Cambridge, Mass. — Epicrispr Biotechnologies has been named a finalist in the XPRIZE Healthspan FSHD Bonus Prize competition, earning a $250,000 Milestone Award for its pioneering work to develop a gene therapy for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy worldwide.
The Cambridge-based biotech company is among eight teams selected globally from hundreds of applicants to advance in the $10 million FSHD Bonus Prize track, a component of the broader $101 million XPRIZE Healthspan initiative. Sponsored by Hevolution Foundation and SOLVE FSHD, the initiative seeks transformative approaches that extend healthy lifespan and combat degenerative diseases associated with aging.
“Being recognized by XPRIZE as a finalist and Milestone 1 recipient is a major validation of our platform and mission,” said Epicrispr CEO Amber Salzman, Ph.D. “We are driven by the urgent need for innovative therapies that can make a meaningful difference for patients with FSHD and other epigenetically driven disorders.”
Epicrispr’s technology takes a novel approach to gene therapy by modulating gene expression without cutting DNA. The company’s lead program targets DUX4, the gene responsible for FSHD, with the aim of halting disease progression and restoring muscle function. The therapy is designed to be tunable and precise, potentially offering a safer and more controlled alternative to traditional gene editing techniques.
“Each of the eight finalist teams receiving this milestone award are demonstrating compelling approaches to address FSHD and push the boundaries of what aging with FSHD can look like,” said Jamie Justice, Ph.D., Executive Director of XPRIZE Healthspan. “We designed this prize to spark innovation that could ripple across aging, muscle regeneration, and overall healthspan.”
Finalists were chosen by an independent panel of judges who evaluated submissions based on scientific rigor, feasibility, and potential impact. Epicrispr and the other selected teams will be recognized at the upcoming XPRIZE Healthspan Awards Ceremony and Investor Summit in New York City, scheduled for May 12–14, 2025.
