Anima Biotech mRNA Lightning Platform
We are advancing mRNA Lightning, a novel platform for the discovery of selective small molecule mRNA drugs and their mechanisms of action. Our differentiated approach combines high scale automated phenotypic screening in live biology with AI mRNA image analysis that elucidates the mechanism of action of active compounds. We develop our own pipeline and partner with pharma on additional targets.
Pharma Collaborations
$30 million in upfront payments, $14 million in research funding, up to $1.05 billion in milestones and low to mid single-digit tiered royalties on sales of any Lilly products resulting from the collaboration.
Up to $120 million in upfront and preclinical research milestone payments, up to $1.1 billion in clinical and commercial milestones and tiered royalties on sales of any Takeda products resulting from the collaboration. Takeda has a time limited option to expand the collaboration subject to additional payments to Anima of up to $1.2 billion and tiered royalties.
Anima Biotech achieves first milestone in Takeda collaboration
The milestone relates to the Huntington’s Disease program which is part of a multi-target research collaboration between the companies. This achievement entitles Anima to an undisclosed milestone payment.
For partnering inquiries, please contact [email protected].
mRNA Lightning Platform
Automated high scale phenotypic screening combining live biology with AI mRNA image analysis for the discovery of small molecule mRNA drugs and their mechanisms of action.
A novel approach for the discovery of small molecule mRNA drugs that selectively control mRNA biology as a new strategy against hard targets and undruggable proteins.
Our platform is using fluorescently labeled tRNA pairs to generate FRET signals, light pulses emitted from the ribosomes to visualize the translation of any mRNA of interest and identify selective translation modulators.
The Selectivity of mRNA Translation Biology
Cells control mRNA translation using multiple selective mechanisms, offering novel intervention points. Modulation of mRNA biology is therefore possible with highly selective drugs.
mRNA translation modulators
A novel target space
Biology
Small molecule drugs targeting novel proteins involved in the regulation of mRNA translation
mRNA Translation Modulators Pipeline
Our high scale screening platform identifies compounds that modulate mRNA biology. Our mRNA AI image analysis then rapidly elucidates their mechanism of action.
With this unique approach we were able to develop a broad pipeline of small molecule mRNA drugs, advancing 18 discovery programs across therapeutic areas at unparalleled speed and success rate.
Anima wholly owned pipeline programs are in Fibrosis (tissue selective Collagen I translation inhibitors, preclinical stage in lung fibrosis and applicable across many fibrotic diseases), Oncology (c-Myc translation inhibitors and mutation agnostic mKras translation inhibitors), and Neuroscience (Tau - Alzheimer’s disease and Pain - Nav1.7 translation inhibitors) with additional programs in Repeat Associated Diseases. In addition to our own pipeline, we established strategic collaborations with Pharma in partnered programs including our large scale collaborations with Lilly and Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
| Indication | Target | Discovery |
Optimization |
IND enabling |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anima owned |
|||||
Fibrosis |
|||||
| Lung Fibrosis | 1 | ||||
| Collagen-1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | |||||
| Other Fibrotic | 4 | ||||
Oncology |
|||||
| c-Myc tumors | c-Myc | 5 | |||
| 6 | |||||
| 7 | |||||
| mKRAS tumors | mKRAS | 8 | |||
Neuroscience |
|||||
| Alzheimer | TAU | 9 | |||
| 10 | |||||
| Repeat diseases | Undisclosed | 11 | |||
| Pain | Nav 1.7 | 12 | |||
| Undisclosed | 13 | ||||
Partnered |
|||||
| Huntington | mHTT | 14 | |||
| Undisclosed |
|
15 | |||
| Undisclosed | 16 | ||||
| Undisclosed | 17 | ||||
| Undisclosed | 18 | ||||
| Area | Indication | mRNA modulation | Target | Discovery |
Optimization |
IND enabling |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fibrosis | Lung Fibrosis | 1 | |||||
| Collagen-1 | 2 | ||||||
| 3 | |||||||
| Other Fibrotic | 4 | ||||||
| Oncology | c-Myc tumors | c-Myc | 5 | ||||
| 6 | |||||||
| 7 | |||||||
| mKRAS tumors | mKRAS | 8 | |||||
| Neuroscience | Alzheimer | TAU | 9 | ||||
| 10 | |||||||
| Repeat diseases | Undisclosed | 11 | |||||
| Pain | Nav 1.7 | 12 | |||||
| Undisclosed | 13 | ||||||
| Undisclosed |
|
14 | |||||
| Huntington | mHTT | 15 | |||||
| Undisclosed | 16 | ||||||
| Undisclosed | 17 | ||||||
| Undisclosed | 18 | ||||||
17 Scientific Collaborations
15 Peer Reviewed Publications
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Measuring mRNA translation in neuronal processes and somata by tRNA-FRET
Nucleic Acids Res. 2020 ;46(6):e32 -
Monitoring protein synthesis in single live cancer cells
Integr Biol (2016); 8 :645-53 -
A heterogeneous tRNA granule structure exhibiting rapid, bi-directional neuritictransport
Eur J Cell Biol (2018) ; 97 : 168-179. -
DSCR1 is required for both axonal growth cone extension and steering
J Cell Biol. 2016; 23;213(4):451-62.
Coverage
News & Events
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4th RNA-Targeted Drug Discovery Summit
When: Dec. 7th, 2021 - Dec. 9th, 2021
Anima Biotech has been invited to present an overview of its mRNA Lightning platform during the 4th annual RNA-Targeted Drug Discovery Summit. Anima Vice President of Research and Development, Iris Alroy, Ph.D. Will give a presentation titled, “Targeting mRNA Biology in a Tissue Selective & Disease-Specific Manner with Small Molecules” In addition, Yochi Slonim, Co-founder and CEO of Anima Biotech will participate in a Fireside Chat & Networking Session titled, “Biopharma & Investment Partnering – Discussing the Future Landscape of Investment & Collaborations for RNA Small Molecule Space.
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Elrig UK’s Drug Discovery 2021
When: Oct. 19th, 2021 - Oct. 20th, 2021
Anima Biotech has been invited to present at Elrig UK’s Drug Discovery 2021 meeting, taking place in Liverpool, U.K. Iris Alroy, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development at Anima Biotech, will give a presentation titled, “mRNA Lightning platform for the discovery of selective small molecule mRNA regulatory drugs.
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Industry (SCI)’s “RNA as a Target For The Life Sciences”
When: Oct. 12th, 2021 - Oct. 13th, 2021
Anima Biotech has been invited to present at SCI’s “RNA as a target for the life sciences” event, taking place virtually this year. Iris Alroy, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development at Anima Biotech, will give a presentation titled, “mRNA translation modulators binding to novel targets: from mRNA processing to mRNA translation”, followed by her participation in a panel.