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Laronde is a technology company.
Laronde pioneered a novel class of programmable medicines centered on Endless RNA (eRNA), an engineered form of circular RNA. This unique technology enables continuous protein expression within the body, effectively transforming human cells into therapeutic factories. The eRNA platform is designed to be highly stable and non-immunogenic, offering a versatile tool for producing a wide array of therapeutic proteins with unprecedented control and predictability for various disease targets.
The company was founded in 2017 by Flagship Labs, the venture creation engine of Flagship Pioneering. This initiative stemmed from an insight into the potential of circular RNA to overcome limitations of traditional linear RNA therapeutics, allowing for persistent and repeatable protein production. Flagship's established expertise in incubating groundbreaking biotechnologies provided the foundational support and strategic vision for Laronde's initial development.
Laronde's technology aims to unlock new therapeutic modalities across diverse disease areas, with a vision to deliver more effective and accessible treatments. By leveraging the inherent properties of eRNA, the company’s foundational work continues to contribute to the advancement of next-generation genetic medicines. Its long-term vision is to broaden the therapeutic landscape, addressing unmet medical needs with its innovative approach to protein delivery in vivo.
Laronde has raised $490.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Laronde.
Laronde was founded in 2017 by Sophie de Boer (Co-Founder).
Laronde has raised $490.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Laronde is a biotechnology company developing a proprietary platform of Endless RNA (eRNA), a engineered circular RNA designed to persistently express therapeutic proteins inside the body without triggering immune responses, enabling repeat dosing and simple delivery methods like subcutaneous administration.[1][2][3] Founded in 2017 by Flagship Pioneering's innovation foundry, Flagship Labs, it raised $490M total, including a $440M Series B in 2021, to scale its eRNA Gigabase Factory for up to 100 parallel programs across multiple disease areas in healthcare.[1][2][3] The company targeted oncology, rare diseases, and other therapeutic categories but merged with Sail Biomedicines in October 2023, marking its current stage as "Merger | Merged."[1]
Laronde's eRNA solves key limitations of traditional mRNA therapies—such as short duration, immunogenicity, and delivery challenges—by mimicking natural circular long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) for tunable, long-acting protein production.[2][3] It serves patients with hard-to-treat conditions by reprogramming cellular biology for predictable medicines, though preclinical data integrity issues in 2022 slowed momentum and led to leadership changes.[4]
Laronde emerged from Flagship Labs, the innovation foundry of Flagship Pioneering, in 2017, when a team led by General Partner Avak Kahvejian—Laronde's founding CEO and board member—began exploring the therapeutic potential of circular long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), naturally abundant in mammalian cells but underutilized for protein expression.[1][3] Unlike linear mRNA, which degrades quickly and activates immune responses, circular lncRNA evades ribosomes inefficiently, inspiring eRNA's design for persistent, non-immunogenic protein production.[3]
Kahvejian, a sequencing pioneer, transitioned from board role amid rapid growth, with Diego Miralles stepping in as CEO-Partner at Flagship Pioneering to lead expansion.[3][4] Early traction included the 2021 $440M Series B—then biotech's largest—fueling a pipeline across disease areas, though a 2022 internal probe revealed data integrity issues in preclinical assays, attributed to one scientist (Catherine Cifuentes-Rojas), prompting her exit and a company-wide reset.[1][4] This culminated in the 2023 merger with Sail Biomedicines.[1]
Laronde stood out in RNA therapeutics through these key advantages:
Laronde rode the post-COVID mRNA revolution, positioning eRNA as the next evolution beyond vaccines like Moderna's—earning it "Moderna 2.0" hype—by addressing mRNA's core flaws amid surging demand for programmable biologics.[1][4] Timing aligned with 2021's biotech funding peak, enabling massive capital for platform scaling as RNA tech proved scalable for non-vaccine uses like oncology and rare diseases.[3]
Market forces favored it: rising lncRNA research, AI-driven drug design synergies (e.g., via Flagship peers like Generate Biomedicines), and need for durable therapies in chronic conditions.[1][3] Laronde influenced the ecosystem by validating circular RNA, inspiring competitors like Strand Therapeutics, but its 2022 data scandal and 2023 merger underscored biotech risks—regulatory scrutiny and integration challenges—shaping investor caution in hyped platforms.[1][4]
Post-merger with Sail Biomedicines, Laronde's eRNA assets likely integrate into expanded programmable medicine pipelines, potentially accelerating clinical trials via combined AI-chemical synthesis and RNA platforms.[1] Trends like multi-modal RNA therapies and gigafactory-scale manufacturing will propel it, especially if data integrity lessons yield robust preclinical validation.
Its influence may evolve through Sail, amplifying Flagship's RNA dominance amid competition from logic-gated mRNA (e.g., Strand). Success hinges on first-in-human eRNA data proving durability—unlocking a "new class of drugs" or fading as merger synergies.[3] From Flagship's 2017 bet on circular RNA to biotech's funding frenzy and reset, Laronde exemplifies RNA's high-stakes promise.
Key people at Laronde.
Laronde has raised $490.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $440.0M Series B in August 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2021 | $440M Series B | — | Flagship Pioneering, RA Capital, BlackRock, Federated Kaufmann Fund, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Invus, T. Rowe Price Associates | Announced |
| May 1, 2021 | $50M Series A | — | Flagship Pioneering, RA Capital | Announced |
Laronde was founded in 2017 by Sophie de Boer (Co-Founder).
Laronde has raised $490.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Laronde's investors include Flagship Pioneering, RA Capital, BlackRock, Federated Kaufmann Fund, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Invus, T. Rowe Price Associates.
