Secarna pharmaceuticals

Secarna Pharmaceuticals is a leading independent European antisense drug discovery and development company founded in 2015. The company focuses on developing next-generation antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies to address challenging or previously undruggable targets. Secarna's proprietary LNAplus platform encompasses all aspects of drug discovery and preclinical development, enabling the rapid generation of highly specific, safe, and efficacious ASO candidates. The platform includes the Oligofyer bioinformatics system, a streamlined screening process, and the LNA-Vit(r)ox safety test system.

Secarna's pipeline includes over 20 discovery and development programs in various stages of preclinical development, addressing high unmet medical needs in areas such as immuno-oncology, immunology, viral diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiometabolic diseases. The company's ASOs are designed to suppress gene expression by binding to target RNA, offering potential advantages over traditional therapeutic approaches like small molecules and antibodies. Secarna's third-generation ASO chemistry provides improved potency and reduced unwanted immune system stimulation compared to previous generations.

Secarna expanded its capabilities through a collaboration with Orbit Discovery to develop peptide-conjugated targeted ASO therapeutics. This partnership aims to extend the reach of Secarna's antisense approaches and potentially offer new treatment options for a wider range of diseases. Secarna also entered a research collaboration with Celanese Corporation to develop long-acting implants for ASO delivery, which could reduce dosing frequency and improve patient outcomes.

Key customers and partnerships

In March 2023, the company entered a multi-target research and option agreement with SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals to develop ASO therapies for Central Nervous System diseases. Secarna also collaborates with Denali Therapeutics, Evotec, Firebrand Therapeutics, Guangzhou Sun Yat-sen University, and Lipigon Pharmaceuticals. The partnership with Lipigon resulted in advancing the first ASO derived from the LNAplus platform into clinical trials in 2022.

In May 2024, Secarna partnered with Orbit Discovery to expand its capabilities in developing targeted ASO therapeutics. The collaboration aims to leverage Orbit's expertise in peptide discovery and Secarna's ASO platform to create novel therapies. Secarna's business model accommodates both in-house development and partner collaborations, allowing the company to maximize the potential of its ASO platform and expand the scope of targetable genes in drug development.