Duchenne UK

What they do

Duchenne UK is the leading DMD charity in the UK, founded by two mothers, Emily Reuben and Alex Johnson, who were frustrated by the slow pace of drug development. Unlike traditional charities that primarily issue non-repayable grants, Duchenne UK adopts a "smart charity" model, making strategic investments in biotech startups and academic projects with commercial potential. They are known for de-risking early-stage assets to make them attractive to larger pharmaceutical companies and VCs. Beyond capital, they have built critical ecosystem infrastructure, including the DMD Hub and Project HERCULES, positioning them as a central power broker in the DMD drug development landscape.

What they look for

The firm’s singular goal is to "End Duchenne" by accelerating the development of treatments and ensuring they reach patients. They invest in projects that address the underlying causes of DMD (e.g., gene therapy, exon skipping) as well as treatments for symptoms (e.g., fibrosis, muscle wasting).

Stage

Pre-seed, Seed, Series A

Sectors

Healthcare

Based

London, GB