Epicrispr Biotechnologies Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2026

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#FCMostInnovative--Epicrispr Biotechnologies, a clinical-stage company pioneering gene-modulating therapies, is proud to have been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2026, ranking among the top companies in the Biotech category. This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations. Alongside the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company recognizes 720 honorees across 59 sectors and regions.

“We are honored to be recognized by Fast Company as one of the world’s most innovative companies,” said Amber Salzman, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Epicrispr Biotechnologies. “At Epicrispr, our focus is on unlocking the full potential of gene regulation to treat diseases that have long been considered untreatable. This recognition reflects the strength of our platform and the urgency of delivering transformative therapies to patients with neuromuscular diseases such as FSHD.”

FSHD, or facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, is a progressive genetic muscle disorder that affects approximately 1 in 8,000 individuals worldwide, leading to skeletal muscle degeneration and severe loss of function. There are currently no approved disease-modifying therapies for FSHD.

Epicrispr’s lead candidate, EPI-321, is the first and only epigenetic editing therapy to receive IND authorization within the U.S. and is currently being evaluated in a first-in-human Phase 1/2 trial in the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia. EPI-321 has received FDA Fast Track Designation, Orphan Drug Designation, and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for FSHD. Designed to suppress pathogenic gene activity without cutting DNA, EPI-321 targets the root cause of FSHD and has the potential to be a one-time, disease-modifying, curative therapy for this progressive neuromuscular condition affecting more than one million people globally.

To date, eight participants have been dosed, with early data showing favorable improvements across surrogate biomarkers and functional measures, with no serious adverse events reported. While clinical data is preliminary, there is compelling evidence of patients gaining muscle strength, increasing speed in various timed assessments, and gains in muscle mass.

The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s trademark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To determine honorees, Fast Company’s editors and writers review companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. The result is a globe-spanning guide to innovation today, from early-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world.

“Our list of the Most Innovative Companies is about spotlighting organizations that don’t just adapt to change—they drive it,” said Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “The companies we honor this year are redefining what leadership looks like in 2026, pairing bold ideas with measurable impact and turning breakthrough innovation into real-world value. They are setting the pace for their industries and offering a blueprint for what sustained innovation can achieve.”

The full list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies honorees can now be found at fastcompany.com. It will also be available on newsstands beginning March 31, 2026.

About Epicrispr Biotechnologies

Epicrispr Biotechnologies is a biotechnology company pioneering gene-modulating therapies, leading with treatments for neuromuscular diseases. The company’s proprietary Gene Expression Modulation System (GEMS) enables precise and durable control of gene expression, unlocking first-in-class treatments for previously untreatable conditions. Epicrispr’s lead program, EPI-321 is in clinical trials for FSHD, and the company is advancing additional gene-modulating therapies. Learn more at www.epicrispr.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Investor
Benson Cheng
benson.cheng@epic-bio.com

Media
Kimberly Ha
KKH Advisors
917-291-5744
kimberly.ha@kkhadvisors.com