Boston-based biotech Raina Biosciences Inc., which recently spun out from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), introduced its proprietary generative AI platform to discover drug candidates. Their chosen name was GEMORNA. This platform has the potential to transform the field of mRNA therapeutics. It engineers better mRNA drug molecules (both linear and circular) that deliver optimized expression levels and improved longevity. GEMORNA addresses key challenges that have impeded the potency and utility of existing mRNA-based therapies. This fresh, unique approach places GEMORNA as a glimmering true game-changer in the civic tech arena.
Founded by leaders with extensive backgrounds in mRNA technology and artificial intelligence, Raina Biosciences Inc. is set to make significant strides in the biotech industry. The GEMORNA platform is a prototype distinct from previous RNA language models, mainly geared toward prediction tasks. GEMORNA enables the rational design of new sequences from an essentially infinite design space. This breakthrough lays the foundation for developing more impactful therapeutic applications.
New preliminary results recently published in the journal Science detail the amazing potential of GEMORNA. For example, mRNAs synthesized with this platform elicited significantly more robust immune responses in mice. This response was better than that produced by the top commercially available vaccine sequence. Moreover, GEMORNA-generated mRNAs exhibited up to 150-fold higher expression of the human erythropoietin (hEPO) compared to an optimized control. In the context of CAR T-cell therapy, a five-fold increase in CD19 CAR expression was seen when using GEMORNA-generated mRNAs.
Among the striking characteristics of these new sequences is their durability, with GEMORNA-produced mRNAs showing a two-fold advantage vs. patented standards. The first of these mRNAs reached very close to 100 % anti-tumor efficacy in primary human T cells. This exceptional outcome underscores their promise to be integrated into cutting-edge cancer therapies.
Jicong Cao, Ph.D., co-founder of Raina Biosciences Inc., articulated the foundation of their innovative approach:
“Raina’s GEMORNA platform is built upon a decade of the team’s foundational work in synthetic biology and artificial intelligence.”
Cao further expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies to expand the use of mRNA-based therapeutics while preparing to develop an internal pipeline:
“We are excited to work with industry-leading pharma and biotech companies to expand the usage of mRNA-based therapeutics while we prepare to build an internal pipeline.”
Timothy Lu, M.D., Ph.D., another co-founder, highlighted the transformative potential of Raina’s technology:
“Raina has the potential to transform mRNA therapeutics by rapidly and reliably generating novel sequences with greater performance, precision and efficacy.”