Alexandra Collin de l’Hortet, Ph.D., is vice president of therapeutics at Epicrispr Biotechnologies and a rising leader in the field of genetic medicine. Trained in regenerative medicine, she transitioned from academia into biotech with a focus on translating cutting-edge science into therapies for patients with high unmet need.
Since joining Epicrispr in 2020 as one of its earliest executive hires, Collin de l’Hortet has built the company’s therapeutics pipeline and research and development organization. She has been the driving force behind EPI-321, an epigenetic therapy for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Under Collin de l’Hortet’s leadership, Epicrispr achieved the first FDA investigational new drug (IND) clearance for an epigenetic therapy, a landmark milestone that validated the company’s differentiated platform and created a regulatory pathway for an entirely new class of medicines. EPI-321 also received orphan drug, fast track and rare pediatric disease designations and recently initiated first-in-human trials in the U.S., New Zealand and Australia.
Collin de l’Hortet has been instrumental in shaping Epicrispr’s therapeutic strategy around its Gene Expression Modulation System platform, which can precisely and durably regulate any gene without cutting DNA. This platform approach, designed to treat previously untreatable diseases, positions Epicrispr as the leader in epigenetic editing and enables expansion into multiple high-value indications.
Known for her calm decisiveness, collaborative leadership and patient-first philosophy, Collin de l’Hortet has built and mentored a high-functioning team while contributing to the company’s $68 million Series B close in March. By pioneering epigenetic therapies and guiding Epicrispr into the clinic, she is redefining what’s possible in genetic medicine and shaping the future of this emerging field.