InteRNA Technologies

InteRNA Technologies, a Dutch clinical-stage biotechnology firm, was established in December 2006 as a spin-off from the Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands. The company was founded by Aglaia Oncology Fund to develop cancer therapeutics. A significant focus for the company has been the advancement of microRNA (miRNA) therapeutics, which are designed to address key processes in the initiation and progression of cancer. The company's business model centers on the discovery, development, and eventual commercialization of these miRNA-based drug candidates. This is achieved through its proprietary discovery and functional validation platform, which identifies miRNA drug candidates that target previously untreatable aspects of cancer.

The company's primary client base consists of patients with various forms of cancer. Its lead product candidate, INT-1B3, is being developed for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. This product is a chemically modified miRNA mimic formulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNP). Its mechanism involves inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) in tumor cells and modulating the tumor microenvironment to make it less hospitable for cancer growth. Specifically, INT-1B3 targets multiple signaling pathways simultaneously, including the PTEN tumor suppressor pathway and oncogenic PI3K/Akt and Ras/MAPK pathways, which helps to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and migration. This multi-targeting approach is a key benefit, as it can potentially overcome drug resistance.

Over its history, InteRNA Technologies secured significant funding to advance its pipeline. The company raised a total of $32.9 million over four funding rounds. A notable financing event was the Series B round in February 2021, which raised €18.5 million (approximately $22.4 million) and was led by Aurora Science. This funding was crucial for advancing INT-1B3 into clinical trials and expanding the company's preclinical pipeline, which includes candidates for liver, skin, pancreatic, head and neck, and bladder cancers. The first patient in the initial human trial for INT-1B3 was dosed in February 2021. Despite these developments, the company was later reported as deadpooled, with a liquidation event noted in March 2023.

Keywords: microRNA therapeutics, oncology, cancer treatment, miRNA discovery platform, INT-1B3, solid tumors, drug development, preclinical pipeline, clinical trials, Aglaia Oncology Fund, Roel Schaapveld, lipid nanoparticles, apoptosis, tumor microenvironment, hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma, cancer signaling pathways, RNA interference, biopharmaceutical, biotechnology