Guyancourt, November 27, 2025 – SQY Therapeutics, a leader in medical research specializing in antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), currently in clinical trials with its drug candidate ‘SQY51’ for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), is proud to announce the official inauguration of its new Research & Development laboratory in Guyancourt. This event marks a key milestone in the company’s growth strategy. The new facility strengthens its ability to develop innovative medical solutions for rare diseases, thanks to its unique technological platform located in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and within the hospital-university network of the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
A State-of-the-Art ASO Technology Laboratory
Equipped with cutting-edge technology and a team of highly skilled researchers and engineers, this new 850 m² laboratory will enable SQY Therapeutics to accelerate its Research and Development programs in the field of antisense therapies for rare diseases. The site, designed to meet the strictest quality and safety standards, includes the only existing technological platform for custom synthesis of tricyclo-DNA antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), along with a preclinical evaluation activity dedicated to these innovative molecules. The goal is to produce them “made in France.”
A Commitment to the Health of Tomorrow
“Inaugurating this laboratory is the result of years of effort and a shared vision: to provide a therapeutic solution for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy,” states Luis Garcia, co-founder of SQY Therapeutics. “Thanks to this true technological platform, embedded within our hospital-university ecosystem, we will be able to bring other ambitious projects to fruition for the benefit of patients and actively contribute to the emergence of new therapies.“
Fertile Ground for Innovation
This laboratory project, supported by associative and public partners, highlights the importance and relevance of public-private collaboration in the healthcare sector. SQY Therapeutics benefits from the scientific and hospital-university environment of the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and its location within the 17,000-company ecosystem of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. This provides fertile ground for innovation, technology validation, fundraising, and growth in a secure and collaborative environment.
Alexandra Dublanche, Vice-President of the Île-de-France Region in charge of Recovery, Attractiveness, Economic Development, and Innovation, states: “The SQY Therapeutics project fully aligns with the strategic priorities of the Île-de-France Region, a European leader in health and innovation. The establishment of this laboratory brings great hope for research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, opening new therapeutic perspectives and enabling the production of the first oligonucleotides. It perfectly illustrates the ambition of the Île-de-France Region to become a hub of excellence in biotherapies and bioproduction. We are proud that the €300,000 grant from the Île-de-France Region, awarded for the creation of this laboratory in the post-COVID context, contributes to a major advancement for both the region and patients.”
Inauguration Details
The inauguration will take place on November 27, 2025, at the SQY Therapeutics headquarters in Parc Ariane, Guyancourt. The event will be attended by: Alexandra Dublanche, Vice-President of the Île-de-France Region, responsible for Recovery, Attractiveness, Economic Development, and Innovation, Jean-Michel Fourgous, President of the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Urban Community,Professor Loïc Jossera n, President of the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ). The program will begin at 2:00 PM with speeches on the challenges and prospects for the new laboratory, followed by a tour of the facilities.
About SQY Therapeutics
Founded in 2015 by two associations of parents of children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, SQY Therapeutics aims to implement R&D programs for genetic diseases, particularly neuromuscular diseases, for which no satisfactory treatments currently exist. The company’s research activities were hosted at the UFR Simone Veil – Santé of UVSQ until 2025, growing from 5 to 22 employees. To support its growth and development, SQY Therapeutics relocated its research activities to Parc Ariane in Guyancourt in August 2025, following extensive renovation work.
SQY Therapeutics entered clinical trials in 2023 and continues to develop its first drug candidate, ‘SQY51’, a next-generation antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 12 patients eligible for exon-51 skipping therapy (AVANCE-1 Phase I/IIa clinical trial, conducted at R. Poincaré Hospital AP-HP – UFR Simone Veil – Santé).
About Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASO)
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are short sequences of synthetic DNA or RNA analogs designed to specifically bind to a target pre-messenger RNA to modify its maturation. This allows the final messenger RNA of the mutated gene to be translated into a protein that, while truncated, remains functional. The ‘SQY51’ ASO developed by SQY Therapeutics is designed to specifically remove exon-51 from the pre-mRNA encoding the dystrophin protein in the muscles and heart of DMD patients. This is a precision medicine approach intended exclusively for subpopulations of patients eligible for exon-51 skipping, representing 10 to 15% of the general DMD population. New drug candidates for other DMD subpopulations are currently under development by SQY Therapeutics.