An Effort to Build a Better DMD Gene Therapy

Drug development activities focused on the rare, neuromuscular condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy have translated into functional improvements and an extension of life expectancy. Regenxbio is among several companies pursuing a gene therapy to treat Duchenne. Regenxbio believes both its microdystrophin—a truncated form of the dystrophin gene­ small enough to fit in a vector­—and the vector it is using, give it a competitive advantage over other efforts. We spoke Curran Simpson, CEO of Regenxbio, about the company’s platform technology, the advantages he sees with its experimental DMD gene therapy, and how a partnership announced at the start of 2025 focused on a pair of other gene therapies provided a welcome alternative to tapping the capital markets.