Laronde

Laronde is a biotechnology company pioneering Endless RNA (eRNA), a novel form of engineered RNA that can be programmed to express therapeutic proteins inside the body. Founded in 2017 by Flagship Pioneering, Laronde's eRNA technology represents a new approach to creating medicines. eRNA is a synthetic, closed-loop RNA construct that is stable, non-immunogenic, and allows for prolonged protein expression. Unlike natural messenger RNA, eRNA has no free ends, making it unrecognizable by the immune system and resistant to degradation by enzymes. This stability enables a longer duration of therapeutic effect compared to other RNA-based approaches.

The eRNA platform is highly versatile and can be programmed to produce a wide range of proteins, including peptides, enzymes, antibodies, channels, and receptors, both inside and outside of cells. Laronde aims to develop eRNA-based therapies for multiple disease areas, including vaccines, rare diseases, gene editing, and antibody production. The company's technology allows for tunable protein levels, repeat dosing, and flexible formulation and delivery methods.

To support its ambitious goals, Laronde planned to establish a modular and scalable eRNA Gigabase Factory capable of manufacturing up to 100 products and drug programs within a decade. The company had raised USD 490 million in funding to advance its platform and pipeline development.