TransCode Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RNAZ) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Polynoma LLC, a privately held immuno-oncology company developing seviprotimut-L, a late-stage polyvalent shed antigen vaccine for the adjuvant treatment of stage IIB and IIC melanoma. Concurrent with the acquisition, TransCode secured a $25 million investment from CK Life Sciences Int’l (Holdings) Inc. to fund its lead microRNA candidate, TTX-MC138, through a Phase 2 clinical trial. Philippe Calais, PharmD, PhD, was appointed Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Interim CEO Tom Fitzgerald, who returns to his role as CFO.
“This acquisition allows us to create a unique and broader oncology pipeline with Phase 3-ready seviprotimut-L and our TTX-MC138 program,” said Dr. Calais. “Together, these assets position TransCode to deliver meaningful therapeutic advances for patients battling melanoma and metastatic disease.” The acquisition and investment mark a strategic move for TransCode, which is focused on treating metastatic disease through its proprietary TTX nanoparticle platform. The company’s lead candidate, TTX-MC138, targets metastatic tumors overexpressing microRNA-10b, a biomarker of metastasis.
For more details, view the full press release at https://ibn.fm/IGOl6. TransCode is a clinical-stage oncology company committed to defeating cancer through the intelligent design and effective delivery of RNA therapeutics. The company’s portfolio includes other first-in-class RNA therapeutic candidates designed to overcome RNA delivery challenges. For the latest news and updates relating to RNAZ, visit the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/RNAZ.
This acquisition and funding are expected to accelerate the development of both seviprotimut-L and TTX-MC138, potentially bringing new treatment options to patients with melanoma and metastatic disease. The appointment of Dr. Calais as CEO brings leadership with experience in advancing oncology pipelines. The transaction underscores the increasing interest in RNA therapeutics and combination approaches in oncology, with CK Life Sciences’ investment providing non-dilutive capital to support the Phase 2 trial.
