating treatments for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), and Modalis Therapeutics Corporation (TSE 4883; 'Modalis'), a CRISPR-based epigenome editing therapeutics company focused on rare genetic diseases, today announced a strategic collaboration to develop an innovative therapy for FSHD, a debilitating muscular disorder affecting approximately 1 million individuals worldwide. The novel therapy leverages Modalis's proprietary CRISPR-GNDM ® (Guide Nucleotide-Directed Modulation) technology, which can dynamically modulate gene expression without introducing double-strand DNA breaks.
Article content
SOLVE FSHD will provide strategic funding to support the development of Modalis's MDL-103 program. MDL-103 is an innovative therapeutic solution that continuously suppresses the expression of the DUX4 gene, the toxic disease-causing gene for FSHD, which becomes abnormally activated due to epigenetic changes in the D4Z4 repeat region on chromosome 4. MDL-103 is designed to have durable activity over long periods of time under the control of a strong, muscle-specific promoter, and is delivered to the muscles of patients using a muscle-tropic AAV delivery system. Modalis's CRISPR-GNDM ® technology has the potential to transform the treatment of FSHD by epigenetically silencing the expression of DUX4.
Article content
Article content
'SOLVE FSHD is pleased to partner with Modalis and to add them to our diverse portfolio of collaborators that are advancing potential therapies for FSHD,' stated Eva Chin, Executive Director of SOLVE FSHD. 'SOLVE FSHD identified Modalis as a company committed to finding a cure for this debilitating condition. We were impressed by their unique approach to targeting the epigenetic cause of FSHD, using a platform technology that has shown promise in other neuromuscular diseases. We believe that the support from SOLVE FSHD will allow Modalis to accelerate the advancement of MDL-103 into clinical trials.'
Article content
'We are delighted to be working in partnership with SOLVE FSHD and greatly appreciate the invaluable support for the development of MDL-103,' said Haru Morita, CEO of Modalis. 'This strategic collaboration is a strong validation of Modalis's CRISPR-GNDM ® technology and our MDL-103 program. As a pioneer in this technology, we have demonstrated promising long-term drug efficacy in mouse models, shown durable target engagement and safety in non-human primates, and exhibited excellent biodistribution in neuromuscular disorders. We believe that MDL-103, which incorporates CRISPR-GNDM ® technology with a muscle tropic AAV delivery system, has significant potential as a breakthrough treatment for FSHD.'
Article content
About SOLVE FSHD
Article content
SOLVE FSHD is a venture philanthropic organization established to catalyze innovation and accelerate key research in finding a cure for FSHD. Established by renowned Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Chip Wilson, the Wilson family has committed $100 million to kick-start funding into projects that support the organizations' mission to solve FSHD by 2027. The goal of SOLVE FSHD is to find a solution that can slow down or stop muscle degeneration, increase muscle regeneration and strength, and improve the quality of life for those living with FSHD, visit https://www.solvefshd.com.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Contacts
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
34 minutes ago
- CTV News
SRO fire sends two to hospital in Vancouver's Downtown
The Aura nightclub is located under a supportive housing complex on the Granville strip. Two people were sent to hospital to treat smoke inhalation after a fire broke out inside a social housing unit on the Granville strip in Vancouver. Firefighters responded to the former Howard Johnson hotel, which is now a province-owned single-room occupancy building, at around 3:30 p.m. The Vancouver Fire Rescue Services said the fire was contained due to the sparklers, but crews faced issues breaching the door due to 'severe hoarding conditions' and a large number of combustibles inside. 'The fire was caused by butane torches used for drug use,' said Capt. Matthew Trudeau of the VFRS. According to the fire department, at least 44 fires have occurred at the address since 2020, along with 334 alarms, 87 public service calls, 53 assist calls, 12 rescue calls, and one hazmat call. Wednesday's call not only came with fire damage but also severe water damage in parts of the building. Water forced the roof of the Aura Nightclub, on the building's ground floor, to cave in. The owner, Alan Goodall, said they have faced more than 200 floods over the years and are constantly closing due to maintenance and repairs. 'It's wearing on me. I'm a little desensitized to it all,' he said. 'I don't even know if we are able to open this weekend. I have 15 employees and this would be no notice for them again.' Goodall is calling on the province and the city to take action. Vancouver City councillor Peter Meiszner said Wednesday evening that the matter was urgent, and the hotels are at the end of their life and were never intended to serve as supportive housing for people with complex mental health and addiction challenges. Last week, the ABC councillor brought a motion to the council, which was passed, to work with the Province and offer up city-owned land to replace the SRO units on Granville Street. 'The city is doing everything we can to try to make this happen. We actually did make an offer to the province to replace the Howard Johnson back in February. Unfortunately, that offer was turned down,' said Meiszner. He is calling on the B.C. NDP to act more swiftly as the danger intensifies in the area and the city revitalizes the Granville strip. 'This is urgent and these people deserve better,' said Meiszner. 'They deserve dignified, self-contained social housing, instead of an old hotel room. We can do better.' The 100+ units above Aura nightclub were undergoing an inspection on Wednesday evening. Residents told CTV News they weren't sure if they would be allowed to stay that evening or if they would have to find alternative accommodations.
