Thalia Therapeutics, a British BioTech company developing RNA-based therapeutics and delivery technologies in oncology and cardiovascular disease, has announced the acquisition of Sanmirna Therapeutics, alongside a €3.1 million (£2.75 million) raise.
The round was supported by new and existing investors, including Premier Miton. The deal brings miRisten, a clinical-stage microRNA therapeutic candidate for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), into Thalia’s portfolio and is expected to accelerate the company’s transition into a clinical-stage RNA therapeutics business.
Dr. David Solomon, CEO of Thalia, said: “This is an exciting and transformative opportunity to accelerate our clinical-stage oncology pipeline and diversify our RNA therapeutics pipeline, providing us with an asset that advances our development timeline by several years compared with our pre-clinical progress to date.”
Thalia Therapeutics’ raise and acquisition come amid continued 2026 European BioTech financings across RNA-related therapeutics, oncology, genetic medicines and cardiovascular disease.
Comparable announcements include Cambridge-based STORM Therapeutics’ €47.5 million Series C for RNA-modifying cancer therapies, London-based Engitix’s €21 million Series A extension for cancer and fibrosis programmes, Utrecht-based Laigo Bio’s €17 million Seed round for cancer and autoimmune therapies, and Cambridge-based PlaqueTec’s €4.2 million raise for cardiovascular precision medicine.
Several of the relevant 2026 rounds were also UK-based, including STORM Therapeutics, Engitix, PlaqueTec, Ternary Therapeutics and Houdini Bio, placing Thalia within a domestic cluster of therapeutics and platform BioTech activity.
Across comparable rounds, disclosed funding amounts to approximately €111.5 million, or about €114.6 million when Thalia’s raise is included.
“The Sanmirna acquisition is value accretive for Thalia shareholders, as it transforms Thalia into a clinical-stage company developing a promising novel therapeutic approach to treat AML, a disease with high unmet medical need. miRisten targets microRNA-126, which has been shown to play a critical oncogenic role in AML, a life-threatening cancer where satisfactory treatments have not been developed,” adds Dr. Solomon.
Founded in 2014 as a BioTech company focused on RNA-based therapeutics, Thalia is building a diversified pipeline across oncology and cardiovascular disease. The addition of Sanmirna is set to add a new RNA therapeutic modality to the company’s pipeline, distinct from the dual-target small interfering RNA already in preclinical development at Thalia.
Sanmirna Therapeutics is a US-based clinical-stage BioTech company founded by NLC Health Ventures. The company is focused on developing novel microRNA-targeted therapies for oncology indications.
Thalia will acquire the entire issued share capital of Sanmirna for an initial consideration of €4.2 million (£3.675 million), with deferred milestone payments of up to an additional €15 million (£13 million).
“We look forward to advancing this programme and unlocking its potential, enabling shareholders to participate in long-term value creation. Together with Nuvec and our new cardiovascular product, we now have three material assets at differing stages of their clinical journey. Each has the potential, both individually and in combination, to address multi-billion dollar market opportunities,” says Dr. Solomon.
miRisten is designed to selectively inhibit microRNA-126, which is believed to play a critical oncogenic role in AML. The therapy was initially discovered at City of Hope and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 open-label dose-escalation clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory AML. Topline results are expected in H1 2027.
AML is described by Thalia as a rare and aggressive blood cancer affecting over 22,000 new US patients annually, with a global market opportunity of US$3.9 billion, projected to grow to US$9.8 billion by 2035.
The proceeds from the fundraise are expected to support several parts of Thalia’s development plan. Around €1.1 million (£1 million) will be used to fund miRisten through Phase 1 completion in H1 2027, €869k (£750k )will support Thalia’s bispecific cardiovascular assets towards IND status with the FDA, and €1.1 million (£1 million) will go towards working capital, further R&D and transaction costs.
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