Orna Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Mass.-based biotechnology company dedicated to designing and delivering a new class of fully engineered circular RNA therapeutics (oRNAs), completed an $80m Series A financing.
The round was co-led by MPM Capital, Taiho Ventures, and F2 Ventures, with participation from Kite, a Gilead Company, Bristol Myers Squibb, Astellas Venture Management, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, and the PAGS Group.
Founded on research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and built by MPM Capital, Orna utilizes molecular design and delivery technologies to unlock RNA’s full therapeutic potential to treat a wide range of diseases including cancer, autoimmune, and genetic disorders.
Led by Thomas M. Barnes, Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer, Orna Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to designing and delivering a new class of fully engineered circular RNA (oRNA) therapeutics. Its proprietary platform combines novel technology to create oRNAs that drive protein expression with validated and unique delivery solutions.
The company was founded by (Robert) Alex Wesselhoeft, Ph.D., Raffaella Squilloni, M.B.A. and Professor Dan Anderson, Ph.D. (MIT), and was seeded and incubated by MPM Capital, with Shinichiro Fuse, Ph.D. serving as the interim CEO, and Brian Goodman, Ph.D. as head of Business Development.
Orna is also supported by an experienced and seasoned Board of Directors and scientific advisors, including:
- Daniel Anderson, Ph.D., Professor, MIT
- Sakae Asanuma, CFA, MBA, President, Taiho Ventures
- Thomas M. Barnes, Ph.D., CEO, Orna Therapeutics
- Shinichiro Fuse, Ph.D., Managing Director, MPM Capital
- Ansbert Gadicke, M.D. (chair), co-founder and Managing Director, MPM Capital
- Morana Jovan-Embiricos, Managing Partner, F2 Ventures
- Francesco Marincola, M.D., SVP and Global Head of Cell Therapy Research of Kite
