Aptadir Therapeutics Unveils Novel RNA Inhibitors to Combat Cancer and Genetic Disorders

Aptadir Therapeutics Launch:
Aptadir Therapeutics, a biotech firm, has been launched with a focus on developing RNA inhibitor-based therapies for challenging cancers and genetic disorders.

Novel RNA Inhibitors:
The company is centered around a new class of RNA inhibitors known as DNMT1 interacting RNAs (DiRs), which can block aberrant DNA methylation at the gene level, reactivating genes that have become hypermethylated.

Targeted Diseases:
The initial program, Aptadir Ce-49, aims to treat myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), with plans to enter clinical trials by late 2025. Other targets include Fragile X Syndrome and other genetic disorders.

Founding and Funding:
Aptadir Therapeutics was founded by Dr. Annalisa Di Ruscio and Dr. Vittorio De Franciscis, with contributions from prominent figures in RNA biology and DNA methylation. The company has secured $1.6 million in pre-seed funding.

Technology Platform:
The company's proprietary platform can generate multiple DiRs for specific genes suppressed in cancer and genetic conditions, restoring their functional pathways.

Collaboration:
Aptadir Therapeutics is a result of collaboration between leading institutions such as Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School, the Italian National Research Council (CNR), and the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore.

Epigenetic Targeting:
The use of DiRs represents a targeted approach to epigenetic therapy, offering a safer and more specific alternative to current non-specific hypomethylating protocols.