RaNA Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Mass.-based company that is developing drugs by modulating disease-associated long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and restoring normal expression of individual targeted genes, has completed a $20.7m Series A financing.
The round was co-led by Atlas Venture, SR One, and Monsanto, with participation of Partners Innovation Fund.
The company intends to use the capital to accelerate R&D efforts across a range of disease areas, expand its IP estate in the field of long non-coding RNA, as well as its core team.
Led by President and CEO Arthur Krieg, MD, RaNA is developing a technology platform to enable selective activation of target genes and expression of therapeutic factors by targeting a type of regulatory RNA called long non-coding RNA. The company was founded based on technology developed in the laboratory of Scientific Founder Jeannie T. Lee, MD, PhD, and is exclusively licensed from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).
In conjunction with the financing, Brian M. Gallagher, Jr., PhD, Partner at SR One, and Stephen Padgette, PhD,Vice President at Monsanto have joined RaNA’s Board of Directors.
The company was seed-funded by Atlas Venture last year.