Montpellier, France – KONDREE and its academic partners announce a major, clinically validated therapeutic breakthrough to improve the quality of life for patients with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and slow the progression of the disease.
The French Deep Tech company Kondree, in partnership with the University of Montpellier, Montpellier University Hospital (CHU), CNRS, INSERM, and SATT AxLR, today announced the publication of highly anticipated clinical results in the prestigious scientific journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine.
This longitudinal real-world study (NCT02622438, April 2015 to June 2024) validates the
effectiveness of a personalized antioxidant therapy tailored to each patient’s needs.
This work demonstrates a significant improvement in muscle strength and specific functional parameters associated with the quality of life in patients suffering from
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD).
The Culmination of 20 Years of Academic Research
• Prevalence: FSHD is one of the most common muscular dystrophies in Europe, affecting approximately 870,000 patients worldwide.
• Symptoms: It is characterized by progressive muscle weakness primarily affecting the face, shoulders, and upper limbs, which can later extend to the leg muscles.
• Current Status: To date, no curative treatment is available, and therapeutic options to modify the disease’s progression remain limited.
The research published today is the result of over twenty years of work led by Team No. 5 under Prof. Dalila Laoudj-Chenivesse within the PhyMedExp unit (University of Montpellier / INSERM / CNRS), supported by the Clinical Department of Prof. J. Mercier at the Montpellier University Hospital. These two decades of research accurately characterized oxidative stress parameters in FSHD, proving it to be the central driver of muscle degeneration, trapping the muscle in a toxic “vicious circle”.
A Major Innovation: The Personalized Medicine Approach
To correct this imbalance, researchers developed a method for personalized antioxidant supplementation, combining vitamins C and E with trace elements (zinc, copper, selenium).
• Biological Profiling: A blood test determines the patient’s specific needs through their biological profile.
• Algorithmic Strategy: This profile is entered into medical software that adapts the therapeutic strategy from over 9,000 possible combinations.
• Continuous Adjustment: Doses are individualized and regularly adjusted to follow the patient’s evolution.
• Safety: This approach aims to restore muscle antioxidant defenses while limiting the risks associated with uncontrolled supplementation.
This unique expertise underwent a maturation program supported by SATT AxLR before being transferred under an exclusive license to Kondree.
Clinical Results: Transforming Daily Life
The “PERSPECTYV FSHD” longitudinal study, conducted at the Montpellier University
Hospital, evaluated this therapy on a cohort of over 100 patients in “real-world” conditions—meaning within their ordinary daily lives. The published data highlights spectacular clinical benefits:
• Major Strength Gains: Among responding patients (the vast majority of those tested), quadriceps muscle strength—essential for walking—increased by an average of 29% (+4.9kg) in the dominant muscle and 34% (+5.6kg) in the non-dominant muscle after 3 years of therapy. (Gains were +24.5% and +28% respectively after 1 year).
• Upper Limb Functional Improvement: Strength gains were accompanied by an improved Brooke Upper Extremity Scale score, which evaluates the ability to use arms for daily tasks. This suggests a concrete functional impact on patient autonomy.
• Improved Quality of Life (QoL): Many patients reported an increase in physical activity, including sports, as well as improved vitality and participation in daily activities.
• Continuous Therapy: Conversely, stopping the personalized therapy leads to a progressive loss of the observed benefits, emphasizing the importance of continuous therapeutic follow-up.
Results suggest that younger patients and those whose muscle strength is still relatively preserved respond best, highlighting the importance of early and personalized intervention.
Toward a New International Standard of Care
These historic results open a new era for FSHD management. To structure the deployment of this breakthrough therapy and make it accessible to as many people as possible, the French company Kondree is undergoing rapid expansion. The company recently completed a fundraising round of over 1.6 million euros to support its growth. While intermediate tools are already available to meet urgent patient needs, Kondree is actively developing a CE-marked digital medical device and associated orphan drugs.
“After more than twenty years of research, these results suggest that a strategy targeting
oxidative stress improves muscle function in FSHD patients. The personalized approach
is essential to adapt the treatment to each patient’s unique biology.” — Prof. Dalila
Laoudj-Chenivesse, PhyMedExp unit.
“Behind these exceptional clinical results are lives changing—patients reclaiming daily
movements and regaining hope. Our mission is now to accelerate the international
deployment of this antioxidant therapy to offer every affected family a concrete solution
to preserve their autonomy.” — Claire Lefranc, CEO of Kondree.
About Kondree
Kondree is a Deep Tech company born from a technology transfer by the PhyMedExp unit and accelerated by the BIC of Montpellier. The company specializes in managing pathological oxidative stress. Supported by SATT AxLR, its mission is to industrialize and globally deploy personalized therapeutic solutions for neuromuscular diseases.
Learn more at https://kondree.com/.
About SATT AxLR:
SATT AxLR is a technology transfer acceleration company. It specializes in the maturation and commercialization of innovative projects originating from public research. It works with the majority of public research laboratories located in East Occitanie, one of the most dynamic French and European regions, featuring nearly 200 laboratories and approximately 11,000 researchers and research staff. Since its inception, SATT AxLR has funded over 200 innovation programs, invested more than €80M, signed over 220 transfer contracts to companies, and supported 150 startups.
Learn more at www.axlr.com.
About the University of Montpellier
With its 17 faculties, schools, and institutes, 82 research structures, and 4 technological platforms, the University of Montpellier (UM) brings together a vast community of knowledge: sciences, technologies, physical and sports activities, medicine, pharmacy, law, political science, economics, and management. With over 52,000 students and 5,000 staff members, it is currently among the largest French universities. UM enjoys international recognition for excellence in its training, research, and innovation capacity across a wide range of scientific fields related to major societal challenges, primarily food security, environmental protection, and human health. As a responsible university, UM is particularly committed to gender equality, the fight against all forms of discrimination, scientific integrity, and science-society relations, as well as environmental issues.
About the Montpellier University Hospital (CHU)
The Montpellier University Hospital is a major player in health innovation, driven by its three fundamental missions: care, education, and innovation through research. As the leading employer in East Occitanie, it brings together nearly 12,000 professionals committed daily to imagining and building the medicine of tomorrow. Thanks to a strong culture of innovation, the CHU stands out for its dynamic clinical research, high level of scientific production, and solid partnerships with the University of Montpellier, research centers, and healthcare
companies. This synergy accelerates the emergence of new therapeutic approaches,
cutting-edge medical technologies, and ambitious clinical trials. Its 14 hospital-university departments offer a unique testing ground, with 622,700 consultations, 265,000 hospitalizations, 135,000 emergency room visits, 3,900 births, and 459 transplants annually—each an opportunity to transform innovation into concrete progress for patients. Committed to social and environmental responsibility, the CHU works alongside its partners to promote global health, reduce its carbon footprint, and combat social health inequalities. Its actions are rooted in the values of Humanity, Equality, Solidarity, and Responsibility.
• Key Figures – Research & Innovation:
6th national rank for number of publications (1,400 scientific publications).
5th national rank for patient inclusion in clinical trials (5,865 inclusions).
1,664 ongoing research protocols.
Kondree Press Contact
Christopher-Georges Lemesle, COO
+33 6 84 25 62 62
SATT AxLR Press Contact
Laurent BIASETTI
+33 6 15 33 01 57
University of Montpellier Press Contact
Nathan Roure
+33 6 99 39 99 27
Montpellier University Hospital (CHU) Press Contact
Louise POTREL
+33 6 71 60 72 62 – +33 6 65 84 98 01