Needham, MA, April 2, 2025 – MLAB Biosciences is pleased to announce our collaboration with FSHD Canada Foundation which has agreed to fund the preclinical “proof-of-concept” work of our lead candidate, MLAB-001, in an FSHD (Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy) disease model.
MLAB-001 is a novel muscle-targeted Notch agonist designed to enhance muscle regeneration. We have established preclinical proof-of-concept in the D2.mdx male mice, a severe disease model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. MLAB is very grateful to FSHD Canada and honored to receive this support to expand the potential of MLAB-001 for various muscular dystrophies.
FSHD is one of the most common genetic muscular disorders with a prevalence of 1 in 8,333 to 1 in 15,000 people, it is caused by genetic mutations that lead to the dysregulation of the DUX4 gene and its expression, triggering death of myofibers in affected muscles. Currently there is no approved treatment for FSHD, with palliative management only.