Orbital Therapeutics, co-founded by John Maraganore, launched with the goal of harnessing the full potential of RNA-based therapeutics to tackle diseases in a new and more effective manner.
Orbital Therapeutics, co-founded by a host of C-Suite executives, launched Thursday with the goal of harnessing the full potential of RNA-based therapeutics to tackle diseases in a more effective manner.
The new company is building on first-generation approaches to RNA therapeutics. Orbital is constructing what the founders call a “first-in-kind RNA platform that integrates both established and emerging technologies and delivery mechanisms, excluding RNAi” (RNA interference), which is Alnylam’s area of focus.
Orbital noted the platform had been designed to extend RNA therapeutics’ durability and half-life and expand the delivery capabilities. Although the company did not announce any developmental assets, its leadership team says it will have an expansive portfolio across various diseases. Types of products will include vaccines, immunomodulation, protein replacement and regenerative medicine.
Industry Titans at the Helm
John Maraganore, the former founding chief executive officer of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a pioneering company in RNA interference therapeutics, is one of the co-founders. Now chairman of the Orbital board of directors, he said researchers are “just beginning to realize” the full capabilities of RNA-based approaches to treating disease.
The launch is backed by ARCH Venture Partners and a licensing partnership with Beam Therapeutics.
Orbital will be helmed in the interim by Giuseppe Ciaramella, the former chief scientific officer of Moderna Therapeutics’ infectious diseases division and current CSO of Beam Therapeutics. In his role at Moderna, Ciaramella established that company’s initial mRNA vaccine pipeline and led the company’s first investigational new drug application submission.
“This is the deepest box of RNA technology that I’m aware of,” Ciaramella told BioSpace.
Multiple RNA-based approaches will allow Orbital’s team to develop sophisticated medicines to treat various disease indications. He said the company is supported by luminaries in the RNA world who can guide the team’s approaches to harnessing these advanced technologies and delivery systems that are under one roof.
“We are at the cusp where this potential can be realized,” Ciaramella said. “We have different choices to create new medicines that are durable and tissue specific. There is a perfect storm of a variety of technologies that are overcoming the limitations of earlier technology.”
While no assets or indications have yet been publicly announced, Ciaramella said the company will move quickly. He noted the company would benefit from technology developed by Beam that will expedite its research and enable the team to identify targets and assets worthy of pursuit quickly.
In addition to Ciaramella serving as interim CEO, Giles Besin will serve as CSO. Before Orbital, Besin was head of discovery at Affinivax Inc. and held roles at Moderna in the immunology group. Soon, Orbital will rely on the leadership team at Beam Therapeutics to support operations and initial R&D.
Founded with Collaboration in Mind
Orbital also launches with a licensing and collaboration partnership with Beam Therapeutics. The two companies have granted each other access to respective RNA technology and non-viral delivery technology. Orbital will be able to use the technology for vaccines and certain therapeutic proteins, while Beam will be able to use Orbital’s technology for gene editing and conditioning for use in cell transplantation.
John Evans, CEO of Beam Therapeutics, said the partnership with Orbital strengthens the company’s potential as “the leading integrated platform for genetic medicine.” He said Beam “prides itself” on finding new methods to unlock additional value from the company’s platform that will keep it on the cutting edge of science. With Orbital, Evans said the leadership team saw an opportunity to unlock value in Beam’s RNA/LNP capabilities in non-core areas, such as vaccines and protein therapeutics.
“It’s also an exciting opportunity for Beam, as we continue our strategy of pursuing creative partnerships that can generate value from the full breadth of our platform and accelerate the development of novel and diverse medicines for patients,” Evans said in a statement.
Orbital’s launch has been financed by ARCH Venture Partners, as well as a 16z Bio + Health and Newpath Partners. The amount of the financial backing was not disclosed in the announcement. Kristina Burow, managing director of ARCH Venture Partners, said backing the launch of Orbital and its goal to integrate a wide expanse of RNA-based technologies was a “special opportunity” to support a therapeutically transformational company.