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
S&S Activewear Strengthens Canadian Presence with Deeper Product Availability, Faster Delivery of Key Styles
Article content VANCOUVER, British Columbia — S&S Activewear, a leading technology-enabled distributor of apparel and accessories in North America, today announced the expansion of its product availability across Canada, with a particular focus on strengthening inventory depth at its Vancouver distribution center. The initiative ensures cross-country Canadian customers maintain consistent access to their preferred styles and brands with faster delivery times and reduced freight costs. Article content 'Our customers depend on us for consistent product availability and this enhanced inventory strategy in Vancouver demonstrates our commitment to meeting that expectation,' said Craig Ryan, VP of commercial Canada at S&S Activewear. 'We're providing the reliability and faster shipping that decorators and promotional product distributors need to serve their own customers effectively.' Article content S&S Activewear's Vancouver facility serves as a critical distribution hub for western Canada, complementing the company's Toronto operations to provide comprehensive coverage across the Canadian market. The facility will now stock popular owned brands and various private label collections favored by promotional product decorators and screen printers—including Team 365, CORE365, Harriton, Devon & Jones and North End—with delivery times dropping dramatically to western Canadian customers. Article content The announcement comes as part of S&S Activewear's broader commitment to adding more brands and inventory to its western distribution centers in 2025. The company's proactive inventory management approach includes strategic transfers between distribution centers and careful demand forecasting to minimize disruptions, reduce delivery times and decrease freight costs. Article content 'When our customers need it, we have it locally. That's the S&S advantage in action,' Ryan added. Article content Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois, S&S Activewear is a leading technology-enabled distributor of apparel and accessories in the United States and Canada. S&S offers more than 100 brands, including basic garments to fashion-forward styles, with over 6 million square feet of warehouse space across North America. S&S services a broad range of customers through its nationwide network, including retail brands, e-commerce companies, garment decorators, promotional products distributors, entertainment merchandisers, lifestyle brands and web-based platforms for apparel customization. Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact Article content Article content Hope Sander Article content Article content Article content
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Lithium Americas Reports 2025 Annual and Special Meeting Results
Article content VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC) (' Lithium Americas ' or the ' Company ') announced the results from its annual and special meeting of shareholders held on June 11, 2025 (the ' Meeting '). Each of the following eight nominees was elected as a director of the Company: Article content Director Nominees Votes For Votes Withheld Kelvin Dushnisky 48,803,883 (94.19%) 3,008,880 (5.81%) Michael Brown 50,599,180 (97.66%) 1,213,583 (2.34%) Fabiana Chubbs 50,208,428 (96.90%) 1,604,335 (3.10%) Jonathan Evans 50,596,958 (97.65%) 1,215,805 (2.35%) Dr. Yuan Gao 48,676,931 (93.95%) 3,135,832 (6.05%) Zach Kirkman 46,944,510 (90.60%) 4,868,253 (9.40%) Jinhee Magie 48,777,066 (94.14%) 3,035,697 (5.86%) Philip Montgomery 49,306,513 (95.16%) 2,506,250 (4.84%) Article content Article content Final voting results on all matters voted on at the Meeting will be filed on SEDAR+ ( and EDGAR ( and posted to the Investors section of the Company's website at Article content ABOUT LITHIUM AMERICAS Article content Lithium Americas is developing the Thacker Pass project (' Thacker Pass ' or the ' Project ') located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada, which hosts the largest known measured lithium resource (Measured and Indicated) and reserve (Proven and Probable) in the world. Thacker Pass is owned by a joint venture between Lithium Americas (holding a 62% interest and the manager of the Project) and General Motors Holdings LLC (holding a 38% interest). Lithium Americas' shares are listed on the NYSE and the TSX under the symbol 'LAC'. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
