Leksum LLC, an early-stage life sciences company based in Boston, Massachusetts, announced on October 13, 2026, that it has signed an agreement with the Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna. The agreement covers preparatory work leading up to Phase I/II first-in-human clinical trials for LK-ICU, the company’s lead biologic candidate for acquired muscle myopathies. Phoenestra GmbH is a co-signatory to the agreement.
LK-ICU consists of extracellular vesicles derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells. Preclinical studies indicate that the therapy results in an almost complete preservation of both diaphragm muscle fiber size and function, which are normally compromised by the use of mechanical ventilation. This is significant because extended weaning from mechanical ventilation, often caused by ICU-acquired weakness, is estimated to impact the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of patients annually in the United States and Europe.
The announcement matters because it marks a critical step toward testing a potential treatment for a condition that currently has no approved therapies. ICU-acquired weakness and diaphragm dysfunction are common complications of prolonged mechanical ventilation, leading to longer hospital stays, increased mortality, and long-term disability. By preserving diaphragm muscle fiber size and function, LK-ICU could potentially shorten weaning times and improve recovery for critically ill patients. The agreement with a leading European academic medical center lends scientific credibility and provides access to a patient population for early-stage trials. For a full announcement, including downloadable images, bios, and more, click here.
Leksum plans to start efforts under the agreement upon closing its Series A financing round. The planning phase is expected to last several months, and the company intends to use European clinical data to support its U.S. regulatory path. Beyond LK-ICU, Leksum‘s pipeline includes therapies for skeletal muscle conditions such as sarcopenia, cancer cachexia, and muscle loss due to the use of weight-loss drugs, also known as GLP-1s. If successful, the Vienna agreement could accelerate the development of a novel class of biologics targeting muscle wasting, a condition that affects millions worldwide and represents a significant unmet medical need.
