Sarcomatrix Therapeutics
Category: AI in Biotech / Drug Discovery
A biotechnology company developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics to treat muscle-wasting diseases by stabilizing muscle fibers and enhancing regeneration through an AI-integrated discovery pipeline. Sarcomatrix Therapeutics was founded in 2013. The company is led by David Craig. Based in Reno, USA. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $13.3M. Latest round: Venture. Key investors include National Institutes of Health (NIH), Battle Born Venture, Research Affiliates, Peachscore, Elmstead Partners.
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- Reno, USA
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $13.3M
Value proposition
Accelerates the delivery of life-changing muscle therapies by combining deep biological expertise in integrin-stabilization with an AI platform that de-risks drug candidates and predicts clinical efficacy.
Products and solutions
S-969: Lead small-molecule candidate for DMD and sarcopenia, SarcoVista AI Platform: Proprietary drug discovery and de-risking engine, Laminin-111 Protein Therapy: Research-stage protein replacement for muscular dystrophies, Integrin Alpha-7 Enhancers: Pipeline of compounds targeting muscle fiber adhesion
Unique value
Focuses on 'integrin-alpha-7' stabilization, a unique approach that strengthens the muscle cell's connection to its environment, preventing the fiber breakdown seen in dystrophies and aging.
Target customer
Patients suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), LAMA2-Related Muscular Dystrophy, and age-related sarcopenia; pharmaceutical companies for potential licensing or co-development partnerships.
Industries served
Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Rare Diseases, Artificial Intelligence (Drug Discovery)
Technology advantage
The SarcoVista AI platform integrates decades of muscle biology data to simulate drug-target interactions, significantly reducing the time and cost of traditional wet-lab screening while increasing the probability of clinical success.
How they differentiate
Focuses on the Hippo-YAP axis and integrin-alpha-7 stabilization via small molecules rather than gene replacement, supported by the SarcoVista AI platform for clinical de-risking.
Main competitors
Sarepta Therapeutics, Edgewise Therapeutics, Solid Biosciences
Key partnerships
University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) - Research and IP origin, National Institutes of Health (NIH) - SBIR Phase 2 grant funding, Battle Born Ventures - Venture capital backing, Research Affiliates
Major milestones
Awarded $1.95M NIH SBIR Phase 2 grant in Sept 2023, Secured $8M total in NIH grants by May 2024, Launched SarcoVista AI Platform on March 31, 2026, Secured Orphan Drug Designation for LAMA2-Related Muscular Dystrophy in 2025, Secured $300K investment from Battle Born Venture in Aug 2025
Growth metrics
Lead candidate S-969 is advancing toward Phase 1 first-in-human studies; SarcoVista AI platform launched in 2025.
Market positioning
Pre-clinical biopharmaceutical innovator in the rare muscle disease and anti-aging sectors.
Geographic focus
North America
Patents and IP
Holds exclusive licenses to intellectual property developed at the University of Nevada, Reno; Chief Science Officer Ryan Wuebbles holds 11 patents related to muscle regeneration and laminin-based therapies.
About David Craig
David Craig is a veteran biotechnology executive with over 35 years of experience. He held significant leadership roles at Amgen (1988–2003), Gilead Sciences (2003–2007), and Portola Pharmaceuticals (2007–2018). He has been instrumental in the development and commercial launch of several first-in-class medicines, including EPOGEN, NEUPOGEN, HEPSERA, and ANDEXXA. Since November 2022, he has served as the CEO of Sarcomatrix Therapeutics, where he leads the development of novel therapeutics for muscle-wasting diseases and the integration of the SarcoVista AI platform into the company's drug discovery pipeline.
Official website: https://sarcomatrix.com/