Solid Biosciences Inc., a life sciences company focused on therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, has merged with AavantiBio Inc., a privately-held gene therapy company focused on patients with Friedrich’s ataxia and rare cardiomyopathies.
Solid Biosciences will acquire AavantiBio’s pipeline assets and net cash. The combined company will focus on the advancement of a portfolio of neuromuscular and cardiac programs, led by SGT-003, a differentiated gene transfer candidate, for the treatment of Duchenne. The combination will operate as Solid Biosciences, and Bo Cumbo, the current CEO of AavantiBio, will assume the role of president and CEO of Solid Biosciences.
“This acquisition provides exciting opportunities to bring our potentially best-in-class Duchenne gene transfer candidate, SGT-003, to patients and to expand our portfolio with innovative gene therapies designed to address significant unmet need in additional, adjacent rare disease indications,” comments Ilan Ganot, president, CEO and co-founder of Solid Biosciences.