 |
Top 10 mRNA startups
Updated: April 19, 2024 |
These startups develop microRNA and messengerRNA therapies (that regulate gene expression in human cells).
1
Country: USA | Funding: $3B
At Moderna, we are pioneering the development of a new class of drugs made of messenger RNA (mRNA). This novel drug platform builds on the discovery that modified mRNA can direct the body’s cellular machinery to produce nearly any protein of interest, from native proteins to antibodies and other entirely novel protein constructs that can have therapeutic activity inside and outside of cells.
At Moderna, we are pioneering the development of a new class of drugs made of messenger RNA (mRNA). This novel drug platform builds on the discovery that modified mRNA can direct the body’s cellular machinery to produce nearly any protein of interest, from native proteins to antibodies and other entirely novel protein constructs that can have therapeutic activity inside and outside of cells.
2
Country: Germany | Funding: $2.1B
CureVac is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the prophylactic and therapeutic application of messenger RNA.
CureVac is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the prophylactic and therapeutic application of messenger RNA.
3
Country: Germany | Funding: $1.7B
We are developing the next generation of personalized immunotherapies to help revolutionize the treatment of people with cancer and other debilitating diseases.
We are developing the next generation of personalized immunotherapies to help revolutionize the treatment of people with cancer and other debilitating diseases.
4
Country: China | Funding: $1.4B
Abogen Biosciences is a discovery stage biotechnology company focuses on developing nucleic acid-based (RNA and DNA) therapeutics.
Abogen Biosciences is a discovery stage biotechnology company focuses on developing nucleic acid-based (RNA and DNA) therapeutics.
5
Country: USA | Funding: $480.9M
Regulus Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company involved in the R&D of high-impact medicines based on microRNAs.
Regulus Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company involved in the R&D of high-impact medicines based on microRNAs.
6
Country: USA | Funding: $449.5M
GreenLight Biosciences is using RNA to target some of the world’s biggest problems
GreenLight Biosciences is using RNA to target some of the world’s biggest problems
7
Country: USA | Funding: $433.5M
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals develops therapeutic agents in various disease areas based on dicer substrate technology platform. The company offers RNA interference (RNAi)-targeted drugs and delivery systems for therapeutic areas of oncology and metabolic diseases. It also provides Dicer Substrate Technology, a second generation of gene silencing, which triggers RNAi and is used in therapeutic areas, including inflammation, immunology, and cardiovascular diseases.
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals develops therapeutic agents in various disease areas based on dicer substrate technology platform. The company offers RNA interference (RNAi)-targeted drugs and delivery systems for therapeutic areas of oncology and metabolic diseases. It also provides Dicer Substrate Technology, a second generation of gene silencing, which triggers RNAi and is used in therapeutic areas, including inflammation, immunology, and cardiovascular diseases.
8
Country: USA | Funding: $332M
ADARx Pharmaceuticals is a genetic medicine company focusing on the base editing of mRNA transcripts.
ADARx Pharmaceuticals is a genetic medicine company focusing on the base editing of mRNA transcripts.
9
Country: USA | Funding: $321M
Orna Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that specializes in fully engineered circular RNA therapeutics to treat various diseases.
Orna Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that specializes in fully engineered circular RNA therapeutics to treat various diseases.
10
Country: USA | Funding: $270M
Orbital Therapeutics aims to enhance global health by unleashing the full potential of RNA-based medicines to treat human disease.
Orbital Therapeutics aims to enhance global health by unleashing the full potential of RNA-based medicines to treat human disease.
11
Country: USA | Funding: $270M
Orbital Therapeutics aims to enhance global health by unleashing the full potential of RNA-based medicines to treat human disease in ways that were not previously possible. It's also developing tools to treat medical conditions astronauts could suffer in space
Orbital Therapeutics aims to enhance global health by unleashing the full potential of RNA-based medicines to treat human disease in ways that were not previously possible. It's also developing tools to treat medical conditions astronauts could suffer in space
12
Country: USA | Funding: $268M
Sirnaomics is a biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for critical human diseases by using RNA interference (RNAi) technology.
Sirnaomics is a biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for critical human diseases by using RNA interference (RNAi) technology.
13
Country: USA | Funding: $241M
Nutcracker Therapeutics is a biotech company that develops and produces mRNA therapeutics on its proprietary and biochip-based platform.
