RenBio Secures New Funding for MYO Technology™ Antiviral Platform Development

RenBio, a preclinical biotechnology company, has received notable funding to advance the development of DNA-based delivery systems for antiviral antibodies aimed at preventing Zika and influenza infections. The company, which operates on the cutting edge of biotechnology with its proprietary MYO (Make Your Own) Technology™ platform, has been awarded $2.9 million from Wellcome to focus on the preclinical development of a potent anti-Zika antibody. Additionally, RenBio has secured a $749,000 contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) under the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to explore DNA-based delivery of anti-influenza antibodies in large animals.

These funds will support RenBio's ambition to mitigate viral diseases through novel therapeutic platforms. The Wellcome award will specifically aid in the preclinical activities necessary to support the development of the anti-Zika antibody and optimize the delivery of a cocktail of anti-influenza antibodies to increase protection breadth. This initiative complements RenBio's previous grant as a sub-awardee with Vanderbilt University Medical Center under the DARPA Pandemic Prevention Platform (P3) program.

Rachel A. Liberatore, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of RenBio, emphasized the significance of these awards, highlighting how they bolster the potential of the MYO Technology platform. She noted that the collaboration with BARDA marks an important milestone, facilitating the scaling of MYO Technology and expanding its application range. This includes delivering a variety of antibodies targeting both seasonal and highly pathogenic influenza viruses, which is crucial for rapid responses to diverse viral threats.

RenBio's MYO Technology™ platform is innovative in its approach to overcoming traditional therapeutic development challenges. By using intramuscular electroporation of plasmid DNA, the technology allows patients' muscle cells to produce therapeutic antibodies or proteins in vivo. This method has the potential to offer longer-lasting therapies, reduce cold-chain storage needs, and shorten manufacturing times.

The company was founded by renowned Columbia University professors David D. Ho, M.D. and Yaoxing Huang, Ph.D., and focuses on nucleic acid therapeutics. RenBio aims to revolutionize the delivery of DNA medicines encoding antibody and protein therapeutics through its MYO Technology. The platform's rapid plug-and-play features are designed to overcome limitations in administration, efficacy duration, dosing frequency, and cold-chain constraints, making it adaptable for preventing or treating a broad spectrum of diseases.

Since its inception, RenBio has raised $28.0 million in Seed and Series A financing. It has also received additional funding from several prestigious organizations, including DARPA, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the New York State Biodefense Commercialization Fund, Wellcome, and BARDA. These funds are instrumental in advancing RenBio's mission to develop next-generation DNA therapeutics that can offer new solutions for infectious disease prevention and treatment.

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