- OligomicsTx has received $100,000 for the development of its cutting-edge treatment for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)
- The rare neuromuscular disease impacts 1 in 8,000 people worldwide with no approved treatments on the market
EDMONTON, AB: The City of Edmonton announced today that OligomicsTx (“Oligomics”), a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company developing treatments for rare muscular dystrophies, has been selected to receive $100,000 from the Edmonton Edge Fund. The funds will go towards advancing the preclinical development of the company’s treatment for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a rare neuromuscular disorder involving gradual weakness and wasting of specific muscular groups, typically involving the face, shoulder blades, and upper arms. There are currently no treatments on the market for FSHD, so the company has the potential to break new ground for the 1 in 8,000 people worldwide impacted by the disease.
The funds will help the company gather pre-clinical development data at its labs based in Edmonton, Alberta. This includes testing of Oligomics’s RNA-targeting treatments in preparation for clinical trial submissions to regulators.
“We are thrilled to have been selected for this funding from Edmonton Edge,” said Jeff Miller, OligomicsTx CEO. “It will contribute to our work to get this potentially life-changing treatment to patients dealing with the effects of FSHD. We are proud of the support from our community. It is a significant boost in our efforts to secure funding from investors, contribute to the strength of our significant intellectual property portfolio, and create opportunities to leverage the talent we have available in Edmonton.”
The Edmonton Edge Fund addresses financial barriers for innovative businesses looking to do transformative work in Edmonton that will help drive the city’s economic growth in key industries and sectors as well as create jobs for the future. Phase 1 funding will be supporting 17 businesses across eight different industries to start, scale or grow their initiatives in Edmonton.