What Sirna Therapeutics does

Sirna Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi), a modality that silences disease-causing genes at the mRNA level. Founded in 1992 and historically publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker RNAI before being delisted, the company has positioned itself as a specialist in nucleic-acid-based drug discovery for human disease. The underlying technology platform centers on designing and delivering short interfering RNA (siRNA) and related oligonucleotide constructs to modulate gene expression, a technically demanding approach that requires expertise in sequence chemistry, delivery vehicles, and target validation.

According to recent SEC Form D filings, the operating entity is incorporated in Delaware as Syrna Therapeutics, Inc. (the SEC filing spelling), and the company is currently privately held. In August 2023, the company completed an exempt securities offering under Regulation D, raising approximately $10.88 million in equity. Historical capital raises include a $48.0 million round in April 2003 — backed by a venture syndicate including Granite Ventures, Notable Capital, Oxford Bioscience Partners, Sprout Group, Techno Venture Management, and Venrock — and a $28.0 million round in July 2005. The firm maintains a headcount of 51-100 employees, with its principal office in Wilmington, Delaware.

The business model is that of a development-stage therapeutics company: revenue mechanics are not disclosed in available sources, no products or commercial partnerships are listed, and pricing is not publicly available. The company's website domain (sirna.com) currently appears to be listed for sale through a domain broker, which is a notable operational signal. No management team, board composition, scientific advisory board, clinical pipeline, or named customers are disclosed in the provided data, limiting visibility into current execution capability and forward strategy.

Name

Sirna Therapeutics

Legal name

Syrna Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://sirna.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sirna Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics for human disease. Founded in 1992, it is now a privately held Delaware-incorporated entity pursuing nucleic-acid drug discovery with no disclosed commercial products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

RNAi Therapeutics

NAICS

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

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

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 Chemistry & Oligonucleotide Engineering (backbones, modifications, stereochemistry) (HLAAADAE), RNA Manufacturing & CMC (oligo synthesis, IVT, purification, formulation, QC) (HLAAADAF), RNA Therapeutics Clinical Development (trial design, endpoints, patient stratification) (HLAAADAH)

Keywords

• RNA interference therapeutics
• Nucleic acid drug discovery
• RNAi-based medicines
• Gene silencing therapies
• Biopharmaceutical research

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations

Core offering

Sirna Therapeutics is a biotechnology company exploring the use of RNA interference (RNAi) for human disease therapy. The company researches and develops nucleic acid-based therapeutic candidates designed to silence disease-associated genes using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology. As an early-stage research-stage entity, it has not yet commercialized approved therapeutic products based on available evidence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: The dominant commercial siRNA therapeutics company, with multiple FDA-approved drugs (Onpattro, Givlaari, Amvuttra, Leqvio) and a deep pipeline. Directly comparable to Sirna on modality (siRNA), target disease areas, and technology platform.
• Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage siRNA therapeutics company with a broad pipeline across hepatic and extra-hepatic targets using proprietary TRiM™ delivery. Competes head-to-head with Sirna in the siRNA modality and pursues similar cardiometabolic and rare-disease indications.
• Silence Therapeutics: UK/US-based siRNA company with a GalNAc-conjugated platform and clinical-stage programs in cardiovascular and hematologic diseases. Closely comparable on modality and delivery technology to a 1992-vintage siRNA specialist.
• Wave Life Sciences: Clinical-stage RNA therapeutics company using PRISM platform with stereopure oligonucleotide chemistry. Comparable on the RNA therapeutics modality and oligonucleotide engineering focus, with shared heritage in early-generation RNAi chemistry.
• Dicerna Pharmaceuticals: GalNAc-conjugated siRNA platform that was acquired by Novo Nordisk in 2021. Highly comparable to Sirna on siRNA platform technology and target disease areas; its acquisition by a large pharma validates the acquirer appetite for differentiated siRNA IP.

Broad incumbents

• Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Established antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) company with multiple approved drugs and a deep pipeline. While its core modality is ASO rather than siRNA, it is comparable on oligonucleotide therapeutics chemistry, target validation, and clinical development.

Emerging players

• Arbutus Biopharma: Clinical-stage biopharma developing RNAi therapeutics using lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery, including HBV programs. Comparable as a smaller siRNA-focused competitor pursuing chronic disease indications.
• ProQR Therapeutics: RNA therapeutics company focused on rare genetic diseases using Axiomer RNA editing and antisense platforms. Overlaps with Sirna on the broader RNA-based therapeutic modality and rare/monogenic disease focus.

Others

• Genevant Sciences: Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and ligand-conjugated delivery technology company for nucleic acid therapeutics. Relevant as a potential partner or enabler for an siRNA platform seeking improved extra-hepatic delivery.
• Nitto Denko Avecia: Oligonucleotide CDMO providing large-scale synthesis and manufacturing of siRNA and other oligonucleotides. Comparable as a critical infrastructure/supplier in the siRNA value chain that a small platform company like Sirna would depend on for CMC.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 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 Sirna Therapeutics