Epicrispr raises $68M, will start clinical trial of epigenetic editing for FSHD
Epicrispr Biotechnologies Secures $68 Million Series B Funding for FSHD Therapy
Epicrispr Biotechnologies, a South San Francisco-based biotech company, has raised $68 million in a Series B funding round to advance its epigenetic editing therapy for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)14.
## Key Details:
- Funding:
$68 million Series B round
- Lead Investor:
Ally Bridge Group
- Notable Participant:
SOLVE FSHD, a venture philanthropy organization founded by Chip Wilson (Lululemon Athletica founder and FSHD patient)14
## Clinical Trial Plans:
- Epicrispr received approval from New Zealand's Medsafe to initiate a first-in-human trial of EPI-32114
- The trial is expected to begin in 202514
- It will evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics, and biological activity of a single intravenous dose of EPI-321 in adults with FSHD14
## About EPI-321:
- First-in-class, disease-modifying epigenetic therapy for FSHD14
- Aims to address the underlying molecular mechanisms of FSHD with a one-time dose7
- Delivered to muscle tissue within a single AAV vector7
- Preclinical studies have shown its ability to suppress pathological expression of the DUX4 gene and reduce muscle cell death7
## Company Background:
Epicrispr Biotechnologies, formerly known as Epic Bio, is pioneering gene-modulating therapies using its proprietary Gene Expression Modulation System (GEMS) platform14. The company is led by CEO Amber Salzman and was co-founded by Stanley Qi, a researcher from Stanford who previously collaborated with Jennifer Doudna at Berkeley1.
## Significance:
EPI-321 represents the first clinical application of epigenetic modulation in neuromuscular diseases7. This funding and clinical trial initiation mark a significant step forward in developing potential treatments for FSHD, a rare genetic disorder affecting approximately 870,000 people globally1.
Sources:
1. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/epicrispr-fshd-series-b-financing-epigenetic-editing/743366/
4. https://www.finsmes.com/2025/03/epicrispr-biotechnologies-raises-68m-in-series-b-funding.html
7. https://epicrispr.com/epicrispr-biotechnologies-secures-68-million-series-b-to-initiate-clinical-trial-for-first-in-class-disease-modifying-epigenetic-neuromuscular-therapy-for-fshd/