Mirna Therapeutics is an Austin, TX-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical and immuno-oncology company focused on developing microRNA-based cancer therapeutics. Its lead program, MRX34, is a miRNA mimic currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial including patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, other solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The company intends to use the financing to advance MRX34 into Phase 1b and Phase 2 trials in 2016 and to move a second miRNA therapeutic candidate into clinical trials. Mirna also plans to embark on a combination therapy development program. Led by President and CEO Paul Lammers, M.D., the company develops a broad pipeline of microRNA-based oncology therapeutics. Mirna completed a $41.8M Series D financing to support these programs. Mirna Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company based in Austin, Texas focused on developing and commercializing microRNA (miRNA) therapeutics in oncology. Its lead program is MRX34, a miRNA mimic product candidate the company plans to advance into human studies. Mirna intends to file an IND for MRX34 in 1Q 2013 and follow with a Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced or metastatic cancers with liver involvement. The company says its platform addresses systemic delivery issues seen in RNA products and uses tumor-suppressor miRNA replacement to regulate multiple oncogenic pathways. Mirna has received earlier funding from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The company describes having a robust preclinical data package and plans to use new financing to support human proof-of-concept studies of MRX34. Mirna Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of microRNA (miRNA) therapeutics for oncology. The company holds a substantial intellectual property portfolio containing more than 300 miRNAs, including oncology-directed candidates such as miR-34 and let-7. Mirna's approach centers on replacement of down-regulated tumor-suppressor miRNAs to block tumor growth, based on preclinical animal study results. The company plans to complete preclinical work and submit an IND by the end of 2012. Financially, Mirna has received significant state funding—a $5.0 million award from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund in 2009 and a $10.3 million commercialization award from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas—and has now closed an additional equity financing. The most recent proceeds will be used to further development of the company's proprietary miRNA therapeutics. Mirna Therapeutics is a newly formed Austin, Tex., startup focused on developing microRNA (miRNA) drugs for cancer. The company spun out of Asuragen and took Asuragen’s miRNA intellectual property with it. Mirna initially plans to develop miRNA molecules targeting lung cancer, prostate cancer and acute myeloid leukemia. None of its drug candidates are ready for testing in humans yet. Asuragen will continue to explore miRNAs as possible diagnostic tools while Mirna focuses on therapeutic development. The spinout launched with $3 million in seed capital.

Total raised

$81M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series D

Latest activity

Apr 2015