Research Funding Secured: Strand Therapeutics, MIT spin-off, collects $153 million to illuminate cancerous tumors
Strand Therapeutics, a biotech company founded by Jake Becraft and his colleagues, has made significant strides in the field of cancer immunotherapy. The company's innovative approach, using programmable messenger RNA (mRNA), has shown promising results in early clinical trials.
The company's lead therapy, STX-001, uses synthetic self-replicating mRNA technology to express the immune-stimulating cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12) directly in tumors. This approach promotes immune system activation and anti-tumor responses, even in tumors resistant to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies.
In a groundbreaking development, Strand's preliminary phase 1 clinical trial showed that its first programmable mRNA drug is safe and can shrink tumors in cancer patients. This promising result was presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting.
Strand's platform combines next-generation mRNA modalities, such as self-replicating and circular RNA, with genetically programmed logic circuits. This allows for precise control of therapeutic payload delivery directly into tumor cells, offering advantages over traditional mRNA therapies. The technology ensures localized, durable therapeutic activity and avoids off-target effects, enhancing safety and efficacy.
The substantial $153 million Series B funding round reflects strong investor confidence, including backing from big pharma and specialized investment firms. This funding will enable Strand to expand clinical trials and develop additional candidates, such as STX-003, which aims for systemic tumor targeting with minimized toxicity.
Strand's mRNA technology could potentially be used for various types of cancer, such as lung cancer. In a remarkable case, a patient with stage 4 melanoma showed a stunning improvement after treatment with Strand's mRNA drug, with only a contrast agent injection site remaining visible.
The toxicity of IL-12 has outweighed its anti-cancer benefits so far, but Strand's targeting approach has created a potent therapy that isn't toxic. Strand's study of 22 cancer patients showed tumors shrinking from the very first doses. The company's mRNA therapeutics instruct tumors to produce signals that make them visible to the body's immune system.
Strand Therapeutics believes it can redefine the way cancer is treated. With the new funds, the company plans to conduct additional clinical research, with the goal of getting its first drug approved by 2030.
This programmable mRNA approach represents a promising new frontier in immuno-oncology, delivering targeted, sustained immune stimulation within tumors and potentially transforming cancer treatment, especially for patients with few existing options.
Notable investors in Strand Therapeutics include VC firms Iconiq and Playground Global; Regeneron Ventures, the venture arm of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; and drugmakers Amgen and Eli Lilly. Ala Alenazi, an investment manager at Kinnevik, will join Strand's board of directors with the deal.
Most people know mRNA as the backbone of the vaccines from Moderna and BioNTech during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Strand Therapeutics' mRNA technology is on the precipice of what it can achieve in the field of cancer treatment.
[1] Strand Therapeutics Press Release, "Strand Therapeutics Raises $153 Million in Series B Financing to Advance Programmable mRNA Cancer Therapeutics," link
[2] Fierce Biotech, "Strand Therapeutics raises $153M for its programmable mRNA cancer therapy," link
[4] Endpoints News, "Strand Therapeutics raises $153M Series B to test its programmable mRNA cancer therapy," link
- Strand Therapeutics, in partnership with venture capital firms like Iconiq, Playground Global, Regeneron Ventures, and others, is using funding from a $153 million Series B round to advance its programmable mRNA cancer therapies.
- Strand Therapeutics' unique approach to cancer treatment, using programmable mRNA, holds potential for various types of cancer, such as lung cancer, and could revolutionize immuno-oncology, offering targeted, sustained immune stimulation within tumors.
- Notable investors in Strand Therapeutics, in addition to various investment firms, include drugmakers like Amgen and Eli Lilly, and Ala Alenazi, an investment manager at Kinnevik, has joined the company's board of directors.
- The mRNA technology developed by Strand Therapeutics, while gaining recognition for its role in Covid-19 vaccines from Moderna and BioNTech, has the potential to greatly impact the field of cancer treatment, as demonstrated by the promising results of Strand's preliminary clinical trials.
