ReviR Therapeutics Partners with Kennedy’s Disease Association for New Molecule Development

Stock.adobe.com

ReviR Therapeutics is partnering with Kennedy’s Disease Association to advance treatments for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA).¹ According to a statement from ReviR, the rare neuromuscular disorder lacks effective treatments and the research grant provided by Kennedy’s Disease Association will help ReviR in developing small molecule RNA modulators.

In a press release, ReviR Therapeutics’ chief scientific officer Paul R. August, PhD, said, “Our proprietary VoyageR platform enables us to identify molecules that induce the destruction of disease mRNA by incorporating a novel pseudo exon, effectively triggering nonsense-mediated decay of the respective mRNA in a manner similar to oligonucleotide therapeutics. This breakthrough approach has the potential to significantly reduce toxic disease protein levels and modify disease progression for KD patients."

ReviR Theraputics CEO Peng Yue added, “We are excited to partner with the Kennedy's Disease Association to advance our research efforts and bring hope to the KD community. By combining our scientific expertise with the KDA's deep understanding of patient needs, we are confident in our ability to develop a transformative therapy for KD."

Kennedy’s Disease Association’s president Terry Thompson, PhD, also said, “KDA is excited to partner with ReviR Therapeutics on the potential use of its innovative gene editing technology as a novel therapeutic strategy for Kennedy's Disease. Reducing or eliminating the toxic protein that causes the disease will be life-changing for people living with KD. We look forward to a successful outcome and a long-term relationship with ReviR.”

This is just the latest partnership for ReviR. In June of this year, the company announced that it had formed a strategic partnership with the CMT Research Foundation to develop small molecule therapeutics for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT).²

In a press release issued at the time, Revir Therapeutics’ CEO and co-founder Peng Yue, PhD, said, “Our platform technology at ReviR represents a radical departure from traditional genetic therapies that often require invasive administration methods. We have designed small molecules that can be taken orally, cross the blood-nerve barrier, and directly interact with mRNA to modulate splicing. The splicing change will cause mRNA destruction and will effectively reduce disease-gene protein levels to address the genetic basis of CMT1A."

CMTRF CEO Cleary Simpson also said, “Collaborating with ReviR Therapeutics aligns perfectly with CMTRF's mission to accelerate the development of therapies that can halt or even reverse the progression of CMT. Their cutting-edge technology has the potential to transform the lives of those living with this chronic condition by providing a non-invasive, potent, and easily administrable treatment option."

Sources

1. ReviR Therapeutics and Kennedy's Disease Association Partner to Advance Treatment for Rare Neuromuscular Disorder. ReviR Therapeutics. November 25, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/revir-therapeutics-and-kennedys-disease-association-partner-to-advance-treatment-for-rare-neuromuscular-disorder-302315214.html
2. CMT Research Foundation Invests in ReviR Therapeutics Research to Pioneer Small Molecule Therapeutics for CMT1A. ReviR Therapeutics. June 19, 2024. Accessed November 25, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cmt-research-foundation-invests-in-revir-therapeutics-research-to-pioneer-small-molecule-therapeutics-for-cmt1a-302175259.html