Sarepta Therapeutics Announces Call for Applications for the 9th Annual Route 79, The Duchenne Scholarship Program

Key Terms

duchenne muscular dystrophy medical

A rare, inherited condition that progressively weakens muscles, Duchenne muscular dystrophy causes the body’s muscle fibers to break down over time, often leading to severe disability. For investors, it matters because the small, well-defined patient population, high unmet medical need and complex regulatory and pricing dynamics mean successes or failures in clinical trials, approvals, or therapies can have outsized effects on a company’s valuation and future revenue prospects.

precision genetic medicine medical

Precision genetic medicine uses a person’s specific DNA information to design treatments that target the biological cause of their illness rather than treating symptoms broadly. Think of it as a custom-tailored therapy that fits a patient’s genetic blueprint, which can improve effectiveness and reduce side effects. For investors, this approach can mean higher potential returns from premium-priced, narrowly targeted therapies but also greater regulatory, development and reimbursement risk tied to small patient groups and complex diagnostics.

dystrophin medical

Dystrophin is a large protein that acts like a structural support beam inside muscle cells, helping them withstand the stress of repeated use. It matters to investors because loss or shortage of dystrophin causes serious muscle-wasting diseases, so companies developing tests or treatments that restore or replace this protein can change patient outcomes and create significant commercial and regulatory value — but they also face scientific and approval risks.

exons medical

Exons are the segments of a gene that carry the actual instructions used to build a protein; when a cell copies a gene, exons are the parts kept and read like the usable steps in a recipe. For investors, exons matter because they are common targets for drugs, gene therapies and diagnostic tests—changes or errors in exons can drive disease and therefore influence the value, regulatory path and commercial potential of biomedical products.

investigational therapy medical

An investigational therapy is a drug, biological product, or medical treatment that is being tested in clinical trials but has not yet received regulatory approval for general use. Investors track these programs because trial results determine whether the therapy can reach patients and produce revenue; think of it as a prototype being validated — successful trials can boost a company’s value, while failures can sharply lower it.

– Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year will be accepted until May 15, 2026

– Scholarships will be awarded to up to 20 individuals living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and up to five siblings of individuals living with Duchenne

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT), the leader in precision genetic medicine for rare diseases, today announced the official opening of Route 79, The Duchenne Scholarship Program for the 2026-2027 academic year. Academic scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded to as many as 20 individuals living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and five siblings of individuals living with Duchenne.

“Since this program began nine years ago, significant progress has been made in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, opening up new possibilities for individuals living with Duchenne,” said Diane Berry, Ph.D., executive vice president and Chief Global Policy & Advocacy Officer at Sarepta. “The Route 79 Duchenne Scholarship Program honors these opportunities by supporting the educational ambitions of young adults in the Duchenne community. On behalf of Sarepta and the selection committee, we warmly encourage students living with Duchenne—or those who have a sibling with Duchenne—to apply as they pursue their academic dreams for the coming year. The first-hand experiences and unique perspectives of patients and families living with Duchenne bring valuable insights, resilience and determination to their educational journeys. We are excited to meet this year’s applicants and help Route 79 scholars embark on the next chapter of their academic journey.”

Charles Cooley, 2025 recipient of the Route 79 Scholarship, remarked, "Sarepta’s Route 79 Scholarship has enabled me to pursue my love of learning [and] I can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed college this year. I’ve met new friends, attended football games, basketball games and most importantly learned so much in my classes. My world has expanded greatly!"

Charles’ brother, James Cooley, 2025 recipient of the Route 79 sibling scholarship added, “The Route 79 Duchenne Scholarship Program has allowed me the ability to pursue an education at The University of Texas and I am forever grateful for the opportunities the program has provided me.”

To apply for a scholarship through the Route 79 program, applicants must be accepted to or enrolled in an accredited college or university, or a trade, technical or vocational school located in the United States. Only applicants diagnosed with Duchenne or applicants who have a sibling diagnosed with Duchenne are eligible for the program. College seniors or college graduates accepted to or enrolled in graduate school are also eligible to apply. Previous recipients of Route 79 scholarships may apply for the Scholarship Program; however, applicants may only receive a Route 79 scholarship up to four times. The selection of awardees is made by an independent committee, without consideration to and blinded as to whether an applicant was previously, is currently, or expects to be in the future, undergoing treatment with a Sarepta product or investigational therapy.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, May 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Recipients will be notified prior to July 31, 2026, and awards will be distributed directly to the school, college or university in time for fall 2026 enrollment. Students may learn more about the program, application criteria, and how to apply by visiting Sarepta.com/route79.

About Route 79, The Duchenne Scholarship Program

The Route 79 program is designed to help students living with Duchenne and siblings of individuals living with Duchenne pursue their post-secondary educational goals. Scholarship recipients are selected by an independent committee of Duchenne community members based on an applicant’s academic and community involvement, personal essay, and recommendation letter. The underlying cause of Duchenne is a difference in the gene coding for dystrophin. Dystrophin is an essential protein that plays a pivotal role in muscle structure, function and preservation. The numerical significance of the scholarship’s name, Route 79, ties to the 79 exons of the dystrophin gene. For more information, visit sarepta.com/route79.

About Sarepta Therapeutics

Sarepta is on an urgent mission: engineer precision genetic medicine for rare diseases that devastate lives and cut futures short. We hold a leadership position in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) and are building a robust portfolio of programs across muscle, central nervous system, and cardiac diseases.

Internet Posting of Information

We routinely post information that may be important to investors in the 'For Investors' section of our website at www.sarepta.com. We encourage investors and potential investors to consult our website regularly for important information about us.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260227399135/en/

Investor:

Ian Estepan

617-274-4052

iestepan@sarepta.com

Ryan Wong

617-800-4112

rwong@sarepta.com

Media:

Kara Hoeger

617-710-3898

KHoeger@sarepta.com

Source: Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.