What Avidity Biosciences does

Avidity Biosciences was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California, founded in 2012 to develop a new class of RNA therapeutics using its proprietary Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOC) platform. The platform combines the cell-type specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies to enable targeted delivery of RNA payloads into muscle tissue, a capability not previously demonstrated in clinical development. The company advanced three clinical-stage programs targeting rare genetic muscle diseases with no or limited approved disease-modifying treatments: delpacibart etedesiran (del-desiran) for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) in Phase 3, delpacibart braxlosiran (del-brax) for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) in Phase 1/2, and delpacibart zotadirsen (del-zota) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy mutations amenable to exon 44 skipping in Phase 2.

The company's go-to-market motion during its independent existence was research-driven rather than commercial, relying on peer-reviewed publications (including The New England Journal of Medicine), medical conference presentations, patient advocacy engagement, and medical science liaisons. Distribution of investigational therapies occurred exclusively through global clinical trials (HARBOR, FORTITUDE, EXPLORE44) and a US Managed Access Program administered with Clinigen Group. Avidity raised over $1.7 billion in capital across multiple public offerings and private placements between 2022 and 2026 to fund clinical development, regulatory preparation, and pre-commercial infrastructure.

On February 27, 2026, Novartis AG completed its acquisition of Avidity for approximately $12 billion at $72.00 per share in cash, making Avidity an indirect wholly owned subsidiary. Prior to closing, Avidity spun off its early-stage precision cardiology programs into Atrium Therapeutics, which launched as an independent public company with approximately $270 million in cash. Following the acquisition, Avidity's commercial trajectory will be executed through Novartis's global pharmaceutical sales infrastructure, with the parent projecting combined peak annual sales of $5-9 billion from the acquired rare disease assets by the early 2030s.

Name

Avidity Biosciences

Legal name

Avidity Biosciences, Inc.

Website

https://aviditybiosciences.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Avidity Biosciences was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing RNA therapeutics for rare muscle diseases using its proprietary Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates platform, serving patients with DM1, FSHD, and DMD. Acquired by Novartis AG in February 2026 for approximately $12 billion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rare Disease RNA Therapeutics

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

RNA Therapeutics Clinical Development (trial design, endpoints, patient stratification) (HLAAADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

RNA Chemistry & Oligonucleotide Engineering (backbones, modifications, stereochemistry) (HLAAADAE), Gene Therapy for Rare/Monogenic Diseases (HLAAACAE), RNA Therapeutics Regulatory, Quality & Pharmacovigilance (GxP, comparability, post-market) (HLAAADAJ)

Keywords

• RNA therapeutics
• Rare muscle diseases
• Oligonucleotide conjugates
• Neuromuscular disorder treatments
• Biopharmaceutical drug development

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. RNA Therapeutic Development and Commercialization: Pre-commercial stage company developing RNA therapeutics for rare muscle diseases. Revenue will be generated through product sales following regulatory approval. The company has raised over $1.7 billion in capital through multiple public and private offerings before being acquired by Novartis for $12 billion in February 2026.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Avidity Biosciences develops investigational RNA therapeutics for rare muscle diseases using its proprietary Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOC) platform, which combines monoclonal antibody specificity with oligonucleotide precision to deliver RNA payloads to muscle tissue. The clinical pipeline includes three drug candidates: delpacibart etedesiran (del-desiran) for myotonic dystrophy type 1, delpacibart braxlosiran (del-brax) for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, and delpacibart zotadirsen (del-zota) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy amenable to exon 44 skipping.

