sevasemten (Servier)

Sevasemten (EDG-5506) is an orally bioavailable, small-molecule, selective allosteric inhibitor of fast skeletal muscle myosin. It specifically targets fast-twitch skeletal muscle myosin heavy chains (MYH1, MYH2, and MYH4) as well as embryonic (MYH3) and perinatal (MYH8) isoforms. Originally developed by Edgewise Therapeutics and acquired by Servier in July 2026, sevasemten is designed to protect dystrophin-deficient muscle fibers from contraction-induced mechanical damage, membrane leakage, and progressive degeneration. By selectively limiting hypercontraction stress in susceptible fast-twitch fibers without affecting slow skeletal, smooth, or cardiac muscle, sevasemten aims to preserve muscle function and reduce muscle damage biomarkers (such as creatine kinase and fast skeletal troponin I) in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). It is currently in Phase 2 clinical development for BMD, DMD, McArdle disease (glycogen storage disease type V), and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy.