History
Mirna Therapeutics, Inc., traces its lineage back to Ambion, Inc., a privately held company that offered research reagents for RNA analysis (see schematic). It was at Ambion where Mirna’s miRNA therapeutic research and development program began in 2002 when the first molecular biology tools were developed for studying miRNAs. Ambion scientists started using these tools themselves to compare the miRNA expression patterns of tumor and normal adjacent tissue. This research and an emerging body of scientific publications indicated that mis-regulation of miRNAs plays a major role in many cancers. Scientists from Ambion were among the first to identify miRNAs that are an integral part of the cancer process when their expression is altered. The identities and therapeutic applications of these miRNAs have been incorporated into a broad collection of patent filings. As this work expanded in scope, the decision was made to sell Ambion and create a new company to focus on newly emerging opportunities for miRNA based diagnostic and therapeutics. In 2006, Ambion’s reagents business was sold to Applied Biosystems and the diagnostics and pharmacogenomics services divisions were spun-out to form Asuragen to focus on miRNA diagnostics and therapeutics.
Early stage research into both diagnostic and therapeutic applications of miRNAs can be effectively performed within the same organization. However, as miRNA therapeutic candidates emerged, it became clear that a specialized set of skills and a different funding strategy would be needed to move these miRNAs into the clinic. In late 2007, Asuragen created Mirna Therapeutics as a wholly owned subsidiary with an exclusive focus on miRNA-based therapeutics. Mirna has exclusive access to all of Asuragen’s intellectual property as it applies to therapeutics. The new Company was “seeded” with approximately $5.5 million from Asuragen. At the end of 2009, Mirna was spun-off from Asuragen. Mirna is creating value by broadening its base of miRNA intellectual property, identifying new miRNA therapeutic targets, and advancing the development of several miRNA drug leads to validated drug candidates directed against prevalent cancers such as non-small cell lung carcinoma and metastatic prostate cancer. Mirna is pursuing partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to leverage its intellectual property and expand the Company’s development pipeline in oncology which includes traditionally structured drug discovery and development collaborations, research and technology collaborations, and intellectual property licenses. The Company’s intellectual property and research platforms also apply to diseases other than cancer, providing opportunities for partnerships outside the cancer space. Please contact us at busdev@mirnarx.com to inquire about partnering opportunities.