Biotech startup Theramir has secured €150,000 in funding from the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) to expand its EVmiR platform for bladder cancer treatment. Originally designed to target metastatic breast cancer, EVmiR leverages extracellular vesicles (EVs) to deliver microRNAs (miRNAs) directly into tumors, silencing oncogenic proteins that drive cancer progression.
With the new funding, Theramir will focus on in vitro studies and preclinical work over the next 12 to 18 months to refine drug design and delivery mechanisms. The research will include a detailed analysis of miRNA-loaded EVs’ interaction with bladder cancer cells, aiming to optimize precision targeting and therapeutic efficacy. Biomarker analysis will also be a priority in developing predictive tools for patient stratification, essential for future preclinical testing.
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Bladder cancer remains a significant challenge due to its molecular complexity and limited treatment options. Theramir’s new project, EXCELL, seeks to bridge the gap between foundational research and clinical application, strengthening the EVmiR platform’s scientific framework ahead of preclinical trials.
The company has been steadily advancing its technology, securing €525,000 in mid-2024 to push EVmiR into clinical trials for metastatic breast cancer. The platform has already demonstrated efficacy in preclinical studies for Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) and has received patents in the US, EU, Japan, and Hong Kong. Collaborations with partners specializing in next-generation biologics are also underway to scale GMP pilot production and advance the TNBC investigational new drug (IND) pathway.
Beyond TNBC and bladder cancer, the EVmiR platform is being developed under the Miraculous program to treat unhealing malignant wounds, with preclinical studies expected to conclude by late 2025. The EXCELL project marks a significant step in expanding Theramir’s oncology applications, addressing critical unmet medical needs.
