Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals is a Lexington, Massachusetts-based biotechnology company developing RNAi therapeutics using siRNA gene-silencing technology, focused on rare inherited diseases and chronic conditions, and previously listed on Nasdaq under ticker DRNA.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersLexington, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Dicerna Pharmaceuticals does
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company that develops RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics based on small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology, with a stated focus on innovative treatments for rare inherited diseases as well as chronic diseases more broadly. The company's core product is its RNAi Therapeutics Platform, which leverages siRNA-mediated gene silencing to modulate disease-associated genes. According to market research, Dicerna is identified as a key leader in the RNAi Therapeutics market, which is projected to grow from $2.6 billion in 2024 to $8.80 billion by 2033 at a 14.6% CAGR, and the company is also listed among participants in the Beta Catenin market for 2026-2033.
The firm was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts, with a disclosed headcount of 251-500 employees and a leadership team spanning CEO Douglas Fambrough, C-suite roles in HR and Strategy, and a Senior VP of Discovery Research. Across its corporate history, Dicerna raised approximately $420 million+ in disclosed funding across at least eight venture and strategic rounds from 2008 through 2018, drawing tier-1 life sciences investors including Bain Capital Life Sciences, RA Capital Management, Cormorant, EcoR1 Capital, Domain Associates, and strategic capital from Eli Lilly. The company was previously listed on Nasdaq under the ticker DRNA and has subsequently been delisted.
Dicerna's business model is that of a clinical-stage biotechnology developer: revenue is not disclosed in the available sources, consistent with a pre-commercial platform monetized through licensing, partnership, and future product commercialization rather than current product sales. Pricing of any product or partnership economics is not publicly disclosed. The company has no named commercial customers in the data, and its go-to-market posture relies on pharmaceutical partnerships (Eli Lilly being the most notable) and platform licensing rather than direct sales to providers or payers.
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
- Legal name
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Website
- https://dicerna.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals is a Lexington, Massachusetts-based biotechnology company developing RNAi therapeutics using siRNA gene-silencing technology, focused on rare inherited diseases and chronic conditions, and previously listed on Nasdaq under ticker DRNA.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- RNAi Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- siRNA Therapeutics (gene silencing) (HLAAADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- RNA Therapeutics Platforms & Design (sequence design, target ID/validation, AI/bioinformatics) (HLAAADAG), RNA Manufacturing & CMC (oligo synthesis, IVT, purification, formulation, QC) (HLAAADAF), RNA Chemistry & Oligonucleotide Engineering (backbones, modifications, stereochemistry) (HLAAADAE), RNA Delivery Technologies (LNPs, polymers, conjugates incl. GalNAc, peptides, exosomes) (HLAAADAD), RNA Therapeutics Clinical Development (trial design, endpoints, patient stratification) (HLAAADAH)
Keywords
Where Dicerna Pharmaceuticals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lexington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals develops RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology to silence disease-causing genes. The company's proprietary GalNAc-conjugated platform targets liver-expressed genes implicated in rare inherited diseases and chronic conditions. Dicerna also engages in research collaborations and licensing arrangements with larger pharmaceutical companies to advance its RNAi pipeline.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- RNAi Therapeutics Platform
Companies that use Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles2 records
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: The established leader in siRNA-based therapeutics with multiple approved products (Onpattro, Givlaari, Oxlumo, Amvuttra). Directly comparable to Dicerna as both develop GalNAc-conjugated siRNA drugs for rare and chronic diseases using the same core gene-silencing modality.
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage RNAi therapeutics company developing multiple siRNA programs against liver and extra-hepatic targets. Closely comparable to Dicerna in platform approach, therapeutic focus areas and stage of pipeline.
- Silence Therapeutics: UK-listed RNAi therapeutics developer with siRNA conjugate technology targeting cardiovascular, hematological and rare diseases. Direct modality and indication overlap with Dicerna's siRNA platform.
- Wave Life Sciences: Clinical-stage RNA therapeutics company using PRISM platform for stereopure oligonucleotide drug development, including siRNA and antisense modalities. Comparable in modality and rare-disease targeting to Dicerna.
Broad incumbents
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Pioneer in antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutics with multiple approved products (e.g., Spinraza, Tegsedi, Waylivra). Closely adjacent to Dicerna's RNA-based gene-silencing approach and shares rare-disease focus.
- BridgeBio Pharma: Commercial-stage rare disease biotech with multiple approved and late-stage assets. Comparable to Dicerna in targeting rare genetic diseases with high unmet need, though using varied therapeutic modalities.
- Moderna: Commercial-stage RNA-focused biotech with broad mRNA platform across vaccines, therapeutics and rare diseases. Adjacent to Dicerna's RNA therapeutics focus but operates in a different RNA modality (mRNA vs siRNA).
- BioNTech: Commercial-stage RNA therapeutics company with mRNA vaccines and oncology pipeline. Adjacent to Dicerna in RNA-based therapeutic approach, though operating in different disease areas and modalities.
Emerging players
- Sirnaomics: Clinical-stage biotech developing RNAi-based therapeutics with a focus on oncology and fibrosis indications using siRNA. Comparable as a modality peer with smaller scale and emerging pipeline.
- Viridian Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech focused on rare autoimmune diseases including thyroid eye disease. Comparable to Dicerna in targeting rare disease populations with high-value therapeutics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals social profiles
Digital presenceDicerna Pharmaceuticals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors15 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
What does Dicerna Pharmaceuticals do?
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals develops RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology to silence disease-causing genes. The company's proprietary GalNAc-conjugated platform targets liver-expressed genes implicated in rare inherited diseases and chronic conditions. Dicerna also engages in research collaborations and licensing arrangements with larger pharmaceutical companies to advance its RNAi pipeline.
Is Dicerna Pharmaceuticals a public or private company?
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Dicerna Pharmaceuticals founded?
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2007. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Dicerna Pharmaceuticals based?
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Lexington, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Dicerna Pharmaceuticals's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Silence Therapeutics and Wave Life Sciences. Broad incumbents are Ionis Pharmaceuticals, BridgeBio Pharma, Moderna and BioNTech. Emerging players are Sirnaomics and Viridian Therapeutics.
Does Dicerna Pharmaceuticals have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dicerna Pharmaceuticals.
What industry is Dicerna Pharmaceuticals in?
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals's product category is RNAi Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAADAB, siRNA Therapeutics (gene silencing), with a secondary code of HLAAADAG, RNA Therapeutics Platforms & Design (sequence design, target ID/validation, AI/bioinformatics). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2836.