AIRNA is pioneering the discovery and development of RNA editing therapeutics to transform the lives of patients with rare and common diseases. RNA editing is poised to lead the next generation of RNA therapeutics by targeting diseases not accessible through other approaches with a medicine that can be conveniently re-dosed and manufactured. Our RESTORE+™ platform is based on groundbreaking research by academic co-founders Thorsten Stafforst (University of Tübingen) and Jin Billy Li (Stanford University), who were the first to elucidate a therapeutic approach for precise editing of RNA.
AIRNA is advancing its first therapeutic program, a best-in-class product candidate to treat the inherited genetic disease alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), as well as a pipeline of therapeutic candidates to address multiple diseases with high unmet need. AIRNA has headquarters in Cambridge, MA, with research operations in Tübingen, Germany.
The financing was led by Forbion with participation from Ono Venture Investment, Alexandria Venture Investments, and other new investors, as well as AIRNA’s existing syndicate, including ARCH Venture Partners and ND Capital. The proceeds from the Series A financing will be used to advance AIRNA’s lead product candidate into clinical trials and further develop AIRNA’s broad pipeline.
“This Series A financing brings together a distinctive syndicate of investors to support AIRNA’s vision of transforming lives by realizing the therapeutic potential of base editing for the masses,” said Kris Elverum, President and Chief Executive Officer of AIRNA. “We are focused on bringing our first drug candidate to the clinic next year, and advancing our platform to unlock targets that are inaccessible by other modalities.”.
Read the full announcement here.
