Synthena

Synthena was a German biotechnology company specializing in the development of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Founded as a spin-off from the University of Münster, the company focused on targeting the Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) protein to treat a specific genetic form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Synthena's research emphasized the design of oligonucleotides capable of effectively modulating RNA targets within the central nervous system. In January 2019, the company was acquired by Dyne Therapeutics, providing the foundation for Dyne's CNS-focused programs. The integration of Synthena's expertise allowed Dyne to expand its FORCE platform to address rare neurological disorders.