Satellos Bioscience Names Renowned Neuromuscular Expert Dr. Wildon Farwell as Chief Medical Officer to Advance Duchenne Therapy
Satellos Bioscience Inc. (TSX: MSCL, OTCQB: MSCLF), a biotechnology company pioneering small molecule therapies to treat muscle diseases, has appointed Dr. Wildon Farwell, M.D., MPH, as its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). The leadership transition comes at a crucial moment for Satellos as it prepares to initiate a global Phase 2 clinical trial of its lead candidate, SAT-3247, aimed at treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
Dr. Farwell joins Satellos following an impactful tenure at Dyne Therapeutics (Nasdaq: DYN), where he served as Chief Medical Officer and subsequently as a medical advisor. His appointment signals a strategic push by Satellos to solidify its clinical leadership as it moves from early development to later-stage trials in rare muscle diseases.
A Visionary Leader in Neuromuscular Disease Development
Dr. Farwell brings over two decades of experience spanning clinical medicine, academic research, and biotech drug development. At Dyne Therapeutics, he played a critical role in shaping the clinical development strategy and building the infrastructure necessary to advance experimental therapies through the regulatory pipeline. He led the design and regulatory submission process for both DMD and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) programs and oversaw the execution of multiple potentially registrational studies, establishing Dyne as a serious player in the rare disease space.
“Dr. Farwell is a world-class physician-leader with a depth of experience in neuromuscular disease that few can match,” said Frank Gleeson, co-founder and CEO of Satellos. “He has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to turn scientific innovations into approved, life-changing therapies. His leadership will be vital as we advance SAT-3247 into a global, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial targeting children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.”
Before his time at Dyne, Dr. Farwell held increasingly senior roles at Biogen, culminating in his appointment as Vice President of Late-Stage Clinical Development and Global Medical Head of Neuromuscular Diseases. At Biogen, he led the lifecycle management of SPINRAZA®, the first FDA-approved therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), setting a precedent for innovation in rare neuromuscular disorders. He also spearheaded the late-stage development of QALSODY®, an investigational therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and was instrumental in designing biomarker strategies and managing pharmacovigilance programs across the neurology pipeline.
His industry achievements are grounded in a strong foundation in academic medicine. Dr. Farwell previously served as an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and practiced at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the VA Boston Healthcare System. He holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Missouri and a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Clinical Effectiveness from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
A Critical Juncture for Satellos
Satellos is advancing a novel approach to muscle regeneration that departs from traditional DMD therapies focused solely on dystrophin replacement. The company’s lead candidate, SAT-3247, is designed to stimulate muscle stem cell activity, addressing the root pathology of muscle degeneration. The therapy is expected to enter a global Phase 2 clinical trial in pediatric DMD patients—a move that places Satellos firmly in the spotlight of rare disease innovation.
Dr. Farwell expressed his enthusiasm for the company’s mission and potential. “I’m honored to join Satellos at such a pivotal point in its growth,” he said. “Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to help deliver transformative therapies for people living with devastating neuromuscular conditions. Satellos’ novel approach to muscle regeneration represents the next frontier, and I’m excited to help bring SAT-3247 through clinical development and into the hands of patients who need it.”
His arrival comes as Satellos prepares to broaden its impact in the DMD space. Unlike traditional genetic or exon-skipping therapies that are mutation-specific, Satellos’ regenerative platform could have pan-mutational applicability, potentially reaching the full DMD population and other muscle-wasting disorders. That scalability makes the upcoming Phase 2 trial a bellwether not just for SAT-3247 but for a new therapeutic paradigm in muscle disease.
A Thoughtful Leadership Transition
Dr. Farwell succeeds Dr. Jordan Dubow, who had served as Satellos’ part-time Chief Medical Officer since January 2024. During his tenure, Dr. Dubow helped guide early clinical planning and provided foundational input as Satellos transitioned from preclinical to clinical-stage operations. He will continue to support the company in a strategic advisory capacity as a consultant and chair of its Clinical Advisory Board.
“We are immensely grateful to Dr. Dubow for his contributions to Satellos over the past year,” Gleeson said. “His continued involvement as Chair of our Clinical Advisory Board will ensure continuity and strategic oversight as we move forward into Phase 2.”
Positioning for Global Clinical Execution
With Dr. Farwell on board, Satellos is poised to elevate its clinical development capabilities to a global level. His background in designing and executing large, international trials will be instrumental in establishing SAT-3247’s clinical credibility and regulatory momentum. His track record with health authorities — including the FDA, EMA, and other regulatory bodies — positions Satellos to navigate the complex landscape of clinical trial design and global compliance with confidence.
Moreover, Dr. Farwell’s experience in capital markets and investor engagement will help reinforce Satellos’ value proposition among stakeholders. While at Dyne, he played an important role in communicating the clinical vision to investors, contributing to several successful capital raises.
Satellos’ upcoming Phase 2 trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of SAT-3247 in boys with DMD. The study will be conducted across multiple geographies and is expected to generate key data that will shape the path toward regulatory approval. If successful, SAT-3247 could offer a mutation-agnostic therapy capable of improving muscle regeneration across the spectrum of DMD mutations — a game-changing prospect for a community urgently seeking broader treatment options.
Charting the Future of Muscle Regeneration
Satellos’ broader mission is to pioneer a new class of therapies that harness the body’s innate muscle regeneration mechanisms. The company’s proprietary platform targets the dysregulated behavior of muscle stem cells, which fail to properly repair and regenerate muscle in diseases like DMD. By correcting this stem cell dysfunction, Satellos hopes to offer therapies that not only slow disease progression but also restore functional muscle.
Dr. Farwell’s arrival signals that the company is serious about realizing this vision. His combination of clinical insight, regulatory acumen, and leadership experience uniquely equips him to guide Satellos through this next chapter.
As Satellos prepares for its most ambitious clinical initiative to date, the appointment of Dr. Farwell represents both a vote of confidence in the company’s scientific direction and a step forward in its commitment to changing the future for people living with devastating muscle diseases.
About Satellos Bioscience Inc.
Satellos is a biotechnology company focused on developing small molecule therapeutics that stimulate muscle regeneration by modulating muscle stem cell behavior. The company’s lead program, SAT-3247, is in development for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), with potential applications across a range of muscle-wasting conditions. Satellos is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
