What is Duchenne?A progressive genetic muscle-wasting disease

The most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) is the most common life-limiting genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood. It is an X-linked disease that is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, which leads to the absence of the dystrophin protein. The disease occurs in approximately one in every 3,500-5,000 boys born and has no ethnic, geographic, racial, or religious boundaries.

Diagnosis usually comes between the ages of three and five due to pronounced muscle weakness. Unable to live normal lives because of progressive and irreversible muscle loss, patients typically lose the ability to walk by their early teens and succumb to respiratory or heart failure in their 30s. There is currently no cure for Duchenne.

Duchenne at a Glance

Male Icon

X-linked disease that primarily affects males

3 5 Years

Diagnosis at 3 – 5 years of age

100 Fatal

Most common fatal genetic disease

30 Plus

One of more than 30 types of muscular dystrophy

One Billion Plus

Economic burden of more than $1Billion a year in the U.S.

No Boundary

No ethnic, geographic, racial or religious boundaries

Patient Mobile Mithun 1 Patient 3 Column Gia 7 Patient 3 Column Mithun 1

No Cure

There is no cure for Duchenne, and there is only one regulatory approved treatment on the market for a subset of patients. Solid recognizes this unmet medical need and is purpose-built to identify and develop the most promising approaches to address these rare genetic diseases.

Stages of Duchenne

Early Phase
Age: Ages of 2 to 7
Physical Manifestation: Delays in early developmental milestones.
Transitional Phase
Age: Ages of 6 to 9
Physical Manifestation: Difficulty walking due to muscle weakness.
Loss of Ambulation
Age: Ages of 10 to 14
Physical Manifestation: Use of power wheelchair on a regular basis. Activities involving the arms, legs or trunk will require assistance.
Adult Stage
Age: Ages 15+
Physical Manifestation: Life-threatening heart and respiratory conditions become more prevalent.
Stages of DuchenneAgePhysical Manifestation
Early PhaseAges of 2 to 7Delays in early developmental milestones.
Transitional PhaseAges of 6 to 9Difficulty walking due to muscle weakness.
Loss of AmbulationAges of 10 to 14Use of power wheelchair on a regular basis. Activities involving the arms, legs or trunk will require assistance.
Adult StageAges 15+Life-threatening heart and respiratory conditions become more prevalent.