In many aggressive cancers, a sugar-chain (glycan) called matriglycan is suppressed, enabling uncontrolled proliferation and enhanced migration—two critical factors in cancer metastasis. Meanwhile, over twenty types of muscular dystrophy (MD) lead to the loss of matriglycan in muscles and the nervous system, resulting in progressive muscle weakness and a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe.

These diseases affect millions of individuals worldwide, with countless patients succumbing to these conditions due to the lack of effective treatments—underscoring an urgent need for innovative solutions.

Scientists have discovered that restoring or enhancing matriglycan could inhibit cancer metastasis while strengthening muscles in muscular dystrophy patients. These findings mark the beginning of a promising new therapeutic approach with the potential to benefit individuals affected by both cancer and muscle disorders.

However, restoring and enhancing matriglycan presents a significant challenge, requiring navigation through a highly intricate, multi-step process regulated by hundreds of genes and multiple biological systems (see the illustration above). Scientists at Mannan have identified small compounds capable of restoring and dramatically enhancing matriglycan across various cell lines, including patient-derived cells, successfully overcoming major obstacles.

This groundbreaking discovery has the potential to revolutionize treatment strategies for metastatic cancer and muscular dystrophy, impacting millions of lives.