Rona Therapeutics Announces $35 Million Series A+ Financing to Advance Innovative siRNA Metabolic Pipeline and Next-Generation RNA Platform

VCBeat learned that Rona Therapeutics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Rona Therapeutics"), a clinical-stage platform company that continues to lead in the field of nucleic acid drug research and development, officially announced today the successful completion of a US$35 million Series A+ financing round. This round of financing was led by LongRiver Jiangyuan Investment, with participating investors including Beijing Zhaode Investment Co., Ltd., BioTrack Capital, Zhongqi Capital, and Lilly Asia Ventures.

LongRiver Jiangyuan Investment, as the lead investor in the A+ round, will join the board of directors of Rona Therapeutics and has given high praise to the company’s innovative capabilities and market prospects in the field of nucleic acid drug research and development. LongRiver Jiangyuan Investment stated: "Rona Therapeutics has successfully advanced two best-in-class siRNA metabolic programs into global development, demonstrating differentiated clinical data and platform value. We are highly impressed by Rona Therapeutics’ progress in developing an innovative siRNA pipeline and expanding into CNS and other extrahepatic delivery approaches. We look forward to collaborating with the Rona Therapeutics team to unlock the potential of RNA therapeutics as a transformative treatment to benefit patients worldwide."

Stella SHI, CEO and founder of Rona Therapeutics, stated: "We warmly welcome Jiangyuan Chengyi Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and other new shareholders. Rona Therapeutics is committed to advancing more best-in-class and first-in-class siRNA projects into global clinical trials while promoting further potential business development opportunities. Leveraging our proprietary RNA platform, we will strive to push boundaries and fully drive the research and development of RNA therapeutics in the areas of metabolism, obesity, renal diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders."

Rona Therapeutics is advancing a pipeline of best-in-class and first-in-class siRNA programs based on a next-generation siRNA platform. The company’s first program, RN0191, a best-in-class PCSK9 siRNA project, has completed Phase I clinical studies in Australia and China, and is actively progressing into Phase II clinical development for hypercholesterolemia. RN0361, the company’s second program targeting hypertriglyceridemia, entered clinical trials in the second quarter of 2024. Rona Therapeutics is also concurrently conducting preclinical experiments for innovative pipelines aimed at treating kidney diseases, obesity, and cardiometabolic disorders.

Rona Therapeutics is a globally leading nucleic acid innovative drug platform company, focusing on the treatment of metabolic diseases and central nervous system degenerative diseases. Rona Therapeutics is committed to developing best-in-class siRNA drugs, demonstrating unique differentiation and innovation in cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, and kidney diseases within its liver-targeted metabolic-related pipeline products. Additionally, Rona Therapeutics focuses on exploring the potential of extrahepatic nucleic acid delivery in the field of central nervous system degenerative diseases. It has successfully established its proprietary extrahepatic delivery platform, aiming to treat a series of complex diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, which are challenging to address with traditional drug therapies.

LongRiver Investments Focuses on Investments in the Medical and Technology Fields, Aiming to Support Enterprise Development, Connect Industry Resources, and Share Long-Term Returns. Over the past decade, the team has raised multiple US dollar and RMB funds, investing in more than 50 medical and technology enterprises globally, nearly 20 of which have been listed on exchanges inside and outside China. The first phase of LongRiver Investments' fund reached nearly 400 million US dollars, with investors including multinational financial institutions and top-tier asset management companies as long-term investors. The team focuses on key areas such as healthcare, new energy materials, and advanced manufacturing, covering investment stages from early to later phases. Leveraging international perspectives, long-term funds, and professional expertise, the team has established comprehensive capabilities of "finding opportunities, understanding industries, providing support, and achieving exits." In the future, LongRiver Investments will continue to focus on the technology sector, bridging global industrial development momentum, and supporting and nurturing the next generation of industry leaders.