Webinar Recording: Solid Biosciences September 2025

On September 10, 2025, Solid Biosciences’ Matthew Harmelink, MD, Therapeutic Area Head of Neuromuscular, and Seth Rotberg, Senior Manager of Patient Advocacy, joined FARA to provide an overview of the upcoming FALCON gene therapy study (SGT-212) and take questions directly from the FA community.

This was the second webinar hosted by Dr. Matthew Harmelink .On April 15, 2025, he presented about FA, the science behind gene therapy, and the FALCON study, Solid’s unique gene therapy program for FA (SGT-212). Click here to view the April 15 webinar.

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HOW DOES A DRUG GET DEVELOPED?

Stages of Development for SGT-212

The drug development process can be thought of as a series of stages, and successful drugs must pass through each stage to become available to patients.

SGT-212 is a recombinant AAV-based gene addition therapy for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) designed to deliver the full-length human frataxin gene (FXN) via a dual route of administration: intradentate nucleus (IDN) infusion, using an MRI-guided device, followed by an intravenous (IV) infusion to increase therapeutic frataxin levels in the cerebellar dentate nuclei and in the cardiomyocytes, respectively. Restoration of frataxin protein levels is expected to repair the underlying mitochondrial dysfunction in neurons and cardiomyocytes to address both neurologic and cardiac manifestations of the disease. In mouse models, SGT-212 shows efficacious transduction of the heart and the dentate nucleus at low doses that avoid DRG toxicity.

This program originated with FA212 LLC, a company founded by FA families, led by Tom Hamilton. The program was purchased by Solid Biosciences and will be further developed by that company. In a letter to the FA community, Solid shared that the development of SGT-212 (previously FA-212) would not have been possible without the previous efforts of the LLC. “…Additionally, the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), the University of Pennsylvania, and most importantly, the FA patient community all contributed to the development of this program. The insights and feedback shared by individuals and families living with FA have been instrumental in shaping this program, ensuring that it reflects the real hopes and needs of the community. Your resilience and determination inspire us every day, and we are honored to bring SGT-212 to patients.”

January 7, 2025: Solid Biosciences announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for SGT-212 for the treatment of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a degenerative disease caused by insufficient levels of the frataxin protein. SGT-212 is the Company’s novel, AAV-based FA gene therapy candidate designed to deliver full-length frataxin via systemic intravenous (IV) infusion as well as direct intradentate nuclei (IDN) infusion into the cerebellum. SGT-212 is designed to treat the neurologic and systemic clinical manifestations of FA to address the full spectrum of disease progression. SGT-212 was developed by FA212 LLC, a company founded by parents of children living with FA, the University of Pennsylvania, and Solid Biosciences. Solid Biosciences stated that it expects to initiate a first-in-human, open-label, dose-finding Phase 1b clinical trial of SGT-212 in the second half of 2025. The study will enroll non-ambulatory and ambulatory adult patients living with FA across up to three cohorts and will evaluate the safety and tolerability of contemporaneous systemic and bilateral IDN administration of SGT-212. Participants in the trial will be followed out to five years after receiving SGT-212.

Read the letter from Solid BioSciences to the FA community about this first regulatory filing.

January 21, 2025: Solid Biosciences announced that it has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for SGT-212, the Company’s, AAV-based gene therapy candidate for the treatment of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA).

January 2026: Solid Biosciences announced that the first participant was dosed in the FALCON trial, a first-in-human, open-label Phase 1b study of SGT-212.

This study will enroll multiple cohorts. The first cohort is enrolling non-ambulatory individuals, with a plan to enroll ambulatory individuals in a future cohort. Its primary goal is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of systemic and bilateral intradentate nucleus (IDN) infusion of SGT-212. The company shared additional information about this study in September 2025 webinar and in this corporate presentation.

This study evaluates a novel, first-in-class FA gene therapy approach that uses dual routes of administration comprised of an intradentate nucleus (IDN) infusion, targeting the cerebellar dentate nuclei, followed by an intravenous (IV) infusion. By leveraging this dual-route approach, SGT-212 aims to address the neurologic, cardiac, and systemic manifestations of FA.

HOW DOES THIS TREATMENT WORK?

Gene Therapy for Friedreich’s Ataxia

This brief video serves as an introduction to gene therapy for FA. The aim of this video and accompanying educational resources is to provide information to help individuals and families make informed decisions regarding participation in clinical trials exploring investigational drugs or gene therapy.

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News and Press Releases

News | Feb 9, 2026

The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre Advances Discovery of Therapies for Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA)

Industry News
News | Jan 19, 2026

Solid Biosciences Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for SGT-212 Dual-Route Gene Therapy for the Treatment of Friedreich’s Ataxia

Industry News
News | Jan 12, 2026

Solid Biosciences Doses First Participant in First-in-Class Phase 1b FALCON Trial Evaluating SGT-212 Dual-Route Gene Therapy for the Treatment of Friedreich’s Ataxia

Industry News
News | Dec 1, 2025

Solid Biosciences Receives FDA Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for SGT-212 Dual Route of Administration Gene Therapy for Friedreich's Ataxia

Industry News
News | Sep 15, 2025

Webinar Recording: Solid Biosciences September 2025 Update

FARA News, Industry News
News | Apr 23, 2025

Webinar Recording: Solid Biosciences April 2025 Update

FARA News, Industry News
News | Jan 21, 2025

Solid Biosciences Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for SGT-212 Dual Route of Administration Gene Therapy for Friedreich’s Ataxia

Industry News
News | Jan 7, 2025

Press Release & Community Letter: Solid Biosciences Announces FDA IND Clearance for First-In-Industry Dual Route of Administration Gene Therapy to Treat Both Neurologic and Cardiac Manifestations of Friedreich’s Ataxia

Industry News

Solid Bioscience's SGT-212 Gene Therapy Clinical Trials

Gene Addition
Clinical Trial | Ages 18-40

A Study of SGT-212 Gene Therapy in Friedreich’s Ataxia (FALCON)

Solid Biosciences
Phase 1b | In-person