An Introduction to Evolyra’s AAV
A smarter approach to gene therapy
Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) is a naturally occurring virus commonly used as a gene therapy delivery system. Next generation AAVs are modified to increase delivery to skeletal muscle and avoid liver toxicity.
One-Time Infusion
Our therapy is designed to be a single-dose, long-term corrective therapy for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD).
Full-length gene replacement
Unlike Duchenne therapies that use partial gene replacement, our AAV delivers a complete, functional gene, which is essential for effective treatment.
Proven & Scalable
Our work is built on real-world clinical expertise and translational research.
A future-ready platform.
Evolyra Therapeutics is building a scalable, modular gene therapy platform. Each success advances a blueprint for treating the 20+ LGMD subtypes and beyond.
Our Focus: Patients. Precision. Process.
Our team of clinicians and scientists are dedicated to bringing a safe and effective therapy to patients with LGMD.
PATIENT POWERED
Leverage consortium of 500+ patients, providing unique biomarkers, disease progression tools, and trial readiness.
GLOBAL EXPERTISE
Built on collaborations with internationally recognized academic and clinical leaders.
Continuous Advancement
Deploy life cycle management pipeline of improved next-generation AAV with focus on safety and speed.
Vector innovation
License promising new vectors and leverage Evolyra’s stakeholder network to accelerate development of unique proprietary AAV backbones.
Facing the Challenge
of LGMD.
Each year, children and families worldwide receive devastating diagnoses of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), types 2C and 2D. They are rare neuromuscular diseases that are both progressive and currently untreatable. Affecting approximately 20,000 people globally, LGMD2C and LGMD2D lead to progressive muscle loss, respiratory failure, and severe mobility challenges, significantly impacting the quality of life and longevity.
Latest News.
Introducing Evolyra Therapeutics: A New Hope for Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
Discover how Evolyra Therapeutics is forging a new path in gene therapy for Limb-Girdle Muscular[…]
About Us.
We’re a care team building solutions for the patients we already serve.
Founder & CEO
Nicholas E. Johnson, MD, MSCI, FAAS
As an accomplished physician-scientist, Dr. Nicholas Johnson is a Professor and Vice-Chair of Research in Neurology at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he holds the George Bliley Research Chair. His work is dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of inherited muscle diseases, serving as the Director of both the Center for Inherited Myology Research and the GRASP-LGMD Consortium. He completed his medical degree at the University of Arizona, a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation at the University of Utah, and his residency at the University of Rochester.
Co-Founder & COO
Kevin L. Passarello, JD
Kevin Passarello has a diverse background in law, academia, and entrepreneurship. He is a Partner and Co-Chair of the Advanced Technologies Practice at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia, and a former Innovation Fellow at Virginia Tech. He has co-founded, served as CXO, and sold several innovative companies – including TRADOS, Pong Research, and AMP3D. Kevin co-founded Harvest Equity Partners, a private equity fund with over $600M in exits. He served for 5 years as Director of Translational R&D at the UVA Biocomplexity Institute. Kevin earned his law degree (JD) from Georgetown.
CO-FOUNDER & CTO
Melissa Hale, PhD
Dr. Melissa Hale is an Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and an Investigator at the Center for Inherited Myology Research. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology from the University of Florida.
Co-Founder & CSO
Ellie Carrell, PhD
Dr. Ellie Carrell is an Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and an Investigator at the Center for Inherited Myology Research. She earned her PhD from the University of Rochester and completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Rochester and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Her research is dedicated to understanding muscle physiology and disease, with a focus on developing safe and effective gene therapies for inherited muscular dystrophies.
Contact Us.
Evolyra Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing transformative treatments for people affected by limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD). Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Evolyra is advancing next-generation gene replacement therapies to address rare neuromuscular diseases that today have no approved cures.