What Empirico does

Empirico Inc. is a privately held, San Diego-based biopharmaceutical company founded in 2017 that discovers and develops siRNA (small interfering RNA) medicines designed to mimic naturally-occurring human genetic variants conferring beneficial health effects. The company's core technology combines proprietary human genetics-driven target identification with siRNA oligonucleotide chemistry, enabling design of therapeutics against validated genetic targets. Empirico's lead clinical-stage asset, EMP-012, is a first-in-class siRNA oligonucleotide candidate currently in Phase I clinical trials for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), targeting a novel inflammatory pathway distinct from existing COPD therapies. The pipeline additionally includes preclinical programs directed at other common diseases with significant unmet medical need.

Empirico operates an asset-light, partnership-driven business model: the company retains control of its programs through early clinical development (through Phase I), then out-licenses exclusive worldwide development, regulatory, and commercialization rights to large pharmaceutical partners. Under its October 2025 agreement with GSK for EMP-012, Empirico received an $85 million upfront payment and is eligible for up to $660 million in success-based development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties on worldwide net sales. The company is backed by DCVC Bio, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, and Neotribe Ventures across venture rounds totaling approximately $74.7 million (2018, 2020, 2023), operates with 51-100 employees organized across therapeutic chemistry, discovery, data/engineering, and therapeutic development functions, and is led by CEO Omri Gottesman.

Empirico is incorporated in Delaware, maintains its operational headquarters in San Diego, California, and does not currently generate recurring product revenue; its near-term economics are dominated by the single GSK licensing arrangement covering its sole clinical asset.

Name

Empirico

Legal name

Empirico Inc.

Website

https://empiricotx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Empirico is a San Diego-based, clinical-stage biotech developing siRNA medicines that mimic protective human genetic variants, with lead candidate EMP-012 in Phase I for COPD and an October 2025 exclusive worldwide license to GSK valued at up to $745 million.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

RNA Therapeutics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

siRNA Therapeutics (gene silencing) (HLAAADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

RNA Therapeutics Clinical Development (trial design, endpoints, patient stratification) (HLAAADAH), RNA Chemistry & Oligonucleotide Engineering (backbones, modifications, stereochemistry) (HLAAADAE)

Keywords

• SiRNA therapeutics
• Human genetics drug discovery
• Oligonucleotide medicines
• Biopharmaceutical licensing
• Precision medicine development

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Milestone Payments: Empirico generates revenue through exclusive license agreements with pharmaceutical companies. Under the GSK agreement, Empirico received an $85 million upfront payment and is eligible for up to $660 million in success-based development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties on net sales worldwide.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Empirico discovers and develops novel siRNA (small interfering RNA) medicines designed to mimic naturally-occurring genetic variants that confer beneficial effects on health and disease. The company leverages proprietary platforms combining human genetics and siRNA chemistry to advance differentiated clinical and preclinical programs for common diseases with unmet medical need. Lead candidate EMP-012 is in Phase I clinical trials for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Product overview

Empirico is discovering and developing novel siRNA medicines designed to mimic naturally-occurring genetic variants that confer beneficial effects on health and disease. The company's pipeline includes differentiated clinical and preclinical programs for common diseases with unmet need. The lead clinical candidate is EMP-012, a first-in-class siRNA oligonucleotide in Phase I for COPD, developed using Empirico's proprietary technology platforms combining human genetics and siRNA chemistry capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EMP-012 First-in-class siRNA oligonucleotide candidate targeting an inflammatory pathway distinct from existing COPD treatments; currently in Phase I clinical trial for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Developed using Empirico's proprietary technology platforms that leverage human genetics to mimic naturally-occurring genetic variants.

Quantifiable outcome

• EMP-012 entered Phase I clinical trial for COPD

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GSKcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 28 October 2025GSK and Empirico entered a worldwide exclusive license agreement for EMP-012, a first-in-class siRNA oligonucleotide candidate in Phase I clinical trial for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). GSK paid an $85 million upfront payment and up to $660 million in success-based development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties on net sales worldwide. Empirico continues leading the Phase I trial through completion, after which GSK assumes responsibility for worldwide development, regulatory filings, and commercialisation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: The pioneer and global leader in siRNA therapeutics, with multiple approved products (Onpattro, Givlaari, Oxlumo, Amvuttra, Leqvio). Directly comparable to Empirico as a pure-play siRNA drug developer, although operating at much larger scale with integrated commercial infrastructure rather than an out-licensing model.
• Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage siRNA company with the TRiM platform and multiple partnered programs (including with GSK, Amgen, Takeda, and others). Closely comparable to Empirico as an siRNA platform that uses out-licensing economics to fund development, although with a substantially larger pipeline and broader delivery technology base.
• Ionis Pharmaceuticals: The antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) leader and an existing Empirico investor. Highly comparable as a clinical-stage oligonucleotide therapeutics developer with a partnership-heavy business model (e.g., Spinraza, Tegsedi) and decades of RNA-targeting expertise relevant to siRNA.
• Dicerna Pharmaceuticals: siRNA therapeutics developer (acquired by Novo Nordisk) using the GalNAc-conjugated RNAi platform. Comparable to Empirico as a clinical-stage siRNA company that was acquired largely on the strength of its platform and partnership pipeline before full commercial maturity.
• Wave Life Sciences: Clinical-stage oligonucleotide therapeutics company with a stereopure chemistry platform. Comparable to Empirico as a smaller-cap oligonucleotide drug developer focused on differentiated chemistry and genetics-informed target selection.
• Krystal Biotech: Clinical-stage biotech that developed a topical siRNA/oligonucleotide-adjacent platform (VYJUVEK, an HSV-based gene therapy) and built a commercial-stage rare-disease business. Comparable to Empirico as a US-based oligonucleotide/gene-silencing company that grew from a single clinical asset to commercial scale.

Emerging players

• Viridian Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech focused on serious diseases, including FcRn-targeted antibodies. Comparable to Empirico as a similarly sized clinical-stage US biotech that has pursued large-pharma partnership economics (e.g., Kissei/Sanofi deals) to advance pipeline assets.
• BridgeBio Pharma: Clinical-stage biopharma built around genetics-driven drug discovery for diseases of high unmet need. Comparable to Empirico in the use of human-genetic insights as the starting point for pipeline generation, although BridgeBio operates a broader disease-area and modality scope.

Broad incumbents

• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Large-cap biopharma with the Regeneron Genetics Center as a foundational human-genetics discovery engine (e.g., Eylea, Dupixent, Libtayo). Comparable to Empirico in its pioneering use of human genetics to identify therapeutic targets, but at vastly greater scale and with integrated development and commercialization.

Others

• Genevant Sciences: Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and other RNA delivery technology company with multiple siRNA/mRNA partners. Comparable to Empirico as an enabling participant in the siRNA ecosystem, although positioned as a delivery-platform licensor rather than a drug developer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empiricoinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empirico