Product overview

Avidity Biosciences is delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics through its proprietary Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOC) platform, which combines the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies. The company's clinical development portfolio includes three AOC programs for rare muscle diseases: delpacibart etedesiran (del-desiran) for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) currently in Phase 3 HARBOR trial; delpacibart braxlosiran (del-brax) for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) in Phase 1/2 FORTITUDE trial; and delpacibart zotadirsen (del-zota) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) exon 44 skipping in Phase 2 EXPLORE44-OLE study. The company was acquired by Novartis AG in February 2026 for approximately $12 billion, with its early-stage precision cardiology programs spun off into Atrium Therapeutics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Delpacibart etedesiran (del-desiran, AOC 1001) Investigational lead product candidate using the AOC platform for the treatment of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Designed to reduce DMPK mRNA and improve myotonia, muscle strength, mobility, and patient-reported outcomes. Currently in the global Phase 3 HARBOR trial with positive MARINA Phase 1/2 results published in The New England Journal of Medicine demonstrating approximately 40% mean reduction in DMPK mRNA.
• Delpacibart braxlosiran (del-brax, AOC 1020) Investigational AOC designed to treat facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) by targeting DUX4 gene expression. The FORTITUDE Phase 1/2 trial met its primary endpoint with reduction in KHDC1 plasma concentration and showed reduction in creatine kinase biomarker levels.
• Delpacibart zotadirsen (del-zota, AOC 1044) Investigational AOC designed for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) mutations amenable to exon 44 skipping. Demonstrated statistically significant increases in exon skipping and dystrophin levels in the Phase 1/2 EXPLORE44 study. First of multiple AOCs in development for DMD.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~40% mean reduction in DMPK mRNA with delpacibart etedesiran
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Atrium TherapeuticsminorOthers · 27 February 2026Atrium Therapeutics was spun off from Avidity Biosciences in connection with the Novartis acquisition in February 2026. The company launched as an independent publicly traded entity focused on RNA therapeutics for rare genetic cardiomyopathies, taking on Avidity's early-stage precision cardiology programs and the RNA ticker symbol. Atrium launched with approximately $270 million in cash.
• Bristol Myers SquibbminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBristol Myers Squibb collaboration with Atrium Therapeutics (spun off from Avidity) generated a $15 million milestone payment in Q1 2026, driving collaboration revenue to $19.6 million for the quarter.
• Clinigen GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClinigen Group serves as the MAP coordinator for Avidity's investigational therapy delpacibart zotadirsen (del-zota) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients amenable to exon 44 skipping in the United States. Requests for information on the DMD44 Managed Access Program are directed to [email protected].

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dyne Therapeutics: Dyne Therapeutics is the closest direct peer to Avidity, developing antibody-conjugated oligonucleotides (FORCE platform) for muscle diseases including DM1, FSHD, and DMD. Both companies pursue targeted RNA delivery to muscle tissue using antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate chemistry, with overlapping clinical programs and competitive readouts.
• Sarepta Therapeutics: Sarepta is the established leader in DMD therapeutics, with approved exon-skipping PMOs (eteplirsen, golodirsen, casimersen) and ELEVIDYS gene therapy. It is a direct competitor in the DMD44 patient population that del-zota targets and in adjacent muscle-disease indications.

Emerging players

• PepGen: PepGen develops enhanced delivery oligonucleotides (EDOs) for neuromuscular diseases including DM1 and DMD. Its cell-penetrating peptide conjugates compete with Avidity's antibody conjugates for the same tissue-targeting problem in muscle.
• Wave Life Sciences: Wave Life Sciences develops stereopure oligonucleotide therapeutics (PRISM platform) with programs in DM1, DMD, and Huntington's disease. It competes in the same oligonucleotide therapeutic modality as Avidity's AOC payload chemistry.
• Solid Biosciences: Solid Biosciences develops gene therapies and oligonucleotide approaches for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases. It overlaps with Avidity's DMD44 program via a different delivery modality (AAV gene therapy).

Broad incumbents

• Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Ionis is the pioneer and largest antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) company, with deep oligonucleotide chemistry expertise and a broad pipeline across neuromuscular, neurological, and metabolic diseases. Its oligonucleotide platform overlaps with Avidity's payload chemistry while lacking Avidity's antibody-targeting layer.
• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Alnylam is the leading RNAi therapeutics company with approved siRNA products (Onpattro, Givlaari, Oxlumo, Amvuttra). While it uses a different RNA modality (siRNA vs. AOC), it shares the rare-disease commercial model and oligonucleotide-based therapeutic paradigm with Avidity.
• BioMarin Pharmaceutical: BioMarin is an established rare-disease biopharma with multiple approved enzyme replacement and gene therapies. It provides a comparable commercial model for orphan neuromuscular and rare-disease launches that Avidity/Novartis will pursue with del-desiran, del-brax, and del-zota.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/avidity-biosciences-llc
• Xx.com/aviditybio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors25 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Avidity Biosciences