Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41994867›Full record

ArticleNucleic acids research2026

Development of a DUX4-targeting antibody oligonucleotide conjugate as a therapy for FSHD.

Barbora Malecova, David Sala, Garineh M Melikian, Rachel Johns, Gulin Erdogan, Marc Hartmann, Maryam Jordan, Joel Danny Arias, Arvind Bhattacharya, Qingying Meng and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nucleic acids research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Barbora MalecovaAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
David SalaAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Garineh M MelikianAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Rachel JohnsAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Gulin ErdoganAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Marc HartmannAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Maryam JordanAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Joel Danny AriasAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Arvind BhattacharyaAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Qingying MengAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Oliver DansereauAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Samuel W BepplerAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Venkata R DoppalapudiAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Hanhua HuangAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
William Michael FlanaganAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Arthur A LevinAvidity Biosciences, Inc., 3020 Callan Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.

Funding

Avidity Biosciences, Inc
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant muscular disease in which genetic mutations activate DUX4 expression in skeletal muscle. Currently, there are no approved therapies for FSHD. We developed Delpacibart braxlosiran (del-brax, also known as AOC 1020), an antibody oligonucleotide conjugate (AOC), for the treatment of FSHD that is designed to specifically target and reduce DUX4 mRNA in skeletal muscle. AOC 1020 is composed of DUX4 mRNA-targeting small interfering RNA (siRNA), siDUX4.6, conjugated to a human transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1)-targeting monoclonal antibody to facilitate productive siRNA delivery to muscle. We demonstrate that siDUX4.6 reduces DUX4-regulated gene expression in FSHD patient-derived myotubes in vitro and in skeletal muscle of the ACTA1-MCM; FLExDUX4 FSHD mouse model in vivo. Single systemic intravenous treatment was sufficient to prevent DUX4-induced muscle weakness and fibrosis in this FSHD mouse model and reduce DUX4-regulated genes by ∼75% 8 weeks post-dose. The pharmacokinetic profiles of AOCs with siDUX4.6 were comparable in murine and non-human primate muscle. These data demonstrate the potential of AOC 1020 to treat the underlying cause of FSHD by suppressing DUX4 expression in muscles of patients with FSHD. The safety and efficacy of AOC 1020 is currently being investigated in clinical trials.

Indexed as

Homeodomain ProteinsImmunoconjugatesMuscular Dystrophy, FacioscapulohumeralRNA, Small InterferingAnimalsAntibodies, MonoclonalDisease Models, AnimalHumansMiceMuscle Fibers, SkeletalMuscle, SkeletalReceptors, TransferrinAntibodies, MonoclonalDUX4L1 protein, humanDux4 protein, mouseHomeodomain ProteinsImmunoconjugatesReceptors, TransferrinRNA, Small Interfering

Identifiers

PMID41994867
PMCPMC13120848

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.