Nutcracker Therapeutics is a biotech company that develops and produces mRNA therapeutics on its proprietary and biochip-based platform.
14
Country: USA | Funding: $235.1M
Stoke is developing antisense oligonucleotide medicines that target RNA splicing to increase gene expression for the treatment.
Stoke is developing antisense oligonucleotide medicines that target RNA splicing to increase gene expression for the treatment.
15
Country: USA | Funding: $227.6M
Translate Bio is a leading mRNA therapeutics company developing a new class of potentially transformative medicines to treat diseases caused by protein or gene dysfunction.
Translate Bio is a leading mRNA therapeutics company developing a new class of potentially transformative medicines to treat diseases caused by protein or gene dysfunction.
16
Country: USA | Funding: $211M
Remix Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that develops novel small molecule therapies.
Remix Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that develops novel small molecule therapies.
17
Country: USA | Funding: $207.5M
Korro Bio provides an efficient and selective method for RNA editing, leveraging natural processes common to all multi-cellular organisms.
Korro Bio provides an efficient and selective method for RNA editing, leveraging natural processes common to all multi-cellular organisms.
18
Country: China | Funding: CN¥1.3B
Stemirna Therapeutics is a RNA technology based drug development company designed to maximize the potential of RNA science.
Stemirna Therapeutics is a RNA technology based drug development company designed to maximize the potential of RNA science.
19
Country: USA | Funding: $159M
Alltrna is the tRNA platform company to decipher tRNA biology and pioneer tRNA therapeutics to treat thousands of diseases. tRNAs play a central role in the translation of mRNA into proteins. tRNA biology modulates the complex code of DNA and RNA across translation and transcription. Altrna platform incorporates AI/ML tools to learn the tRNA language and deliver diverse programmable molecules with broad therapeutic potential.
Alltrna is the tRNA platform company to decipher tRNA biology and pioneer tRNA therapeutics to treat thousands of diseases. tRNAs play a central role in the translation of mRNA into proteins. tRNA biology modulates the complex code of DNA and RNA across translation and transcription. Altrna platform incorporates AI/ML tools to learn the tRNA language and deliver diverse programmable molecules with broad therapeutic potential.
20
Country: USA | Funding: $110M
Atalanta Therapeutics is a biotechnology company pioneering new treatment options for neurodegenerative diseases by utilizing our proprietary RNA interference platform.
Atalanta Therapeutics is a biotechnology company pioneering new treatment options for neurodegenerative diseases by utilizing our proprietary RNA interference platform.
21
Country: USA | Funding: $104.2M
Strand is creating mRNA “programming language,” creating the world’s first platform for mRNA smart therapies.
Strand is creating mRNA “programming language,” creating the world’s first platform for mRNA smart therapies.
22
Country: USA | Funding: $103M
Accent Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing oncology-focused, small molecule therapies in the emerging field of epitranscriptomics. This field of biology encompasses post-transcriptional chemical modifications of RNA that provide cells with a unique mechanism for regulating proteins critical for cellular growth and differentiation. By targeting cancer-linked RNA-modifying proteins (RMPs) with precision therapies, they aim to translate extraordinary science into life-changing therapies for patients.
Accent Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing oncology-focused, small molecule therapies in the emerging field of epitranscriptomics. This field of biology encompasses post-transcriptional chemical modifications of RNA that provide cells with a unique mechanism for regulating proteins critical for cellular growth and differentiation. By targeting cancer-linked RNA-modifying proteins (RMPs) with precision therapies, they aim to translate extraordinary science into life-changing therapies for patients.
23
Country: UK | Funding: $89.5M
Minatx is a therapeutics company uses gene activation mechanisms to discover new medical treatments.
Minatx is a therapeutics company uses gene activation mechanisms to discover new medical treatments.
24
Country: USA | Funding: $80M
Twentyeight-Seven develops small molecules that can modulate levels of miRNAs by targeting proteins that interact with these miRNAs.
Twentyeight-Seven develops small molecules that can modulate levels of miRNAs by targeting proteins that interact with these miRNAs.
25
Country: USA | Funding: $42M
Atomic AI is a developing the cutting-edge fusion of machine learning and structural biology to unlock RNA drug discovery.
Atomic AI is a developing the cutting-edge fusion of machine learning and structural biology to unlock RNA drug discovery.
