New launch Atrium will focus on RNA medicines for cardiomyopathy
Atrium Therapeutics has launched as a newly independent, publicly traded company developing RNA therapeutics for people living with rare, life-threatening genetic cardiomyopathies.
Atrium Therapeutics was established in connection with Avidity Biosciences’ acquisition by Novartis. The company is led by Kathleen Gallagher, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and begins operations with two precision cardiology candidates, two undisclosed research targets and approximately $270 million.
Atrium Therapeutics’ two lead development candidates are: ATR 1072 for PRKAG2 (Protein Kinase AMP-activated non-catalytic subunit Gamma 2) syndrome and ATR 1086 for PLN (phospholamban) cardiomyopathy. Both conditions are severe, life-threatening, rare autosomal dominant progressive cardiomyopathies with no approved therapies to treat the underlying cause of disease.
“The launch of Atrium Therapeutics marks an important milestone for people living with genetic cardiomyopathies,” said Gallagher. “Patients and families facing these genetically driven rare cardiomyopathies have few if any options that address the underlying cause. Building on Avidity’s pioneering work in targeted RNA delivery, Atrium is positioned to advance precision medicines designed to directly target the biologic drivers of cardiac disease. Atrium has the opportunity to help pave the way for a new era for RNA therapies in precision cardiology.”
Pending supportive Phase I trial results, Atrium Therapeutics anticipates advancing both programmes into clinical trials, while continuing to expand its additional precision cardiology pipeline and develop an RNA delivery platform.
The company’s technology – designed at Avidity Biosciences – combines the tissue selectivity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other targeted delivery ligands with the precision of oligonucleotides. Atrium’s platform is designed to selectively target the underlying drivers of genetically driven cardiac diseases through targeted, non-viral delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA). This approach builds upon learnings from delivery to the skeletal muscle and applies it for efficient delivery to the heart.