Bayer buys into NextRNA

Bayer’s latest foray into oncology drug discovery, following deals with the likes of Aignostics and Recursion, will take the German group into the largely untested space of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). The tie-up, with the private US biotech NextRNA Therapeutics, will investigate the discovery of treatments for diseases, including cancer, that are driven by such lncRNAs; it has a biodollar value of $547m, though the up-front fee hasn’t been disclosed. Each lncRNA comprises at least 200 nucleotides that aren’t believed to encode any proteins, and lncRNAs are thought to modulate chromatin function, regulate certain cell functions and interfere with signalling pathways. Some of these non-coding RNAs are seen at elevated levels in cancers, though the precise mechanisms are poorly understood. OncologyPipeline reveals a handful of preclinical projects into lncRNA, perhaps the most significant of which is Flamingo Therapeutics’ FTX-001, which hits MALAT1, a well-characterised lncRNA target. NextRNA came out of stealth mode in March 2022 with $9.3m in seed financing and a $46.8m series A round led by Cobro Ventures and Lightchain Capital.

Selected work on lncRNA

Source: OncologyPipeline.