Local life sciences investor Atlas Venture is continuing its push into RNA therapies with a new company: Remix Therapeutics.
The Cambridge-based startup emerged from stealth mode Tuesday with plans to finely tune the bodily process that takes RNA instructions and creates genes. By manipulating the system, Remix believes it can correct genetic dysregulation and eliminate harmful proteins that contribute to many diseases.
Remix has $81 million to start off, thanks to Atlas, Foresite Capital, Arch Venture, Alexandria Venture Investments and The Column Group.
“Conventional therapeutic approaches have focused on targeting proteins to treat disease. While this approach has been successful for certain indications, we are reaching the limits of what is easily druggable. … (Our) technology platform allows us to identify patterns in RNA processing and exploit them to fine-tune or regulate gene expression,” co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Peter Smith told the Business Journal.
Smith has spent the last two years as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Atlas after leaving H3 Biomedicine and Millennium Pharmaceuticals.
There are thousands of diseases that are caused by genes. Remix’s goal is to produce new oral medications for cancer, central nervous system and rare diseases. The company declined to disclose details about its early drug candidates.
The latest generation of drug companies are using many different methods to address genetically driven diseases. Atlas has invested in several that target the RNA, including Translate Bio (Nasdaq: TBIO), Korro Bio and Triplet Therapeutics.
It has been argued that targeting the RNA can be just as effective as target DNA, but is not permanent and potentially less harmful.
Small molecule drugs like the ones Remix hopes to develop often have the added bonus of being inexpensive relative to other types of medications. Local startups Arrakis Therapeutics and Skyhawk Therapeutics are also developing small molecule drugs that target RNA.
