Post by Berkeley SkyDeck

🧬 Two FDA approvals. One remarkable scientist. Congratulations to SkyDeck bio advisor and University of California, Berkeley Molecular Therapeutics Initiative Executive Director, Julia Schaletzky, on the FDA approval of Myqorzo (aficamten) — her second FDA-approved therapy. Julia led the discovery program, identified the original parent compound, and co-led preclinical development all the way through human clinical trials. The result: a first-of-its-kind treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) that targets the root cause of the disease — not just the symptoms — by directly modulating cardiac myosin to reduce excessive heart muscle contraction. Until a few years ago, HCM had no mechanism-based treatment options. Now it does. 🙌 From molecular insight to meaningful patient impact and startup advice. We're proud to have Julia in the SkyDeck community and thrilled to spotlight her as our very first SkyDeck Advisor & Mentor feature. We're proud to highlight the people who power our ecosystem.