RECORNA Biotechnology completed the first tranche of its Angel+ round financing, raising CNY tens of millions. The funds raised will be used for the research and development of the company's core projects, clinical applications, and team expansion.
Nucleic acid drug development company "RECORNA Biotechnology (时夕生物)" recently completed the first tranche of its Angel+ round financing, raising CNY tens of millions. This round of financing was jointly led by “Beijing Life Science Park Innovation Investment Fund (北京生命园创投)”, “Tiantu Capital (天图投资)”, and "Yael Capital (雅亿资本)", with "BeiGene Bioisland Innovation Center (百济神州生物岛创新中心)" participating, and "Xiaochi Private Equity Fund Management Co., Ltd (晓池资本)" continuing its investment. “HAOYUE Capital (浩悦资本)” served as the sole financial advisor. The funds raised will be used for the research and development of the company's core projects, clinical applications, and team expansion.
RECORNA Biotechnology was established in December 2021, leveraging the research achievements from Professor Rui Zhang (张锐)'s laboratory at the School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University. The company is currently located at the BeiGene Bioisland Innovation Center, Guangzhou. Based on RNA editing technology, Time Cells Biotech is developing its first pipeline primarily targeting neurological diseases. The molecular research has been completed, and the project is in the preclinical stage, with an IND application expected in 2025. Subsequent pipelines will focus on cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases, and anti-aging.
In the field of gene therapy, RNA editing technology is a current research hotspot. Unlike the widely used CRISPR-Cas9 system in the industry, RNA editing technology regulates gene expression by modifying messenger RNA (mRNA). When editing through CRISPR, there may be unintended modifications to non-target regions of the DNA, leading to unknown genetic variations and other consequences. This potential off-target effect limits its application to some extent.
RNA editing is performed at the mRNA level, without directly altering the DNA sequence, thus reducing the risk of potential off-target effects and permanent genetic changes, providing a safety advantage in clinical treatments. Additionally, because it modifies the mRNA sequence and affects protein synthesis rather than directly acting on DNA, the effects of RNA editing are, to some extent, reversible.
"RECORNA Biotechnology's nucleic acid drug technology, based on endogenous ADAR proteins, offers excellent flexibility and safety, allowing for the repair and optimization of protein sequences and functions without altering the genomic sequence," explained Professor Rui Zhang, founder and Chief Scientist of RECORNA Biotechnology. Furthermore, the use of the small oligonucleotide drug development pathway, characterized by reversible efficacy and adjustable dosage, makes this technology path promising for treating various common diseases caused by non-genetic mutations.