The Investment: $750,000
The Company: Myostellar
The University Partner: Monash University
Breakthrough Victoria: $375,000
Monash University: $375,000
About
Myostellar are a Melbourne-based Monash University start-up, developing novel therapies for the treatment of muscular dystrophies.
The Problem
Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited genetic disorders that cause progressive muscle weakness and wasting. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a rare and fatal muscle-wasting disorder that affects about 1 in every 3,500 to 6,000 males at birth, with the cost of care exceeding $4 billion dollars. Currently, no therapeutics effectively stimulate skeletal muscle regeneration with minimal fibrosis.
The Solution
Co-founders of Myostellar, Prof. Peter Currie and Prof. Mikaël Martino, have discovered a novel mechanism which sheds new light on the role of the immune system in directing skeletal muscle repair.
The ability to directly stimulate the muscle stem cell compartment holds promise for treating a wide range of muscle-related diseases and syndromes, including profound implications for muscular dystrophy, where current treatments fail to reverse muscle fibre loss.
Myostellar's technology has the potential to be a first-in-class biologic therapy that stimulates muscle stem cells to regenerate muscle with minimal fibrosis, initially targeting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
This technology is unique for the following reasons:
- First-in-Class Biologic: Works in a unique way, offering a new approach for treatment
- Targeted Muscle Regeneration: Specifically regenerates skeletal muscle while minimizing fibrosis.
- Broad Applicability: Not mutation-specific, allowing use for various conditions both locally and systemically.
- Flexible Treatment Options: Can be used alone or in combination with other existing or emerging therapies.
Co-Founder Professor Peter Currie and CCO Dr Bo Yun