NextRNA Therapeutics is a company.
NextRNA Therapeutics has raised $47.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at NextRNA Therapeutics.
NextRNA Therapeutics has raised $47.0M in total across 1 funding round.
NextRNA Therapeutics has raised $47.0M in total across 1 funding round.
NextRNA Therapeutics's investors include Cobro Ventures.
Key people at NextRNA Therapeutics.
NextRNA Therapeutics was a biotechnology company developing small molecule therapeutics targeting long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to treat diseases in oncology and neuroscience. It served patients with serious conditions like cancer by addressing lncRNA-driven pathologies through a proprietary computational engine that identifies disease-relevant lncRNAs and disrupts their interactions with RNA-binding proteins[1][2][3][4][5][6]. The company raised $56.1 million in seed and Series A funding in 2022, collaborated with Bayer on a $500+ million oncology deal, and advanced early programs in oncology and immunology before ceasing operations in August 2025 due to market conditions[1][3][4][6].
NextRNA was founded in January 2021 (with some sources citing 2020) in Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts, based on pioneering lncRNA research by Carl Novina, M.D., Ph.D., from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Dominique Verhelle, Ph.D., MBA, who served as co-founder, chief scientific officer, and interim CEO[1][3][4][5][6]. The idea emerged from decoding lncRNA-protein interactions to create novel medicines, building on Novina's work to systematically identify and drug these targets for unmet needs in cancer and beyond[4]. Early traction included launching in March 2022 with $56 million in funding led by Cobro Ventures and Lightchain Capital, assembling a team, building a drug discovery engine, and advancing two small molecule programs[4].
NextRNA rode the RNA therapeutics wave, targeting the "dark genome" of non-coding RNAs amid growing recognition of lncRNAs' role in cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic diseases—exemplified by parallel deals like Eli Lilly's $1 billion pact with HAYA Therapeutics[1]. Timing aligned with post-2020 biotech funding peaks and advances in computational biology, making lncRNA targeting feasible amid challenges in traditional protein-focused drugs[1][3][4]. Market forces like rising oncology needs and small molecule preference favored it, influencing the ecosystem by validating lncRNA platforms—paving the way for peers like Flamingo Therapeutics despite its closure[1][3].
NextRNA's shutdown in August 2025 highlights biotech volatility, with its technology and collaborations likely absorbed by partners like Bayer or inspiring successors in lncRNA drugging[1][3]. Trends like AI-driven target discovery and precision RNA medicines will shape this space, potentially amplifying NextRNA's foundational contributions to oncology pipelines. Its legacy endures as a pioneer, proving lncRNAs' druggability even as operations end, fueling bolder bets on the non-coding genome.
NextRNA Therapeutics has raised $47.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $47.0M Series A in February 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2022 | $47.0M Series A | Cobro Ventures |
