SEOUL, South Korea, July 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NovMetaPharma Co., Ltd. (“NovMetaPharma” or “NMP”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops first-in-class drugs with differentiated mechanisms for metabolic disease, today announced a clinical development and licensing collaboration with the FSHD Canada Foundation to advance Cyclo-Z, NMP’s lead oral CLIC1 conformational modulator, as a potential treatment for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).
Under the agreement, the FSHD Canada Foundation will provide funding to support the clinical development of Cyclo-Z in FSHD in exchange for a revenue-sharing interest tied to future FSHD-related proceeds. NovMetaPharma retains ownership of Cyclo-Z and global commercialization rights across all indications. The collaboration provides NovMetaPharma with non-dilutive capital to accelerate Cyclo-Z’s development in a new therapeutic area while aligning the Foundation’s mission with a program directly relevant to the patients it serves.
The FSHD Canada Foundation is among the most committed funders of FSHD research in North America, having consistently and strategically supported natural-history studies, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic development programs over many years in pursuit of a cure. The Foundation’s decision to back Cyclo-Z reflects a rigorous, science-led evaluation of the program’s potential to address the underlying muscle pathology of FSHD.
A muscle-preservation platform with broad therapeutic relevance
Cyclo-Z is a first-in-class, orally administered combination of cyclo-his-pro (CHP) and zinc gluconate that acts as a conformational modulator of chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1). NovMetaPharma is developing Cyclo-Z as a muscle-preserving therapy, including as a potential co-therapy intended to protect lean muscle mass in patients treated with GLP-1–based therapies. The same muscle-preserving biology provides the scientific rationale for evaluating Cyclo-Z in FSHD, a disease defined by progressive skeletal-muscle loss — extending the reach of NovMetaPharma’s platform from large metabolic markets into areas of high unmet need in neuromuscular disease.
FSHD is one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy, affecting both adults and children, and is characterized by progressive weakening and wasting of skeletal muscle. There is currently no approved disease-modifying therapy for FSHD, leaving a significant unmet need for treatments that can slow, halt, or reverse muscle loss.
Sunwook Hwang, CEO of NovMetaPharma, said: “We are honored and delighted to be partnering with FSHD Canada. It is thanks to the years of dedication that Neil Camarta and FSHD Canada have devoted to screening compounds that we are now able to enter clinical trials together, with muscle regeneration in FSHD as our shared objective. We believe this represents a meaningful step forward for patients and their families. NovMetaPharma is fully committed to advancing a successful trial so that a path to treatment can be opened for the FSHD community as soon as possible. To that end, we will continue to work closely with FSHD Canada, as well as with Solve FSHD, the FSHD Society, FSHD Global, and all of our partner organizations and the relevant authorities, in order to reach patients without delay.”
Neil Camarta, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, FSHD Canada Foundation stated, “FSHD patients, like me, are keen to find a cure to stop our muscles from getting weaker. But we would also like to get our muscles back. FSHD Canada has spent the past couple of years screening compounds to do just that. With this announcement from NovMetaPharma we are now moving into clinical trials for muscle regeneration in FSHD. That is a big step! I am looking forward to the successful outcome of this trial – and in NovMeta making their therapy available to FSHD patients as soon as possible. Time is muscle! FSHD Canada appreciates all the support we received from our friends at Solve FSHD, the FSHD Society, and FSHD Global to make this happen.”
Link to the full media release: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/06/3322316/0/en/novmetapharma-and-the-fshd-canada-foundation-establish-collaboration-to-advance-cyclo-z-a-first-in-class-oral-muscle-preserving-therapy-into-facioscapulohumeral-muscular-dystrophy.html