[Topics] The drug discovery efforts of EditForce Inc., a startup originating from the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, were featured in The Nikkei.

EditForce Inc. is a startup company established in 2015 based on a proprietary technology utilizing PPR proteins, which are involved in RNA regulation in plants. This technology was developed by Professor Takahiro Nakamura of Kyushu University.

The company is currently developing a therapeutic technology for myotonic dystrophy type 1, a genetic disorder, by combining its proprietary PPR-based platform with viral vectors. While there is currently no fundamental cure for this disease, and various pharmaceutical companies are pursuing treatment options, EditForce's approach is expected to offer longer-lasting therapeutic effects compared to existing methods.
Following promising results in mouse models, the company is currently preparing for clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment in humans.

The company plans to submit a clinical trial application in 2026, with the aim of initiating the trial in 2027.

Related Links

New Long-Lasting Therapeutic Approach for Myotonic Dystrophy: Kyushu University Startup to Launch Clinical Trials in Japan and the U.S.(The Nikkei, July 10, 2025 [Subscribers-Only Article])
EditForce Inc.
Laboratory of Genome Chemistry & Engineering
Takahiro Nakamura, Professor