Partnership with Facio BioTherapies to advance precision targeted medicines in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

The University of Melbourne has signed a collaborative research agreement with Facio BioTherapies Pty Limited, an Australian pre-clinical stage biotechnology company, to advance precision targeted medicines for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD).

FSHD is a progressive, degenerative condition affecting an estimated one in 8000 individuals – about 5000 Australians and 870,000 people globally. Currently, there are no approved medicines to treat FSHD, leaving patients facing severe disability, with about 20 per cent requiring a wheelchair by age 50 and more than 70 per cent experiencing chronic pain and fatigue.

The partnership aims to develop innovative therapeutic strategies to address this significant unmet clinical need. Supported by a Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) grant awarded to Facio BioTherapies, the project will accelerate pre-clinical development of the company’s pipeline, targeting the underlying genetic drivers of FSHD.

Professor Paul Gregorevic, Head of the Muscle Research and Therapeutics Laboratory and Deputy Director of the Centre for Muscle Research at the University of Melbourne, brings internationally recognised expertise in muscle biology and neuromuscular disorders research to the collaboration.

"Our team has a long-standing interest in FSHD and this partnership with Facio BioTherapies aligns directly with our aspirations to develop innovative therapeutic strategies," Professor Gregorevic said.

"We are excited about the possibilities of what we hope to achieve together, thanks to the support of the CRC Program."

Dr. Laura Issa, Chief Scientific Officer at Facio BioTherapies, said the partnership is an ideal alignment of cultural, research, and capability strengths.

"The strategic collaboration with Professor Gregorevic's team at the University of Melbourne will be critical to advancing our lead candidates towards the clinic,” Dr Issa said.

“Together, we are committed to building a localised research capability focused on translating cutting-edge science into viable therapeutic assets that address the profound unmet needs for FSHD patients globally."

The partnership reflects the University's commitment under Advancing Research 2030 to collaborating with industry partners to translate innovative research into tangible benefits for society and improved patient health outcomes.