RNatives Secures €1.4M Seed Extension to Advance RNA-Based Gene Regulation Platform
Key Insights
RNatives (search) raised €1.4 million in additional seed funding led by Nordic Science Investments (search), bringing total seed funding to €2.8 million to accelerate its RNA-based gene regulating platform.
The company appointed Jeff Abbey as CEO, bringing over 20 years of biopharmaceutical experience including leadership roles at ImmunOs Therapeutics (search) and Argos Therapeutics (search).
RNatives (search)' RNAIntel™ platform identifies small non-coding RNAs (search) that bind directly to gene promoters (search) to regulate gene expression for treating ocular, CNS, metabolic diseases (search), and cancer (search).
RNatives (search), a Finnish biotechnology company developing precision RNA-based gene regulating therapies, announced it has raised €1.4 million in additional seed funding, bringing its total seed funding to €2.8 million. The round was led by Nordic Science Investments (search) (NSI) and supported by Force10 (search) and Business Finland (search), with funds designated to accelerate expansion of the company's RNA-based gene regulating platform.
Novel RNA Platform Targets Gene Expression Regulation
The company's proprietary RNAIntel™ platform identifies small non-coding RNAs (search) that bind directly to gene promoters (search) to regulate gene expression. This approach represents a precision medicine strategy for developing RNA-based therapies targeting ocular, central nervous system (CNS), and metabolic diseases (search), as well as cancer (search).
"This new funding marks an important milestone for us," said Mikko Turunen, Chairman of RNatives (search). "We are thrilled to have the support of NSI, Force10 (search), and Business Finland (search) as we move the company forward, leveraging the extraordinary potential of our RNAIntel™ platform to develop precision RNA therapies to address currently untreatable rare and common diseases."
Experienced Leadership Appointment
Concurrent with the funding announcement, RNatives (search) appointed Jeff Abbey as Chief Executive Officer. Abbey brings over two decades of leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with a demonstrated track record of strategic execution, company building, and successful fundraising across both public and private markets.
Most recently, Abbey served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Business Officer at ImmunOs Therapeutics (search), where he led operations, finance, and business development. Under his leadership, ImmunOs raised a $74 million Series B financing, transitioned into the clinic with its lead immuno-oncology program, and secured a clinical collaboration with Merck (search).
Earlier in his career, Abbey played a key role in building Argos Therapeutics (search) into a publicly listed immuno-oncology company, serving as Chief Executive Officer for over eight years. Under Abbey's leadership, Argos successfully completed an IPO on NASDAQ and a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in kidney cancer (search). He was responsible for strategic partnerships and licensing agreements with international biopharmaceutical companies, providing the company with access to more than $500 million in total during his tenure.
Strategic Vision and Market Potential
"We back bold science with global potential, and RNatives (search) is exactly that. They have built a platform that could be a game-changer in RNA-based therapies. And now with Jeff Abbey joining, they've got the leadership to match their ambition," said Alexandra Gylfe, Founding Partner of Nordic Science Investments (search).
Abbey expressed confidence in the company's positioning: "Having spent my career navigating the complexities of developing advanced therapeutics, I believe that RNatives (search) is uniquely positioned to deliver on the promise of small non-coding RNA-based therapies. I look forward to working closely with the team to drive the development of our technology, accelerate clinical progress, and build a company that delivers value to patients, partners, and investors."
Founded in 2021, RNatives (search) is developing what it describes as a new generation of precision RNA-based therapies that modulate gene expression, leveraging its platform to discover and develop therapies targeting small non-coding RNAs (search) for a range of therapeutic applications.