26
Country: USA | Funding: $40M
Creyon Bio is a drug development company engineering RNA-based medicines and their components.
Creyon Bio is a drug development company engineering RNA-based medicines and their components.
27
Country: USA | Funding: $28.5M
Vesigen is developing groundbreaking therapeutic products directed to intracellular targets using a scalable and extracellular vesicle delivery technology. Our patented technology, called ARMMs, enables us to deliver a wide range of payloads, including RNAs (mRNA, shRNA, ribozymes), proteins (signaling proteins, enzymes, antibody fragments), and editing complexes (Cas9/gRNA) directly into the cytoplasm of target cells, expanding the universe of druggable targets.
Vesigen is developing groundbreaking therapeutic products directed to intracellular targets using a scalable and extracellular vesicle delivery technology. Our patented technology, called ARMMs, enables us to deliver a wide range of payloads, including RNAs (mRNA, shRNA, ribozymes), proteins (signaling proteins, enzymes, antibody fragments), and editing complexes (Cas9/gRNA) directly into the cytoplasm of target cells, expanding the universe of druggable targets.
28
Country: USA | Funding: $25M
kernal biologics is mRNA vaccine and therapeutics company. It develops onco-selective mRNA immunotherapy
kernal biologics is mRNA vaccine and therapeutics company. It develops onco-selective mRNA immunotherapy
29
Country: Israel | Funding: $20M
NeuroSense Therapeutics is a clinical stage drug development company offering ground-breaking treatment for ALS patients, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases. Focused on a combined therapy, targeting multiple pertinent MoAs in these complex diseases.
NeuroSense Therapeutics is a clinical stage drug development company offering ground-breaking treatment for ALS patients, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases. Focused on a combined therapy, targeting multiple pertinent MoAs in these complex diseases.
30
Country: Ireland | Funding: €13.4M
Developing first in class regenerative gene therapies. Proprietary OmniSomes technology uses bioengineered stem cell extracellular vesicles (exosomes) as novel delivery vehicles for RNA based advanced therapeutics with regenerative medicine properties.
Developing first in class regenerative gene therapies. Proprietary OmniSomes technology uses bioengineered stem cell extracellular vesicles (exosomes) as novel delivery vehicles for RNA based advanced therapeutics with regenerative medicine properties.
31
Country: Canada | Funding: $11.4M
Phenomic AI is a developer of a drug discovery platform designed to discovery and optimize therapeutics directly against phenotypic assays.
Phenomic AI is a developer of a drug discovery platform designed to discovery and optimize therapeutics directly against phenotypic assays.
32
Country: Italy | Funding: €1.3M
BrainDTech represents a disruptive approach to brain disease diagnosis because it detects a signal (MicroRNA in microvesicles) released by microglia years before any clinical manifestation
BrainDTech represents a disruptive approach to brain disease diagnosis because it detects a signal (MicroRNA in microvesicles) released by microglia years before any clinical manifestation
33
Country: Argentina
SYTE.biotech is pioneering the development of life-changing RNA treatments for severe diseases with engineered viruses that harbor therapeutic genes to cure diseases at the molecular and cellular level and designing innovative vaccines.
SYTE.biotech is pioneering the development of life-changing RNA treatments for severe diseases with engineered viruses that harbor therapeutic genes to cure diseases at the molecular and cellular level and designing innovative vaccines.
34
Country: UK
Roquefort Therapeutics is a biotech company focused on developing first in class medicines in the high value and high growth oncology market.
Roquefort Therapeutics is a biotech company focused on developing first in class medicines in the high value and high growth oncology market.
35
Country: Canada
Genevant brings world-class delivery platforms that include best-in-class lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology and next generation ligand conjugate technology, the industry’s most robust and expansive LNP patent estate, decades of experience and expertise in nucleic acid drug development headed by the team that enabled delivery for the world’s only approved small interfering RNA (siRNA)-LNP product, and an innovative culture that positions us to maintain our leadership for years to come.
Genevant brings world-class delivery platforms that include best-in-class lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology and next generation ligand conjugate technology, the industry’s most robust and expansive LNP patent estate, decades of experience and expertise in nucleic acid drug development headed by the team that enabled delivery for the world’s only approved small interfering RNA (siRNA)-LNP product, and an innovative culture that positions us to maintain our leadership for years to come.