Ernest D. Bush

Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. manufactures pharmaceutical drugs. Its products include influenza fighter Tamiflu, controversial acne medication Accutane, HIV inhibitor Fuzeon, obesity drug Xenical, and hepatitis C therapy Pegasys. The company was founded in 1896 Roche and is headquartered in Nutley, NJ.

Akashi Therapeutics Inc is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, MA with subsidiaries in the United States. The private company has been granted orphan designation for DMD in both the US and Europe. The American company's mission is to develop treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other rare pediatric diseases. Akashi is developing a cocktail of medications with the goal of transforming Duchenne from a 100% fatal, aggressive muscle-wasting disease to a chronic, manageable condition. The application of HT-100 to DMD and other fibrotic diseases is based on pioneering work by Dr. Mark Pines at the Volcani Institute. Dosing and new patient enrollment in the phase 1b/2a clinical program have been suspended. The company was founded by leading patient organizations and biotechnology industry veterans and is managed by a seasoned team of drug development experts. The company was founded by Marc B. Blaustein, Thomas C. Wicka.